Camera-trap records endangered dhole for first time in Manipur’s Shirui forests

An endangered dhole, also known as the Asiatic wild dog, has been documented for the first time in the forests of Shirui village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. The record came from a camera-trap survey carried out in the area where many residents had long believed the species did not occur in the hills around Shirui.

Camera trap confirms an elusive predator

The detection was made during a wildlife monitoring effort run by the Environmental Force at Grassroot Level (ENFOGAL). The survey was part of the group’s ongoing work to record biodiversity in Shirui village and support conservation led by local communities. The camera-trap footage helped confirm the presence of the species in the forested landscape around the village.

ENFOGAL has also been conducting wildlife conservation awareness programmes across Ukhrul district for several years. These activities have involved schools, youth, village authorities and community members, with the aim of building local ownership for protecting wildlife and forest habitats.

Local support helps pinpoint the camera location

Local knowledge played a key role in the monitoring. The survey work was supported by Pamreithing, a former hunter who has become a conservationist. Using his understanding of forest movement, he helped identify a suitable camera-trap location that captured the dhole.

The dhole is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is described as one of Asia’s most threatened social carnivores, with its survival linked to healthy forests, enough prey and reduced human disturbance. Conservationists say the Shirui record indicates that the village’s forests still offer suitable habitat for an elusive predator.

Beyond this camera-trap finding, the Ukhrul Forest Division has been strengthening conservation efforts through community programmes under the Community-Based Sustainable Forest Management (COSFOM) project, supported by KfW. In Shirui village, the Forest Area Closure initiative includes a designated village forest patrol team that monitors the protected area to prevent illegal activities such as hunting and trapping. The evidence is expected to support wider public awareness of local wildlife conservation needs while reinforcing Shirui’s importance as a biodiversity landscape.