Data and facts about the street dogs of Bhutan.
Jump to: Community Perception | Roaming Behaviours | Sheltering History
Highlights
Community Perception
Jump to: Esue & Katsho
Protected Areas: Esue & Katsho Survey
External link:
Dorji, Tshering & Tenzin, Tenzin & Rinzin, Karma & Phimpraphai, Waraphon & De Garine-Wichatitsky, Michel. (2020). Community Perceptions of Free-Roaming Dogs and Management Practices in Villages at the Periphery of a Protected Area in Bhutan. Chiang Mai University Journal of Natural Sciences. 19. 10.12982/CMUJNS.2020.00020.
https://doi.org/10.12982/CMUJNS.2020.00020
- Feral dog population: Although 64% of respondents acknowledged the existence of feral dog populations, only 40% in rural villages and 36% in semi-urban areas had seen them.
- About 50% of respondents believed feral dog populations have increased over the past five years.
- Issues with free-roaming dogs: Most participants (81%) agreed that free-roaming dogs pose community problems.
- Risks including attacks on humans (64%) and domestic animals (50%), wildlife attacks, disease transmission, nuisance from barking, environmental contamination with feces, and agricultural crop destruction.
- Fear levels: Fear levels of dogs were high, with 35% extremely afraid, 30% very afraid, and 15% moderately afraid; only 12% were slightly afraid, and 8% were not afraid at all.
Related data from the same study
Research summary | Back to top
Roaming Behaviours
Jump to: Esue & Katsho
Protected Areas: Esue & Katsho Survey
External link:
Dorji, Tshering & Tenzin, Tenzin & Rinzin, Karma & Phimpraphai, Waraphon & De Garine-Wichatitsky, Michel. (2020). Community Perceptions of Free-Roaming Dogs and Management Practices in Villages at the Periphery of a Protected Area in Bhutan. Chiang Mai University Journal of Natural Sciences. 19. 10.12982/CMUJNS.2020.00020.
https://doi.org/10.12982/CMUJNS.2020.00020
| Question | Esue / rural | Katsho / semi-urban |
|---|---|---|
| Allow pets to roam freely | 65% | 59% |
| Do dogs stay within 1.0km from home? | 83% | 84% |
| Do dogs share a habitat with wildlife | ||
| Never | 19% | 36% |
| Occasionally | 41% | 11% |
| Daily | 17% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 23% | 31% |
| Do dogs attack wildlife? | 71% | 44% |
| Do dogs attack domestic animals? | 70% | 40% |
| What types of dogs attack wildlife? | ||
| Owned / pet dog | 7% | 1% |
| Stray dogs | 41% | 32% |
| Both pet and stray dogs | 13% | 3% |
| Don’t know | 39% | 64% |
| What types of dogs attack domestic animals? | ||
| Owned / pet dogs | 7% | 2% |
| Stray dogs | 55% | 34% |
| Both pet and stray dogs | 7% | 0% |
| Don’t know | 31% | 65% |
Related data from the same study
Research summary | Back to top
Sheltering History
External link:
Willetts, Marion C. and Beck, Frank D., The Influences of Buddhism and Development on the Well-Being of Bhutan’s Street Dogs, Animal Studies Journal, 9(2), 2020, 56-86. Available at:
https://ro.uow.edu.au/asj/vol9/iss2/4
- Estimated Dog Population: In 2006, Bhutan had approximately 50,000 dogs, including 32,000 with owners and 5,500 free-roaming dogs in Thimphu alone.
- Failed Sheltering Effort: In 2006, a plan to build shelters in all 20 districts and impound street dogs was unsuccessful. Over the course of 15 months, government officials captured and impounded several thousand street dogs living in Thimphu and Paro. But due to a lack of resources and expertise, most of the impounded dogs died while in captivity.
- Government Response: The Bhutanese government closed the shelters and sought alternative strategies to manage the street dog population.