Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 January 2026 | 18(1): 28249–28251
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10179.18.1.28249-28251
#10179 | Received 26 September 2025 | Final received 30 December 2025 |
Finally accepted 12 January 2026
First record with
photographic evidence of Dhole Cuon alpinus (Pallas, 1811) from Panshet,
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Sonali Shinde 1 & Chinmay Sonawane 2
¹ Annasaheb Kulkarni Department of Biodiversity, MES Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411004, India.
² Ecological
Society, Jayanti Apartments, B-2, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune, Maharashtra
411016, India.
1 sss.agc@mespune.in (corresponding author), 2 chinmayrsonawane@gmail.com
Editor: Anonymity requested. Date of publication: 26 January 2026 (online & print)
Citation:
Shinde, S. & C. Sonawane (2026). First record
with photographic evidence of Dhole Cuon
alpinus (Pallas, 1811) from Panshet, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 18(1): 28249–28251. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10179.18.1.28249-28251
Copyright: © Shinde & Sonawane 2026. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use,
reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing
adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: The authors received no funding for this study.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: We thank Dr. Pallavi Ghaskadbi for the mammal identification, reviewing the draft, and for her encouragement and support in
preparing this communication. We are also grateful to ACF Shri Mangesh Tate, Maharashtra Forest Department, for verifying the Dhole record in Panshet.
The Dhole Cuon
alpinus (Pallas, 1811), also known as the Asiatic
Wild Dog or Whistling Dog, is an endangered canid distributed across Asia (Kamler et al. 2015). Dholes are widely distributed across
the continent but are primarily restricted to protected areas (Sillero-Zubiri et al. 2004; Kamler
et al. 2015). The global population of dholes is estimated at 4,500–10,500
individuals, with fewer than 2,215 mature animals (Kamler
et al. 2015). India is considered a stronghold for the species, and the Western
Ghats may support the largest meta-population worldwide (Srivathsa
et al. 2014, 2019; Kamler et al. 2015). As a social
top predator, the Dhole plays a crucial role in regulating prey populations,
particularly in ecosystems with reduced tiger and leopard densities (Johnsingh 1992; Acharya 2007). Dholes are habitat
generalists, utilising a mosaic of evergreen,
deciduous, and mixed forests, as well as grasslands, with open or deciduous
areas preferred for hunting, and closed or mixed forests used for denning (Kamler et al. 2015, 2020). Prey selection, human
disturbance, habitat fragmentation, and competition with domestic dogs
influence their distribution and connectivity. Dholes are primarily crepuscular
(Ghaskadbi et al. 2016, 2022), and existing ethograms
provide key insights into their activity patterns and behavioural
ecology, which are critical for conservation planning.
Given the ecological significance
of Dholes, documenting new occurrences is important for understanding their
distribution and informing conservation strategies. While the species has been
reported from various parts of the Western Ghats, photographic evidence from
Pune District has not been recorded previously. Here, we present the first
photographic record of the Dhole from Panshet, Pune,
Maharashtra, India. This record strengthens evidence of landscape-level
connectivity of Cuon alpinus
across the northern Western Ghats and provides information for future
conservation studies in fragmented landscapes.
On 6 September 2025, a single
Dhole was opportunistically sighted crossing a forest trail around 1400 h and
was photographed (Image 1) near Panshet (18.437° N,
73.580° E), Pune, Maharashtra. Panshet is located
near the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, India. The Panshet
Dam catchment lies in the Sahyadri range of northern Western Ghats, a region
representing one of the most fragile ecosystems (Karandikar
et al. 2015).
The individual was identified by
its characteristic reddish coat, bushy dark tail, and typical posture. The
record was verified by experts Pallavi Ghaskadbi
(pers. comm.) and forest officials Mangesh Tate (pers. comm.). This represents
the first photographic evidence of the Dhole in Panshet,
a region outside of any notified protected area in the northern Western Ghats.
Dholes are known to prefer
forested landscapes with adequate prey availability (Srivathsa
et al. 2014; Punjabi et al. 2017; Pattekar et al.
2024). However, this report documents their occurrence in fragmented patches
that include altered habitats, including human-modified and fragmented landscapes.
Recent Dhole sightings across
multiple regions reveal both rediscoveries and new distribution records for
this endangered canid (Kazi et al. 2021). However,
information from the northern Western Ghats remains scarce. The southern
Western Ghats have received more conservation attention. Studies have
highlighted Dhole distribution in the northern Western Ghats (Punjabi et al.
2017), including estimates of approximately nine Dholes per 100 km2
in areas such as Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary
(Punjabi et al. 2022). This sighting complements recent reports of Dholes from Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary and Phansad
Wildlife Sanctuary (Pardeshi et al. 2020). These
records suggest ongoing presence of Dholes in the landscape, although their
population status and viability need further investigation. The occurrence in
fragmented, human-modified landscapes suggests the potential role of
non-protected habitats as corridors or refuges.
Dholes are currently listed as
Endangered on the IUCN Red List under criteria C2a(i),
however, despite its Endangered status, India supports the largest remaining
population of dholes (Kamler et al 2015). Recent
communications with field researchers, forest officers, and enthusiasts suggest
mixed observations. While some regard sightings as rare, even if the occurrence
increases based on the traits of a species. Although camera-trap and systematic
surveys have confirmed Dhole presence in regions where they were absent for
decades, the contrasting perspectives highlight the need for further research.
We recommend employing camera trapping and prey-base assessments to evaluate
the current status of Dholes in Pune District and adjoining landscapes.
Conservation planning should also account for catchment forests and fragmented
habitats, which provide functional connectivity. This region is significant for
large predators, which adds further weight to the importance of this record.
This sighting is particularly noteworthy as tigers and Dholes are known to
coexist where prey densities are sufficient, suggesting that these species do
not necessarily compete. Karanth et al. (2017)
highlight that with effective prey management; multiple large carnivores can
share landscapes sustainably. In this context, the Dhole’s role as a top
predator, especially in ecosystems with reduced tiger and leopard densities (Johnsingh 1992), underscores the importance of maintaining
adequate prey populations for their persistence. Documenting such populations
is therefore critical for regional conservation management and may also inform
reassessment of the species’ IUCN Red List status.
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