Singing dog
Canis Lupus Dingo Hallostromi
IUCN Status: Critically endangered
Diet
Cuscus, dwarf cassowaries, wallabies, rodents & poultry!
Breeding
It would seem that like dingoes and unlike all other domestic dogs that the females only come into heat once a year (it is twice for all other dogs).
At The Zoo
Sadly our singing dogs have now passed with age related problems. Currently we are displaying Dingoes in their enclsoure. We will try to source more singing dogs but they would have to come from the USA. There are very few breeding females at the present time. Our dogs “Kota” and “Belle” were still the only singing dogs in the UK. Their offspring are now in Zoo Zlin in the Czech and Neumunster in Germany. They have not bred for the last 6 years due to a hormonal implant in Belle and because they are getting older we are not expecting a litter! They have just had a change of home and a new warm inside house built, but as summer comes they are enjoying being out in their enclosure virtually all day!
Habitat
Remote areas of undisturbed Papua New Guinea
Fun Facts
DNA shows that this sub species of dog could actually be the origin of dingoes! It can be viewed as a living fossil for all domestic dogs as it has lived in isolation in Papua New Guinea for at least 6,000 maybe even 12,000 years or more!
Behaviour
So little wild behaviour is known – but it is theorised that singers are solitary, together for breeding and raising a litter and then reverting to their own territories. They have flexible spines and are inclined to climb – trees, fences and walls compared to other dogs are easily negotiated! Their singing (http://newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org/Tidbits/sing.wav) is rather like a cross between a wolf howl and a whale song!!