Local wisdom offers insights into dholes in Western Ghats

BENGALURU: Observations, tales, and cultural traditions of communities living alongside wildlife can offer insights that scientific monitoring may miss.Two studies led by researchers from National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR), Bengaluru, and Wildlife Conservation Society-India (WCS-India) have explored how local ecological knowledge can help understand the endangered Asiatic wild dog, or dhole, in the human-dominated landscapes of Western Ghats.India holds the world's largest population of dholes, among the most threatened large carnivores globally. The studies, conducted in Wayanad in Kerala and Valparai in Tamil Nadu, show that local people, plantation workers and forest personnel can provide information about the animals' movements, pack sizes, behaviour and interactions with other species. They also document the cultural significance of dholes, including their place in folklore and spiritual traditions.The first study, titled "Local Ecological Knowledge offers opportunities to study and monitor elusive carnivores in coexistence landscapes", was based on 476 interviews with local residents, plantation workers and forest department personnel across Wayanad and Valparai.Researchers collected information on dhole sightings, pack sizes, habitat use and interactions with domestic dogs, livestock and other carnivores. The reported pack sizes were broadly consistent with observations from earlier ecological studies.In Valparai, an informant network established during the research helped scientists locate dhole packs and record more than 30 hours of footage documenting their behaviour.The findings also offered insights into how dholes share space with people. Interactions between the animals and people were common in tea plantations, but reports of livestock attacks were extremely rare. Many respondents said dholes tended to avoid people.However, interactions with domestic dogs were reported more frequently, pointing to a possible avenue for monitoring competition and disease transmission between wild and domestic canids.The second study, titled "The hunting god: Vernacular knowledge on Asiatic wild dogs (Cuon alpinus) blends ecological insights with folklore in a shared agroforest landscape of India's Western Ghats", examined the relationship between communities and dholes in Valparai through interviews with 89 people, including residents of tribal settlements and plantation workers.Beyond documenting ecological observations, researchers recorded memories, stories, songs, beliefs and spiritual associations. Respondents described dhole behaviour, including coordinated hunting, pack communication, vocalisations, diet, breeding periods and use of different parts of the landscape.One of the study's notable findings was the cultural significance of the animals. In several tribal communities, dholes are known as "Vettaikara Apichi", loosely translated as "hunting gods". Researchers documented associations between dholes and forest deities, rituals, prayers, songs and oral traditions. Some stories portrayed them as protectors or as kin to people and domestic dogs.People expressed a mix of caution, curiosity, admiration and affection towards the animals. While close encounters could evoke fear, respondents generally described dholes as avoiding people. Some admired their agility, coordination and teamwork during hunts.The researchers also found that this knowledge may be disappearing. Older respondents recalled stories and traditions that were becoming less familiar to younger generations, highlighting the importance of documenting them.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in BengaluruStay updated with the latest Bengaluru news. Download the TOI App.