The dog species that makes sounds similar to humpback whales has been missing for a long time in the New Guinea highlands, but has been found on the other side of the island.
New Guinea Singing Dog (NGSD) is a rare wild dog breed native to the island of Papua New Guinea and belongs to the Dingo group. This unique breed is known for its distinctive barking and howling, which can produce melodious sounds resembling the calls of humpback whales. Only about 200 New Guinea Singing Dogs are alive in captivity at conservation centers or zoos. They are descendants of wild dogs captured in the 1970s and are often inbred due to a lack of genetic diversity.
No New Guinea Singing Dogs had been discovered in the wild for half a century. It wasn’t until 2016 that an expedition located and studied 15 wild dogs in the remote Papua Highlands of western Indonesia. They returned to the area in 2018 to collect biological samples to confirm whether the highland dogs were ancestors of the singing dogs.
New Guinea Singing Dog near Grasberg mine in Papua. (Photo: CNN).
DNA comparison results from blood samples collected from the two dog populations show they have very similar genetic sequences and are more closely related to each other than any other dog breed, according to a study published on August 31 in the journal PNAS. Although their genomes are not entirely identical, the research team suggests that the highland dogs are indeed the wild ancestors of the New Guinea Singing Dog. According to Elaine Ostrander, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health and the lead author of the study, the highland wild dogs share a 70% genetic match with the captive population. The differences between them result from inbreeding.
New Guinea is the second largest island in the world. The eastern half of the island is Papua New Guinea, while the western half belongs to Indonesia and is called Papua. The New Guinea Singing Dog was first described after researchers found an individual at an altitude of about 2,100 meters in the Central Province of Papua New Guinea in 1897.
The New Guinea Singing Dog is a small to medium-sized dog with a strong and well-proportioned body, resembling wild Dingoes but slightly smaller. Female dogs can reproduce twice a year, which is different from Dingoes. They stand about 35-38 cm tall and weigh between 8-14 kg. Their appearance is fox-like, with pointed heads, broad foreheads, upright ears, sharp eyes, soft fur of moderate length, and bushy tails.
The New Guinea Singing Dog was first identified in Papua New Guinea in 1897. (Photo: Pixabay).
The New Guinea Singing Dog is known for its agility and grace. They have a flexible bone structure, allowing them to navigate through tight spaces easily. The New Guinea Singing Dog has exceptional hunting abilities, sometimes even exceeding what they have learned during training when they spot prey. They often use their keen senses to listen, observe, and sniff out their targets.
Their jaw structure and teeth are believed to be superior to those of wild Dingoes. In the wild, their diet includes marsupials such as wallabies, various rodents, cuscuses, some bird species, the cassowary, and even fruits.
Their fur is typically reddish-gold, or reddish-gold mixed with white stripes, and sometimes black and gold. White fur may appear but does not cover more than one-third of their total body area and is only found in certain areas such as the snout, face, neck, shoulders, legs, paws, tip of the tail, and belly. This white fur does not form large patches on the body. Their hind legs are straight, and their tails are of moderate length and covered with smooth fur. NGSD can groom their coats effectively. Their lifespan can reach from 15 to 20 years. NGSD is known to be a very healthy breed.
This breed is named after their distinctive calls, a complex harmony of howls with varying pitches, interspersed between high and low tones, unlike any other dog breed, even the long and melodious howls of hunting dogs like foxhounds. NGSD has a unique ability to modulate their pitch when howling or singing.
Scientists believe this breed is very rare, and their singing voice cannot be found in any other dog species. (Photo: Pixabay).
They do not bark continuously but produce a series of complex sounds, including high-pitched calls, sighs, and single barks. Their distinctive howl has a strange pitch, which is what inspired their name. They typically vocalize when feeling disturbed or agitated. Scientists believe their howls are unique and similar to the sounds of humpback whales. They also consider this species very rare, and their singing voice cannot be found in any other dog breed.
The New Guinea Singing Dog was once a wild dog but is now nearly fully domesticated and has integrated well into society. They can express affection towards their owners. NGSD is very lively and always alert, constantly exploring their surroundings using all senses, including tasting. Although they are friendly and bonded with their owners, NGSD can remain cautious around strangers and may become aggressive towards other dogs, especially those of the same breed.
New Guinea Singing Dogs are not a popular choice for family pets as they retain many wild traits and face the risk of extinction. However, some breeders are striving to socialize them. When properly trained, NGSD can become very affectionate and friendly. The Taronga Zoo in Sydney, along with some other zoos, is holding a few of these dogs and is working to preserve them from extinction. They can live in cold climates and can adapt to changes. New Guinea Singing Dogs need regular exercise and outdoor activity.
