WOLF DOG

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Picture Courtesy: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67619068

Context: In a letter to state governments, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying urged  local authorities to stop granting licences or permits for the breeding and selling of dogs that they considered to be "ferocious" and "dangerous for human life." The wolf dog is one of the 23 breeds on the list.

Details

• The problem of wolf-domestic dog hybridization in India has gained attention due to the Indian government's recent consideration of prohibiting wolf dogs.
• While the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying's letter listed wolf dogs as "ferocious" and "dangerous for human life," experts have expressed concern about the country's lack of data on wolf-dog breeding and the prevalence of wolf-dog hybrids in the wild.

About Wolf Dogs

• Wolf dogs are the hybrids of a wolf and a domestic dog, and they share traits of both species.
• While wolf dog puppies may appear playful and manageable, their wild signalling may come out as they mature. This can result in hostility towards humans and other animals, making them unsuitable pets for most households.
• Wolf dogs can be strong and intelligent, but they can also be unpredictable, making them unsuitable for inexperienced dog owners or households with small children.
• In Ladakh, a wolf-dog hybrid is known as Khib-shang. In Ladakhi, khi means 'dog' and shang means 'chanku' or wolf.
• Breeding wolf dogs in India is illegal under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972, as the wolf is a Schedule I species.

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CENTRE TO BAN DOG BREEDS: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/centre-to-ban-dog-breeds