North American Dhole Population

Here is the recent (8/21/2021) version of the North American Dhole population.

The North American ‌Dhole ‌Population‌ ‌​

This‌ ‌document‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌made‌ ‌in‌ ‌an‌ ‌attempt‌ ‌to‌ ‌record‌ ‌all‌ ‌dholes ‌in‌ North American ‌facilities.‌ ‌It‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌updated‌ ‌according‌ ‌to‌ ‌any‌ ‌press‌ ‌releases‌ ‌from‌ ‌zoos‌ ‌that‌ ‌are‌ ‌currently‌ ‌in‌ ‌possession‌ ‌of‌ ‌dholes,‌ ‌or‌ ‌are‌ ‌working‌ ‌on‌ ‌acquiring‌ ‌dholes.‌ ‌Any‌ ‌deaths,‌ ‌births,‌ ‌or‌ ‌transfers‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌posted‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌comments‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌thread.‌ ‌The‌ ‌lineage‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ dholes ‌will‌ ‌also‌ ‌be‌ ‌recorded‌ ‌if‌ ‌available.‌ ‌

http://www.dholes.org/where-to-see-dholes.html
https://www.zootierliste.de/en/?klasse=1&ordnung=115&familie=11509&art=1120106
http://cza.nic.in/uploads/documents/inventory/Annualinventory1718.pdf



Total‌ ‌Facilities‌ ‌With‌ ‌Dholes:‌ ‌5; 5 United States

Total‌ ‌Amount‌ ‌of‌ ‌Individuals:‌ ~38 (19.19.0.0);‌ 19.19 ‌United‌ ‌States

‌

NORTH‌ ‌AMERICA‌ ‌

United‌ ‌States‌ ‌

Bronx Zoo - Bronx, New York, USA - 3.0.0
1.0, Apollo - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Rowan - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Kito - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala


Minnesota Zoo - Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA - 2.2.0
0.1, Piri - February 19, 2009
1.0, Basundi - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Kallu - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Astrid


San Diego Safari Park - San Diego, California, USA - 5.13.0
1.0, Nima - 2009 - Lucius x Anastasia
0.1, Tikka Masala - April 12-14, 2012 - Blyger or Prosit x Fanni or Piri
0.1, Mishti Doi - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Tandori - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Alula - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Berezi - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Sadie - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Scarlet - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Thea - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Uski - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Violet - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala

1.0, Titus - 2006 - John x Pattie
1.0, Lucius - 2006 - John x Martha
1.0, Glader - April 12-14, 2012 - Blyger or Prosit x Fanni or Piri
1.0, Unknown
0.1, Anastasia
0.1, Kono - Unknown - Lucius x Anastasia
0.1, Unknown


The Wilds - Cumberland, Ohio, USA - 5.4.0
1.0, Beni - 2010 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Jetson - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Seema - February 5, 2018 - Jetson x Csilla
0.1, Arva - February 5, 2018 - Jetson x Csilla
1.0, Ray - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
1.0, Sam - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Abby - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Brenna - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Emma - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla


Zoo Miami - Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA - 4.0.0
1.0, Sanuk - 2010 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Torma - 2011 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Katsu - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Yoshi - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia

 

Here is the recent (1/2/22) population of Dholes.

The North American ‌Dhole ‌Population‌ ‌​

This‌ ‌document‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌made‌ ‌in‌ ‌an‌ ‌attempt‌ ‌to‌ ‌record‌ ‌all‌ ‌dholes ‌in‌ North American ‌facilities.‌ ‌It‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌updated‌ ‌according‌ ‌to‌ ‌any‌ ‌press‌ ‌releases‌ ‌from‌ ‌zoos‌ ‌that‌ ‌are‌ ‌currently‌ ‌in‌ ‌possession‌ ‌of‌ ‌dholes,‌ ‌or‌ ‌are‌ ‌working‌ ‌on‌ ‌acquiring‌ ‌dholes.‌ ‌Any‌ ‌deaths,‌ ‌births,‌ ‌or‌ ‌transfers‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌posted‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌comments‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌thread.‌ ‌The‌ ‌lineage‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ dholes ‌will‌ ‌also‌ ‌be‌ ‌recorded‌ ‌if‌ ‌available.‌ ‌

http://www.dholes.org/where-to-see-dholes.html
https://www.zootierliste.de/en/?klasse=1&ordnung=115&familie=11509&art=1120106
http://cza.nic.in/uploads/documents/inventory/Annualinventory1718.pdf



Total‌ ‌Facilities‌ ‌With‌ ‌Dholes:‌ ‌5; 5 United States

Total‌ ‌Amount‌ ‌of‌ ‌Individuals:‌ 31(16.15)

‌

NORTH‌ ‌AMERICA‌ ‌

United‌ ‌States‌ ‌

Bronx Zoo - Bronx, New York, USA - 3.0.0
1.0, Apollo - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Rowan - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Kito - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala


Minnesota Zoo - Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA - 2.1.0
0.1, Piri - February 19, 2009
1.0, Basundi - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Kallu - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala


San Diego Safari Park - San Diego, California, USA - 1.10.0
1.0, Nima - 2009 - Lucius x Anastasia
0.1, Tikka Masala - April 12-14, 2012 - Blyger or Prosit x Fanni or Piri
0.1, Mishti Doi - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Tandori - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Alula - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Berezi - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Sadie - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Scarlet - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Thea - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Uski - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Violet - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala


The Wilds - Cumberland, Ohio, USA - 5.4.0
1.0, Beni - 2010 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Jetson - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Seema - February 5, 2018 - Jetson x Csilla
0.1, Arva - February 5, 2018 - Jetson x Csilla
1.0, Ray - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
1.0, Sam - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Abby - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Brenna - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Emma - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla


Zoo Miami - Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA - 4.0.0
1.0, Sanuk - 2010 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Torma - 2011 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Katsu - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Yoshi - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia

 

Granby Zoo just announced that they will be welcoming a pack of dholes next year. They did not announce where they are coming from. It would be fantastic if they were imports that could infuse some fresh genetics into the population in North America. More likely though they are getting dholes already in North America.

 

I would be over the moon if they did that! I am surprised that more zoos in Canada and the United States do not have more of an interest in them.

 

The North American ‌Dhole ‌Population‌ ‌​

This‌ ‌document‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌made‌ ‌in‌ ‌an‌ ‌attempt‌ ‌to‌ ‌record‌ ‌all‌ ‌dholes ‌in‌ North American ‌facilities.‌ ‌It‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌updated‌ ‌according‌ ‌to‌ ‌any‌ ‌press‌ ‌releases‌ ‌from‌ ‌zoos‌ ‌that‌ ‌are‌ ‌currently‌ ‌in‌ ‌possession‌ ‌of‌ ‌dholes,‌ ‌or‌ ‌are‌ ‌working‌ ‌on‌ ‌acquiring‌ ‌dholes.‌ ‌Any‌ ‌deaths,‌ ‌births,‌ ‌or‌ ‌transfers‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌posted‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌comments‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌thread.‌ ‌The‌ ‌lineage‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ dholes ‌will‌ ‌also‌ ‌be‌ ‌recorded‌ ‌if‌ ‌available.‌ ‌

Where to see Dholes
ZootierlisteHomepage
http://cza.nic.in/uploads/documents/inventory/Annualinventory1718.pdf

Total‌ ‌Facilities‌ ‌With‌ ‌Dholes:‌ ‌5; 5 United States
Total‌ ‌Amount‌ ‌of‌ ‌Individuals:‌ 31(16.15)


NORTH‌ ‌AMERICA‌ ‌
‌
Bronx Zoo - Bronx, New York, USA - 3.0.0
1.0, Apollo - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Rowan - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Kito - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala

Minnesota Zoo - Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA - 2.1.0
0.1, Piri - February 19, 2009
1.0, Basundi - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
1.0, Kallu - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala

San Diego Safari Park - San Diego, California, USA - 1.10.0
1.0, Nima - 2009 - Lucius x Anastasia
0.1, Tikka Masala - April 12-14, 2012 - Blyger or Prosit x Fanni or Piri
0.1, Mishti Doi - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Tandori - January 29, 2015 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Alula - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Berezi - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Sadie - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Scarlet - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Thea - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Uski - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala
0.1, Violet - February 29, 2016 - Nima x Tikka Masala

The Wilds - Cumberland, Ohio, USA - 5.4.0
1.0, Beni - 2010 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Jetson - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Seema - February 5, 2018 - Jetson x Csilla
0.1, Arva - February 5, 2018 - Jetson x Csilla
1.0, Ray - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
1.0, Sam - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Abby - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Brenna - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla
0.1, Emma - February 16, 2019 - Beni x Csilla

Zoo Miami - Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA - 4.0.0
1.0, Sanuk - 2010 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Torma - 2011 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Katsu - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia
1.0, Yoshi - 2013 - Lucius x Anastasia

 

Yikes, is every individual in this population seriously descended from the same pair (Lucius x Anastasia)?! Reading through it seems as though every individual is either their offspring or grand-offspring.

 

You are correct. All of them are related to some degree. According to the new Canid/Hyeanid plans that were posted, dholes - as well as bush dogs - will continue to be on their way out of AZA collections within the next few years.

It is a shame to see them go, as both are fantastic species, but I suppose the AZA has to prioritize different species.

 

That’s assuming these zoos listen. We will see as the holders of this species are among the largest AZA institutions in the country.

 

Thanks for compiling this list, an interesting read. My home region (Australia/NZ) has not housed dholes since 2015, but I have fond memories of the pack at my local zoo, Taronga Zoo Sydney.

Are any of these animals of a known subspecies? I would assume not, considering the high degree of relatedness, but I was wondering.

 

I'm hoping that some stay. They are one of my favorites to watch and extremely underrated.

 

Jim Breheny kind of called the AZA out for their decision regarding gaur, shown here:
https://twitter.com/JimBreheny/status/1266579516513714176?t=xRKDqEpq0mrwXIhQzIxDrA&s=19
So if Bronx is this way about gaur, I'd imagine they'd stand their ground about dholes as well.

 

I wouldn't say Jim Breheny "called out" the AZA in that post, he merely stated Bronx is the only AZA zoo keeping that species, something plenty of other zoos have advertised before (e.g. "only ones in the country"). That being said, Bronx has certainly shown a commitment to gaur and I doubt that will change anytime soon.

As for dhole, the US zoo population serves as an extension of the EEP (EAZA's version of the SSPs), in a similar way to what occurs with gelada, so I wouldn't be surprised if some committed US Zoos continue to hold animals sourced from European zoos (we are living in an age of increasing cross-continent cooperation by zoos). It's worth noting that pretty much the entire US population is descended from a single pair, so genetically speaking to breed more dholes an import from Europe will need to happen, which is complicated by the fact dholes are considered an injurious species by USFWS. To put it simply, there's a lot complicating the future of dhole in US Zoos, despite how incredible the species is and three of the largest US Zoos appear to be committed to the species.

 

Basundi and Kallu at the Minnesota Zoo have died. They were the only two at the zoo.

 

Disappointing to hear. I have a possible Minnesota trip lined up over the summer and the dhole and the seal were two of the species I was most excited about. I notice Piri is unmentioned; does anyone know when they passed away?

I assume Minnesota will end their dhole program unless there are imports?

 

I haven't seen a third dhole in a few years. She has likely been gone for a few years because at the last couple afternoon training sessions that I saw, there were only two. I don't know if she died or was relocated.

The enclosure will probably be empty for a while. The current staff don't seem to find a use for empty enclosures quickly. The one immediate possibly that I see is use for some of the gray wolves as their enclosure is smaller than what the AZA suggests. I wouldn't expect the wolf idea to happen though.

 

Thank you for the insight. Piri's age sounds to most likely indicate she passed, but since she'd been in the most recent population update in January I wasn't sure if something had happened recently as I had apparently not refollowed Minnesota's 2023 news thread.

 

The 4 dholes that will be at Zoo de Granby in Quebec, Canada are all female and are named Berezi, Sadie, Scarlet, and Tandoori (so it seems like they will come from San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California).

Zoo de Granby - Nous en savons un peu plus sur nos...

 

According to the Zoo Granby Newsletter, they are acquiring 4 females and two males. We already know the names of the female but do any of you know who the two males are.

 

Just taking a guess - but potentially the two young males at the Wilds. Unless Granby are importing from overseas, they seem the most logical option.

 

It is even more of a shame they let them then simply die out when the One Plan Approach to species conservation requires the global zoo community to work to a global management of threatened species. If AZA is phasing out they should enable other regions to integrate amd absorb that current small US dhole population into their regional breeding program.