Biologists all over are celebrating today over finding out that a species of dog thought to be long extinct actually is not.
The New Guinea highland wild dog has been confirmed as rediscovered on the island in the South Pacific.
These are believed to now be the rarest species of canine left on earth, and now the race is on for conservation
At this point, more than one hundred photos taken by camera-traps set up in 2016. They show that there’s at least 15 of them left, including males, females and pups as well.
Most of them are a golden color, however they can also have cream, roan, or black with various markings and patterns.
Aside from finding out that the famous singing dogs of New Guinea are close relatives of the highland wild dog, it was also discovered that they are probably the most ancient species of dog still alive. They may also be a key ancestor of domesticated dogs, too.
“The discovery and confirmation of the [highland wild dog] for the first time in over half a century is not only exciting but an incredible opportunity for science,” said the New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation (NGHWDF).
Source
The New Guinea highland wild dog has been confirmed as rediscovered on the island in the South Pacific.
These are believed to now be the rarest species of canine left on earth, and now the race is on for conservation
At this point, more than one hundred photos taken by camera-traps set up in 2016. They show that there’s at least 15 of them left, including males, females and pups as well.
Most of them are a golden color, however they can also have cream, roan, or black with various markings and patterns.
Aside from finding out that the famous singing dogs of New Guinea are close relatives of the highland wild dog, it was also discovered that they are probably the most ancient species of dog still alive. They may also be a key ancestor of domesticated dogs, too.
“The discovery and confirmation of the [highland wild dog] for the first time in over half a century is not only exciting but an incredible opportunity for science,” said the New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation (NGHWDF).
Source
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Incredible.
very cool!
Now the question is: are 15 dogs a big enough population for long term viable breeding?
Interesting that Basinjis also sing/yodel...
Beaker: There were only 15 individuals left of the Randall cattle breed, but with conservation and dedication, there are now in the neighborhood of 300, so yes, it can be done.
Inbreeding depression can be avoided with strict regulation and genetic screening. Fayoumi chickens in the United States are all descended from a few eggs brought over from Egypt by Iowa State University and they are doing very well.
Its in every street in cairo you canbpick them up for free
Guaranteed some gun toting moron will shoot them.
These look a lot like Dingoes and they probably are the pure dingo
Awesome 💓💓💓
I've always heard that Basengis originated from these beautiful creatures. Is this known for sure, yet?
I, being an Aussie, tend to agree with Anonymous; "purebred" dingoes can be variegated in colour and size, depending on their environment...
This is fantastic now to protect them from as one viewer mentioned from some gun toting IDIOT. What a great discovery protect them immediately. thank you for sharing this story
Wonderful news. I hope they hurry and set up conservation. I doubt a gun toting idiot will hunt them. The only problem is that a breeder may want to capture some for their own financial gain so a law needs to be written to stop them asap.
They look like Dingos
What is the difference between these and pure dingoes.
Let's wait for a DNA analysis, they might be dogs going back to nature somehow and not a 30,000 years old dog
How can we help ? Is there an organization to support ?