The project aims to collect information on dhole (Cuon alpinus) food habits, behaviour, social organisation, habitat use and ranging patterns, in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. The progress in fieldwork of the past year is presented.

Two radio-collared dholes (and adult male and an adult female) from two different packs were tracked in order to collect information on pack characteristics, food habits, behaviour, activity and movement patterns. In addition, two other dhole packs were also monitored whenever encountered. The diet of the dhole was assessed from scats and kills. Systematic estimation of prey abundance was conducted on line transects within the approximate home ranges of the dhole packs. Data regarding the encounter rates and group composition of dhole prey species were recorded using vehicle-based counts. Scats and kills of sympatric carnivores were recorded, whenever encountered, to compare with dhole food habits.