Scientists Spot a Rare Breed of Singing Dogs, Which Were Speculated to Be Extinct, in the Wild After 50 Years
For half a century, the New Guinea singing dog was thought to be gone from the wild. Then scientists working in a remote part of Papua came across something few expected to see again, a living population of the rare, vocal dogs.
The breed is usually seen only in captivity now, where conservation centers and zoos keep the remaining animals. But researchers who first spotted the dogs in 2016 later returned in 2018 to collect DNA samples and confirm what they had found.
The discovery has put a fresh spotlight on a breed known for its unusual howls, its limited numbers, and the long shadow of inbreeding. Read on.
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.
What's more, the highland canines exhibited greater genetic variation. In contrast, the dogs in captivity descended from only eight of their wild ancestors. The heavy inbreeding was the reason behind the loss of much genetic diversity. This process continued for generations.
That finding made the discovery even more striking.
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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