Community Perceptions and Rapid Assessment of Free-Roaming Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) Populations in Tiger Reserves of Telangana, India

Abstract

Free-roaming dogs (Canis familiaris) are increasingly recognized as an emerging global conservation and public health concern, particularly in parts of South Asia, such as India, where humans and wildlife coexist. However, there is limited information on their population sizes, associated human perspectives and activities in villages surrounding tiger reserves. The goal of this study was to evaluate free-roaming dog populations and assess community perceptions of their role and potential impacts on wildlife, particularly tigers, in villages surrounding tiger reserves. I combined ecological and social approaches to assess free-roaming dog populations and related community perceptions in villages surrounding the Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR) and Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Telangana, India in 2025. Dog populations were estimated across 50 villages using photographic capture–mark–recapture (CMR). Under the closed-population assumption, photographic CMR improves the reliability of free-roaming dog population estimates by accounting for imperfect detection compared to direct counts. I used four estimators based on the CMR technique to estimate the population size, including Chapman, SuperDuplicates, Schnabel, and Beck’s. Across the 27 ATR villages, the Chapman, SuperDuplicates, Schnabel, and Beck’s estimators yielded total population estimates of 2251, 5270, 2202, and 2115 dogs, respectively, whereas across the 23 KTR villages, the corresponding estimates were 1174, 3684, 1011, and 1090 dogs. I also assessed community perceptions of free-roaming dogs using a structured questionnaire survey. Out of 621 respondents, 61% reported providing food or water to dogs, 24% veterinary care, 10% other healthcare, and 12% shelter, while 35% reported no support. Direct interactions between dogs and wildlife were rarely reported across all age groups, with no statistically significant variation observed. In contrast, support for dog management strategies differed significantly across age groups, with the highest support observed among respondents in the 30–49 age group. This study provides important foundational data on free-roaming dog populations and community perceptions for forest departments and local NGOs. Comparisons among estimators revealed minimal differences in the results across Chapman, Schnabel, and Beck’s methods. However, the SuperDuplicates estimator consistently yielded higher estimates, suggesting potential overestimation in field conditions. Integrating population estimates with local attitudes can help further inform better management strategies for free-roaming dog populations in tiger reserves.