Bhubaneswar: For the first time, an endangered Indian dhole (wild dog) has been sighted in the tourist zone of Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary, officials said.
Debrigarh officials said some tourists, who were moving in a safari vehicle between Zer Point and Parvatitung spotted the animal and took photographs and shared with them. Because of habitat fragmentation, the population of wild dog is decreasing in the wild.Inbreeding or repeated breeding is also one of the reasons for their dwindling numbers, officials said.
Officials said there could be more wild dogs in the sanctuary and along periphery areas. They move in packs to hunt animals which are usually prey for tigers and leopards. “Grassland (meadow) management has helped attract herbivores to the sanctuary. So instead of moving along the boundaries and along fringe areas for food, they are entering the sanctuary. This ultimately leads to increase in the carnivore population,” a wildlife officer said.
Population of Indian dhole, a Scheduled-II species, is dwindling because of loss of habitat. In Oct last year, a pair wild dogs were captured for the first time in Debrigarh in camera traps but were never spotted directly.
Debrigarh is home to herbivores like Indian gaur, sambar, deer, wild boar, cheetal and chowsingha.

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