Foraging habits
Dogs on streets are scavengers, and the ones in India seem to thrive quite well on the garbage and offerings from people, though it is mostly full of carbohydrates. Dogs are canids, and they have a high dietary requirement for animal proteins. How do dogs on streets meet this requirement? One option is to hunt, but they are rarely seen to hunt. It has been suggested that the ability to digest carbohydrates was a key genetic change in the ancestors of dogs that enabled them to domesticate themselves from obligatory hunters, the wolves (Axelsson et al 2013). But the ability to digest carbohydrates does not necessarily translate to a loss of the need for proteins in their diet. We have been interested in understanding what exactly dogs eat, and how they find (if at all) enough proteins to sustain themselves. Anandarup began this project, and several students have joined in. Currently Debottam is interested in understanding the dietary habits of free-ranging dogs. Rohan and Shubhra are interns involved in related experiments.
Reference:
Axelsson E, Ratnakumar A, Arendt M-L, et al. (2013) The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet. Nature 000:1-5. doi: 10.1038/nature11837
We probe into the private lives of dogs using mostly our eyes, some times aided by cameras and binoculars. In the field, we never forget to carry a notebook, a pen and our brains! Our research involves behavioural observations, population level sampling and manipulative experiments. We study dogs in their natural habitat, i.e., on streets, and do not maintain individuals in captivity. Currently we are also not involved in studying dogs in shelters are kennels or pets, but we look forward to doing so in the near future.
PHOTOS/VIDEOS
FRIENDS
Funded projects:
- Behavioural Ecology of the Indian Stray Dog Canis familiaris. Funded by CSIR, India, April 2010 - September 2013, Rs.22,02,000/-
- Understanding aggression and its correlates in the Indian feral dog Canis familiaris. Funded by INSA, June 2010 - June 2013, Rs.1,50,000/-
- Parental care and social dynamics in free-ranging dogs in India. Funded by DST under the FASTTRACK scheme, August 2013 - August 2016, Rs.14,00,000/-.
- Mating dynamics, territoriality and social organization in the Indian free-ranging dog, Canis lupus familiaris. Funded by SERB, DST, under the Women Excellence award scheme, September 2013 - September 2016, Rs.18,00,000/-.
