Lifespan: 10 years in the wild, andup to 17 years in captivity
Collective Noun: Pack
Family: Dholes live in extended family packs of up to 12, headed by a dominant breeding male and female. They are cooperative breeders, with most family members helping to raise the young. Often, there are more males in the pack than females.
Own Genus: Dholes are classified in their own genus. This is because they do not fit into any of the similar families, such as foxes or wolves.
Whistle! Dholes are known as ‘whistling hunters’ due to their characteristic whistle. They can produce over 20 different sounds.
Pack Hunters: Dhole are pack hunters, with 2-3 dhole able to bring down an animal up to ten times their size (ie deer) in as little as 2 minutes. They are fast runners and have great stamina. Like tigers, dholes may chase their prey into water, slowing them down before they attack.
Dholes are able to jump 2.3m high!