As a country with so much diversity in culture and ecosystem, Indonesia has so many exotic animals in each region. Some of them are thriving on their own, but some others are on the brink of extinction.
Papua is no exception. As a region with high-density ecosystems and preserved nature, Papua became a home for so many unique animals for a long time. From the Bird of Heaven to the walking shark, Papua is one of the best sanctuaries for endemic animals.
New Guinea highland dogs are also one of them. It was considered to be extinct 50 years ago. But how did this once-extinct dog resurrect and thrive in Papua’s wild? What are their characteristics, and how did they survive?
Behavior and Characteristic
Scientists found that this species has similarities in genetics with dingo, a wild dog from Australia. But, the singing dog has the characteristics that differentiate it from the other species. Some of them are unique to their species.
- Physical Characteristic
This species has a short leg and a broad head for a wild dog. Considered on the small side, this dog can only grow up to 31-46 cm in height with light brown to black in fur color. Their tiny bodies help them climb and move on the mountain land very nimbly.
Their eyes are triangular and very reflective in light conditions. Their eyes are one of the best animal’s eyes that can see in the dark from the research. Their pupils can open more comprehensively than any other dog species.
Like other wild dogs, their ears are pointed upward and facing forward. It is also fur-lined and susceptible to sound. It helps them to survive and avoid dangers.
- The Singing Howl
This particular dog doesn’t bark like any other species. Their howls are a series of high and low-pitched sounds. That is where it got the name of the singing dog. But, in some cases, when kept with other bark species, it also picks up the behavior.
Their howl has its unique pitch and pattern. Their singing howl started on a high rise and slowly got lower. Usually, the roar lasts for 3 seconds, but some can last for 5 seconds.
The howl can be heard in the morning and near dusk time. They usually howl together, known as chorus howling. One dog will start the howling, and the rest will follow with their singing.
- Social Behavior
From the sightings by the researchers, this dog doesn’t make permanent packs. It is seen only in pairs, a mother and its pups, or a single dog. Researchers considered them “shy” animals and didn’t interact too much with other species.
That behavior is also one of the reasons why this animal is an endangered species. They can’t breed with other dog species besides their own.
The Extinction and The Resurrection
Image source: https://statik.tempo.co/data/2020/09/14/id_966924/966924_720.jpg
For more than 50 years, people thought that these dogs were extinct. There have been no sightings and no specimens found for a long time. The fact that its reproduction capability is low also makes researchers sure about its extinction.
But, in 2020, an employee from a mining corporation uploaded his encounter with this species. He shares his discovery on social media and attracts many people and institutions. In the same year, New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation (NGHWDF) researched the area based on the sightings.
Researchers concluded that the dogs are indeed the once-extinct New Guinea singing dogs based on the DNA samples. They also found that some dogs live in the deepest part of the mountain.
The Sacred Dog
Image source: https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/09/08/science/31TB-SINGINGDOGS/31TB-SINGINGDOGS-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg
The Moni Tribe in Ugimba Village is one of the tribes that consider this dog sacred. They called this dog Segehome, a guardian of the highland. The tribe also believes that they can sense danger from their howling and alert the surrounding area.
Even though they considered this dog almost divine, the Moni Tribe does live with the dog side by side. Sometimes the mountain guide from the tribe gives the dogs some food like tubers.
