Dholes

[Roopak Gangadharan]

Came across this pack of about 15 dogs stretched out inside a bamboo groove while on a trek at Mudumalai. One of the dogs (the one in the middle ,probably the alpha male) suddenly became alert, came out into the open and started running in the direction of a herd of chital which we had seen about a km away and immediately 4 dogs followed it . Tried following them but it was tough as they were running in patches through an open meadow and we were on foot and didn’t want to be seen. But it was great seeing them run out one after another with a determined look in the lovely morning light…

500D, 55-250, 250mm, f5.6, ISO 800, SS 1/640. C&C welcome

Rgds
Roopak

[Sucheth Lingachar]

Beautiful Image Roopak... all the Three Dholes Concentrating on the Pray and their Eyes are intact in one direction.

[V S Sankar]

Nice image and description Roopakji.These are quite alert and fast animals and keeping pace with them is difficult.Good write up.

Regards

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Nice shot. Always interesting to watch dholes; must have been even more thrilling encountering them on a trek rather than on safari. Any idea up to what altitude in the Nilgiris these dogs are active?
TFS

[Sabyasachi Patra]

One of the most intelligent, courageous group of predators. I love their beautiful streamlined bodies. Nice image in good light. I can just imaging the experience. These hunters are really fast. Good that you were not burdened with a heavy lens and could somehow manage to track them. Were they successful in chasing down a cheetal?

[Atul Sinai]

Beautiful image Roopak, very nicely documented. Thanks for explaining the scenario in details !

[Roopak Gangadharan]

With the 5 dogs running through an open meadow we couldnt follow them for long as they would invariably see us. Didn't get to see if the hunt was successful, most probably it wasn't as the rest of the pack didn’t follow them even after 30 minutes. Came back to the remaining pack which was resting in a bamboo groove and watched their antics for some time before one of them saw us and they moved away. This is the largest pack Ive seen in Mudumalai.

Rgds
Roopak

[Roopak Gangadharan]

Abhishek- not sure of the specifics on altitude but they are supposed to reach the altitudes which support the Niligiri Thar. I say this because Ive read an intresting article on the reproductive behaviour of the Nilgiri Thar which seems to have evolved to mitigate the risk of predations by dholes.

Rgds
Roopak

[Anand Madabhushi]

Roopakji, excellent story. Great sighting for you.

[Suraj Sreedhar]

Nice that you got them on the move.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
Thanks For Sharing.

[Saktipada Panigrahi]

Lovely image of the dreadest predator of the Indian Jungles goes hunting in a pack.Nice story-telling, it creates awareness and imagination.Thanks for sharing.SaktiWild