Pune News: Rare Indian Wild Dogs Sighted In Bhimashankar After 195 Years

In a remarkable discovery, a pair of Indian wild dogs (Cuon alpinus) has been spotted in the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, marking the first sighting in 195 years. This finding was detailed in a recent research paper published in the international journal *ZOO’s Print* by Umesh Waghela, the president of Alive Charitable Trust and a wildlife researcher.

Waghela, during a research expedition to Ahupe Deorai, captured photographs and observations of the wild dogs using binoculars. His extensive ten-month study culminated in the research paper. Indian wild dogs are not commonly found, making this sighting a rare event.

Waghela explained that Indian wild dogs are sociael carnivores that prefer dense forests with open areas. They thrive in habitats with adequate shade from the sun, suitable prey species, and water sources. In Maharashtra, these wild dogs have been noted in the Wai region, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, and Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary through camera trap surveys.

Historically, in 1828, Colonel William Henry Sykes of the East India Company recorded that local tribes in Bhimashankar were aware of the wild dogs’ existence and had seen dead specimens, indicating their presence almost two centuries ago. According to recent surveys by Girish Punjabi and other scientists, these dogs had seemingly become extinct in the Bhimashankar area.

The research paper provides the first photographic evidence of the wild dogs in this region after nearly two centuries. Retired scientist Dr. Anil Mahabal of the Zoological Survey of India offered valuable guidance, while Dr. Shyamkant Talmale confirmed the wild dogs’ identification. The study also received support from Alive’s Raghuraj Erande, Vishwanath Bhagwat, and Shivraj Pimpude of Gyaan Prabodhini School.