Creature Companion - Interzoo Special Interzoo Special 2018 | Page 35

Th e Rajapalayam
Th e Rajapalayam or Poligar Hound is an Indian sight
hound that was used to hunt wild boar. It is local to the
town of Rajapalyam in Tamil Nadu. In the late eighteenth
century the Poligar Hound was bred for battle against
British cavalrymen. Th ese days, it is used by the Indian
armed forces to monitor the Kashmir fringe.
Th e Mudhol Hound
Giving tough competition to the German shepherd,
the Mudhol or Caravan Hound originated in
Karnataka in southern India. Surprisingly, it is
believed to have been fi rst brought to western India
by travelers from Arabia and Central Asia during
the early twentieth century. A pair of Mudhol
Hounds was presented to King George V of England
by the king of Mudhol State. Today, the Indian army
uses the Mudhol Hound for guarding borders and
for surveillance purposes.
Despite the fact that the Rajapalayam is the most prized
Indian hunter and a fantastic guard dog, it is prone to
deafness. It is remarkable for being smooth white in
shading, and having a trademark pink nose and brilliant
eyes. Unfortunately, the Rajapalayam is, by all accounts,
headed towards extinction. Th e Kennel Club of India
has launched a ‘Save the Rajapalayam’ drive to ensure its
survival.
Th e Mudhol Hound has a long elongated skull
with a tapering muzzle which makes it appear quite
ferocious. Th e breed needs consistent exercise and
training and, hence, requires a fi rm trainer but not
a harsh or a ruthless one as this breed is also known
for its short temperament.
Th ese dogs have stunning speed and stamina and
are swift as their body is narrow, reminding us of
the Chippiparai. Th eir coat colour varies, ranging
from cream to black, fawn, fallow, red and gray, and
occasionally some white. Th ere is a hairier variety of
the breed with a feathered look called the Pashmi.
Th is breed is known by many names across various
regions, subcultures and groups in the country. Th e
Kennel Club of India recognizes this breed as the
Caravan Hound, while the Indian National Kennel
Club has categorized it as the Mudhol Hound.
to the greyhound, their medium-sized
streamlined body shows agility and strength
and their coat ranges from black to silver
grey, fawn and reddish brown, making them
suitable for the hot and humid climate of
India.
Chippiparais are sighthounds; their eyes are
positioned in a way that gives them 270 degree
vision, a much greater range than that of most other breeds.
Th eir muscles and bones weigh more than their body fat.
Th ey make for perfect guard dogs, are known to love human
company, and hate being secluded. Th e Chippiparai is loyal to
just one master during its entire life. Sadly, this exquisite hunting
dog is now close to extinction and unless ethical breeders work
hard to preserve the breed, it will soon be relegated to the portals
of memory.
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Interzoo Special 2018
| Creature Companion