Jeopardized Wild Dogs

Before we start let me ask you a question: What is your definition of a "wild dog"? A four legged canine begging for food on the streets? A savage in the woods about to rip out your throat? The person you despise the most? :)

Of course, different people would have different views on what they would call "wild." But let's take a look at what some Australians think, or used to think.

Dingo

Image courtesy of National Geographic

Classification: Mammal (debated canines)
Size: 4.5-5.1 ft / 1.4-1.53 m
Weight: 22-33 lb / 10-15 kg
Diet: Carnivorous 
Lifespan: 10 years in the wild; 13-18 years in captivity
Appearance: golden or reddish-colored
Status: 4.5 Exclamations**
Officially declared endangered by the Australian government. Could go extinct in less than 20 years! (Yes, it's bad!)
Fun Fact: Dingoes can live and hunt both individually or in packs. And although they look like dogs, dingoes can't bark. They howl!


It's funny how I used to think that Dingoes were wombats. Or that I foolishly thought Dingo was a board game a couple years before. Huh. Strange, isn't it, how much we seem to underestimate these cousins of man's best friend? ("Man's best friend" refers to the domesticated dog, by the way.) Well, it seems, we're not always right, or perfect.

The dingo is known as Australia's famous "wild dog" (and commonly confused with that, too) and can also be found in Southeast Asia. In fact, that's where the first dingoes came from! Take a look at the map; it is evident of how the population spread from Asia down to Australia.

Map from National Geographic

Although they were quite plentiful many years, ago, the dingo population is drastically decreasing, and well, like always, we are responsible for it.

Hybridization & Inbreeding. This is one of the main causes of the dingoes' population downfall. Since they look so much like dogs (and are so closely related), many people are breeding dogs and dingoes together, and this is decreasing the number of "pure" dingoes left in the wild. Even of the ones that are left, very few of them are "purebred." The rest (about one-third) have a combination of domesticated and dingo blood (hybrid).

Hunting & Government Eradication. Because these dingoes hunt livestock (mainly sheep), farmers constantly shot them to protect their livestock. Yes, their sheep were saved, but the dingoes were not. Things did not get better when the government set "eradication programs" to get rid of the dingoes. With their mistake found right before it was too late, Australia is launching conservation programs to help bring the dingoes back from the brink of extinction, like the Australian Dingo Conservation Association, Inc..

If you think you're too young, too old, or don't have enough time, stop right now. It is never too late. Even though you might not be willing to donate $100 or join a particular organization, little things matter as well. You could write letters to a friend or family member to spread awareness. Tell your teachers about what's going on, make a report for the class. Maybe even plan a trip to the zoo with your family to learn more about these dingoes!

Your Opinion Matters
Instead of deciding myself which animal to blog on next, I'm going to let you choose. Please comment below about your opinions and what animal you would like to see on WeForWildlife next. Thank you!




**The exclamation images could not show up on the blog due to some weird problem I encountered with inserting images. Problem will be fixed as soon as possible. "Technology is great--when it works!" ~My English teacher