In a significant boost for wildlife conservation in Northeast India, the endangered Asiatic wild dog, or dhole (Cuon alpinus), has been recorded for the first time in the forests of Shirui Village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. The rare carnivore was photographed by a camera trap during a wildlife monitoring survey, providing the first documented evidence of its presence in the region.

The discovery was made by the Environmental Force at Grassroot Level (ENFOGAL), a community-based conservation organisation that has been conducting biodiversity monitoring in the Shirui landscape. For years, local residents believed the species had disappeared from the area, making the camera-trap image an important confirmation that dholes still survive in these forests.

The dhole is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is among Asia’s most threatened carnivores. Its population has declined sharply due to habitat loss, depletion of natural prey, disease transmitted by domestic dogs, and conflict with humans. The species is known for its highly social behaviour, living and hunting in coordinated packs that prey mainly on deer and other medium-sized ungulates.

Conservationists have described the Shirui sighting as an encouraging sign of the ecological health of the region. The presence of an apex predator such as the dhole indicates that the forest still supports a functioning food chain and underscores the importance of continued habitat protection and community-led conservation efforts.

The latest camera-trap record adds to the growing list of rare wildlife discoveries in Northeast India and highlights the value of scientific monitoring in revealing species that often remain undetected in remote forests. Experts hope the finding will encourage further research and strengthen conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding the unique biodiversity of Manipur’s hill forests.