Rare black wild dog spotted in Sahyadri Tiger reserve after 90 years

Rare Black Dhole Spotted in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (Image: Digvijay Patil/@netwadhuri /X)

A rare sight left wildlife lovers thrilled deep inside Maharashtra’s Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. A tourist, wandering through the buffer zone, captured a jet-black wild dog — known as a melanistic dhole — on his phone camera. This rare sighting comes nearly 90 years after the last such record in India.

Spotted After Nearly a Century

Digvijay Patil, a nature enthusiast, spotted the rare animal while exploring the forest. He quickly recorded photos and videos and alerted honorary wildlife warden Rohan Bhate. Soon after, forest officials confirmed the sighting and deployed camera traps in the area for further monitoring.

According to forest officers, dholes are usually reddish-brown in colour. However, due to a rare genetic condition called melanism, some can appear entirely black. The last documented sighting of a melanistic dhole was back in 1936 near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. British naturalist R.C. Morris had recorded it then.

A Sign of Rich Biodiversity

Forest authorities noted that dholes are highly social predators. Their packs often consist of 15 to 20 members who hunt together. They usually prey on large animals like sambar, deer, gaur, and wild boar. Even apex predators like tigers tend to avoid an aggressive dhole pack.

Officials called this rare sighting a strong indicator of the region’s healthy ecosystem. It suggests that the forest provides a safe and balanced environment where even rare genetic variants can survive.

Monitoring and Conservation Efforts

The forest department has now intensified surveillance in the area. Plans are underway to conduct DNA tests, behavioural studies, and tracking to understand this rare dhole better. If confirmed as fully melanistic, this discovery will mark a significant moment in India’s wildlife records.

Authorities urged visitors to avoid disturbing wildlife and report any unusual sightings promptly. This discovery, they say, is not just a wildlife curiosity but a reminder of the fragile beauty that thrives within India’s forests.