Scientists Spot a Rare Breed of Singing Dogs, Which Were Speculated to Be Extinct, in the Wild After 50 Years
It was 50 years ago when the New Guinea singing dog was found in the wild. Recently, however, scientists made an astonishing discovery.
Currently, the rare dogs are typically held in captivity in conservation centers and zoos. But when researchers journeyed to one of Papua's remote areas, they found the long-lost musical canines.
Scientists initially observed them in 2016. Then, in 2018, they returned to acquire some DNA samples and validate their findings.
This ancient breed is famous for its extraordinary howls and vocalizations. During the '70s, some wild dogs were captured.
Two hundred of them remain in captivity and are the only descendants left. Sadly, due to their small number, they have suffered from severe inbreeding.
In 2016, scientists from the New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation discovered 25 dogs on conservation land, close to a gold and copper mine.
After two years, they fearlessly ventured to high altitudes, enduring severe weather and extreme terrain. They gathered blood and tissue samples for the dogs' health check-ups.
After the DNA analysis, researchers found that the dogs had a 70% genetic overlap with the wild canines in captivity.
What's more, the highland canines exhibited greater genetic variation. In contrast, the dogs in captivity descended from only eight of their wild ancestors.
According to U.S. geneticist Elaine Ostrander, the heavy inbreeding was the reason behind the loss of much genetic diversity. This process continued for generations.
The singing dogs are closely related to dingoes.
They are also relatives of the Asian dogs that migrated to Oceania around 3,500 years ago. It is possible that these ancient dogs diverged from a common ancestor at that time.
As a result, the number of breeds like the Akita and Shiba Inu increased. The scientists will continue their studies to uncover the mysteries surrounding this ancient breed.
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