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| นิตยสาร สารคดี: ฉบับที่ ๒๑๙ เดือนพฤษภาคม ๒๕๔๖ | ISSN 0857-1538 | |||
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| Story & Photos: Prinyakorn Voravan | |||
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Splash! A pack of Asian wild dogs jumped into a knee-deep stream to attack a poor struggling banteng. Despite an attempt by nearby gaurs to chase them away, the predators adroitly zeroed in on its victim...yet again. It was the end of a rainy season in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. After a successful hunt, a period of rest for the predators began. For 8 days, the 7-8 member pack hung out by the kill at the stream while I observed their lives closely from a camouflage hiding place. Asian wild dogs are known to be fierce, aggressive, fearless and possessive of their kills. They work as a group to stalk their prey and are infamous for tearing apart the eyes and stomach of their catch-alive! But 8 days with a group of them gave me a new perspective into the life of this fearsome carnivore. |
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For much of the time I spent studying the wild dog pack, I was also "watchdogged" by the one in the pack--a large male dog with darker hair. The unfamiliar smell of my presence prompted him to check out the intruder before deciding that I was of no immediate threat and retreating to about 5 meters away from the hideout. Judging from his brawny physique and the way he looked out for others in the pack, this canine, which I called "Red Inferno," must have been the pack leader. On the first day after the banteng was cornered, "Red Inferno" was the first to get a claim over the prey-the eyes and innards. Others joined the feasting fray only afterwards. | ||
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I had thought Asian wild dogs liked to stay by their kill for several days because they did not want to share it with others, but I was proven wrong by the afternoon of the first day. A single wild pig came by to grab a sizeable chunk of the carcass without much fuss from the wild dogs, to my surprise, and returned for more twice a day for the following 2-3 days. Next in line for a feast on the banteng remains were water monitors. When an herbivore fell prey to predators, it meant a series of parties for many forest dwellers. |
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While other dogs mostly lounged around, sleeping or playing, "Red Inferno" tried hard to stay awake to guard against me from 5 meters away. His behavior confirmed my belief that it was essential to maintain enough distance between us, intruders, and the wildlife. But as the days passed, that distance gradually shrank and "Red Inferno" seemed more at ease. During the 8 days of my time together with the wild dogs, not only did we become closer, the time also allowed me to question my preconceptions of Asian wild dogs as merciless, possessive and fearless predators, and to see another side of their lives. I left the place a bit changed-the experience taught me to use more of my heart, not my brain, to observe wildlife. |