Raccoon Dogs

In News

• A new analysis of genetic data collected from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, has linked coronavirus to raccoon dogs

About Raccoon Dogs

• Raccoon dogs are neither dogs nor raccoons. They belong to the canid family and are closely related to foxes.
• They are the only canids that hibernate during the winter. 
• Food habits: They are omnivores, dining on food sources like rodents and berries. 
  • Although they appear svelte in the summer, they pack on the pounds for winter, when their fur also becomes thicker. They are monogamous, often living in pairs.
• Distribution: Raccoon dogs are originally from East Asia and are commonly found in parts of China, Korea, and Japan, where they are known as tanuki. 

• They are also found in Europe, where they were first brought in by fur traders in the 1920s. 
  • Today, raccoon dogs are considered to be a threat to the local ecosystem in Europe and an EU report declared them “one of the most successful alien carnivores in Europe.”
  • However, in Japan, tanuki is revered. 

• Threats: They are sold for meat and fur.
• Protection Status: Least Concern in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Research and Experiments: Laboratory experiments have shown that raccoon dogs are susceptible to and capable of transmitting the novel coronavirus. 
  • But that does not mean that they are the natural reservoir for the virus. 

Source:IE