Dhole - Lethal pack hunters

The Indian Wild Dog more commonly known as the Dhole is regarded as the most successful hunter in the Indian wilderness, thanks to their ability to hunt as a pack. We have been fortunate to witness the rare spectacle of these pack hunters making a kill in the open space and consuming the prey in less than 20 minutes.

 

We have also had the chance to observe the Dholes  prepare for a hunt.  We have seen that once the decision to hunt is taken, a sense of purpose and discipline sets on the pack. And there is always a lot of commotion, hustling and whistling while the Dholes get organized to make the kill. It is then an absolute treat to observe them search for a potential prey and hunt it down in a well coordinated fashion.

 
What's striking is that at the time of taking the decision to hunt, there is not always a potential prey in sight. But the pack then demonstrates exceptional team work in methodically searching, finding and then bringing down a prey, sometimes much larger that the Dholes themselves.