The 'ghost dogs' of the Amazon – one of the world's most elusive animals – are thriving and more active than previously thought, according to new footage. The short-eared dog, known scientifically as Atelocynus microtis, has long been regarded as one of Latin America's most mysterious carnivores. Its elusive nature, combined with acute hearing and a powerful sense of smell, has allowed it to avoid human contact for decades, leaving researchers with only a handful of confirmed sightings.
However, a study published in the journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation has provided new insights into the species through nearly 25 years of research and camera-trap monitoring in Bolivia and Peru. Researchers say advances in remote sensing technology have transformed their understanding of the animal.
According to lead author Robert Wallace, the breakthrough came when scientists first photographed the species using camera traps in 2001. Recognising the significance of the discovery, researchers began compiling data from across the Amazon basin. Over the following two decades, scientists gathered 500 distribution records in Bolivia and carried out 34 intensive camera-trap surveys across lowland regions of Bolivia and Peru, particularly within the Greater Madidi-Tambopata and Llanos de Moxos biocultural landscapes. The project produced 594 independent photographic records, representing the largest collection of confirmed short-eared dog observations anywhere within the species' range.
The lead author described the research as a 'wonderful example of how conservation technology and remote sensing – in this case the intensive use of camera traps – can provide substantial data on one of the least known species of the Amazonian rainforests'.
'Ghost dogs' on camera
Images captured by the camera traps revealed distinctive physical characteristics, including a dark coat ranging from blackish-grey to reddish-brown, a large head, very small rounded ears, short legs and a long bushy tail. Researchers also found that the species possesses partially webbed paws, a feature not seen in any other Amazonian wild dog. Yet scientists say the most surprising finding was not the animal's appearance.
'The most surprising aspect of the results was that despite being an almost mythical beast, short-eared dogs are much more abundant than we had imagined.' While the species remains relatively uncommon, capture rates and population estimates suggest there may be around 15 individuals per 100 square kilometres in suitable habitat. The study found that short-eared dogs are more numerous than larger predators such as the jaguar, but less abundant than medium-sized carnivores including the ocelot.
Researchers also gained new insights into the animal's behaviour. The species appears to be more of a morning canid, with activity levels highest between 6am and midday. The findings suggest the short-eared dog is closely tied to intact rainforest habitats. Researchers found the species strongly favours terra firme forests — elevated areas of woodland located away from rivers — which may help explain why it has remained largely hidden from human observers.
Conservation implications
The study concludes that protecting these habitats will be critical to the species' long-term survival. Scientists found that short-eared dogs were significantly more abundant in national protected areas and Indigenous territories that overlap with protected zones than in unprotected landscapes. 'The most important management strategy is the protection of Amazonian forest canopy for which the creation and effective management of protected areas is the most important element, in combination with the sustainable management of Indigenous territories.'
Although the short-eared dog appears to be thriving in some of the most remote forests of Bolivia and Peru, scientists say continued conservation efforts will be essential if the species is to remain secure in the years ahead.
