Dholes are highly social pack hunters found across South and Southeast Asia. Persecution and prey depletion threaten both their welfare and their population viability.
Dhole welfare is threatened by persecution arising from misunderstanding of their behavior and conflict with livestock. Poisoning campaigns against dholes cause prolonged suffering before death. Pack disruption through persecution of key individuals affects cooperative hunting ability and pup rearing — the welfare of all pack members depends on pack integrity. Prey depletion means packs must travel further and take greater risks to meet energy needs. Community education programs that correct misconceptions about dhole behavior and provide livestock protection support reduce conflict-based persecution and directly improve dhole welfare.