A pair of endangered Asian wild dogs arrive at Terra Natura de Benidorm in Spain to breed

A pair of rare Asian wild dogs -known as dholes- have arrived at Terra Natura in Benidorm to form a breeding group that will contribute to the conservation of the animal.

Fewer than 2,500 adults remain in the wild, and they tend to live in the jungles, forests, and grasslands of central and eastern Asia.

Factors contributing to their decline include habitat loss, loss of prey, and competition with other species.

The dhole is considered a very social animal and for hunting it groups in packs and can capture prey up to 10 times its weight, although its diet is usually based on small mammals and reptiles.

Terra Natura’s new couple are a female named Dorinka, from the Budapest Zoo in Hungary, and a male named Balto, from the Magdeburg Zoo in Germany.

Both are two years old, so they have reached adulthood and have the ability to reproduce.

The vet team has started the first bonding sessions between Balto and Dorinka and they join the other dholes, Kira and Lennon, in the park.

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