Dhole

Packs of dholes can be made up of one family or several families banded together. Before pray became scarce, the dhole migrated only when its pray did. But in recent years the dhole's territory has expanded, since increasing smaller food supplies have forced it to move farther afield.

Dholes have a complex body language. Friendly or submissive greetings are accompanied by horizontal lip retraction and the lowering of the tail, as well as licking. Playful dholes will open their mouths with their lips retracted and their tails held in a vertical position whilst assuming a play bow. Aggressive or threatening dholes will pucker their lips forward in a snarl and raise the hairs on their backs, as well as keep their tails horizontal or vertical. When afraid, they pull their lips back horizontally with their tails tucked and their ears flat against the skull.

During the breeding season the female makes her den in a cave, a crevice, or a burrow. She often shares it with other females. When she comes into heat, the male pursues her until they mate. The pups are born about 60 days later, blind and fluffy. They grow fast, but their eyes do not open for two weeks.

The dhole is a tireless hunter. It tracks its prey at a steady trot for several miles. When the pray is exhausted, the chase is over, and the dhole makes an easy kill. Although one dhole can overtake one deer without assistance, large animals such as the Indian buffalo require a highly organized pack of dholes. Then , some of them distract he pray by biting its head while others attach its flanks and belly.