ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[Wolverine]

DHOLE (CUON ALPINUS) AS PART OF AMUR TIGER'S FAUNA COMPLEX

Dhole or Indian wild dog is probably the only mammal specie extinct from the forests of Russian Ussuriland. Ussuri dhole was the largest of all subspecies with long winter hair and once inhabited the southern parts of Primorskij region. Its start desapiaring during 20th century for not very clear reasons and was last spotted in 50's. 

*This image is copyright of its original author

Probably the only Usuri dhole trophy survived:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

DECLINE OF THE DHOLE AS RESULT OF THE DECLINE OF AMUR TIGER AND RISE OF THE GREY WOLF IN RFE. STRANGE TRYANGLE.

Dholes are canids known to be bold towards big cats (tigers and leopards) and very shy and defensive towards other canids (especially grey wolves). In same time Amur tiger is notorious for his hostility and untolerance towards the grey wolves sometimes bordering a genocidal behavior. In places with high density of Amur tigers wolves almost completely disappear because tiger probably consider them as a prime competitor hunting same prey. 
During 19th century when tigers were plenty travelers in Russian Ussuriland almost didn't find any wolves. But when during 20th century Amur tigers were decapitated for first time wolves start appearing in large quantities in Sihote Alin mountains literaly invading it. Exactly in this period start decline and extinction of the dholes in Ussuriland. Is this coincidence? Probably not. Since dholes have never been persistently hunted by people and they inhabited mainly remote areas unsuitable for agriculture some Russian scientists sujest one of the main reasons for the decline of the Indian wild dogs in RFE was the rise of the grey wolf in 20th century as result of the decline of Amur tiger. Northern wolves as larger and more powerfull canids start pressing dholes. Tiger and dhole are mutualy tolerable species and they wonderfully coexist in same ecosystem. So, Amur tigers was a "guardian" of the Indian wild dogs and when it disappeared swiftly deseapeared the dholes. The most interesting is that dholes themselves are much bolder, sometimes said even aggressive toward tigers than wolves.

Probably one day Indian wild dog has to be re-introduced in Sihote Alin mountains, instead of exinct Ussuri subspecie could be used long haired dholes from Tibet (China). @peter what do you think? Once upon a time Russian Far East was second in the planet after India in terms of variety of big predators: tiger, leopard, brown bear, Asiatic black bear, grey wolf, dhole, lynx and wolverine. Reply