In a major boost to wildlife conservation in Manipur, the endangered Dhole (Cuon alpinus), commonly known as the Asiatic wild dog, has been photographed for the first time through a camera trap in the forests of Shirui Village in Ukhrul district.
The rare sighting was made during a wildlife monitoring survey conducted by the Environmental Force at Grassroot Level (ENFOGAL), a conservation organisation that has spent the past eight years promoting biodiversity protection across Ukhrul through awareness campaigns involving schools, youth groups, village authorities and local communities.
The camera-trap footage has confirmed the continued presence of the elusive predator in the region, overturning the long-held belief that dholes had disappeared from the hills surrounding Shirui. Conservationists say the discovery further highlights Shirui as one of Manipur’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
A significant contribution to the discovery came from Pamreithing, a former hunter who has now become a conservation volunteer. Using his extensive knowledge of the forests and wildlife movement, he helped identify the location where the camera trap was installed, eventually leading to the historic recording.
Wildlife experts noted that the dhole is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and survives only in healthy forest ecosystems with adequate prey and minimal human disturbance. Its presence is therefore considered a strong indicator of the ecological health of Shirui’s forests.
Conservationists also attributed the achievement to the collective efforts of the local community, particularly the village’s decision to curb hunting and strengthen forest protection. In recent years, Shirui has yielded several notable wildlife records, suggesting that its forests continue to shelter species that remain poorly documented.
The conservation initiative has also received support from the Ukhrul Forest Division through awareness programmes and the Community-Based Sustainable Forest Management (COSFOM) project, funded by KfW. Under the project’s Forest Area Closure (FAC) programme, a village forest patrol team regularly monitors the protected forests to prevent illegal hunting, trapping and other destructive activities.
Patrick Shangh, Co-founder of ENFOGAL and a resident of Shirui, described the discovery as a reflection of the community’s commitment to conservation. He credited the Shirui Village Authority and local residents for enforcing a hunting ban and protecting the forests, expressing hope that the finding would inspire greater efforts to conserve the region’s rich natural heritage.
Researchers believe the forests of Shirui may still hold many undiscovered species, and ongoing scientific surveys are expected to reveal further insights into the area’s exceptional biodiversity.
