Breeding success of dholes Cuon alpinus at Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad: lessons learned

Abstract

Captive breeding programs play an important role in the conservation of endangered species however; many species struggle to breed in captivity. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence breeding success is crucial in order to develop species-specific strategies to reduce the chances of breeding failure. The dhole Cuon alpinus is facing increasing threats in the wild including habitat loss, prey depletion, disease transmission from domestic dogs and human-wildlife conflict thus a species recovery program has been initiated in several Indian zoos through captive breeding programs. Dholes are known to show lower reproductive success in captivity due to limited knowledge about their reproductive biology, nutritional requirement and poor husbandry practices. However, by providing appropriate environmental conditions and dietary supplements significantly enhance the breeding performance of dholes in captivity. The Nehru Zoological Park received two pairs of dholes from Pilikula Biological Park. Unfortunately, the first litter did not survive due to perceived housing conditions. The puppies died after one month of birth due to bone disorder likely attributed by the smooth flooring and lack of sunlight in night houses. In the subsequent breeding cycle, changes were made to the housing conditions for the dholes. A day kraal with natural substrate (sandy soil), abundant sunlight and an artificial cavernous den was used for whelping. Additionally, we improved the quantity of diet and supplements for females during the both pre-partum and post-partum periods to improve the reproductive health. These changes resulted in no pup mortality. Our study highlights the significant knowledge gap regarding species habitat requirements in captivity, particularly with respect to breeding. Our observations provide valuable insights: keeping pups on a smooth surface without sunlight access is not ideal as it affects on their growth and survival. Further future captive breeding programs for dholes and other similar species can use these observations as a reference.