Ecological impacts and epidemiological risks due to domestic dogs in protected area of Bhutan

Name: Dorji, Tshering

LCSH: Kasetsart University -- Theses. M.S. (Bio-Veterinary Science) 2021

Classification :.LCCS: SF991

LCSH: Kasetsart University. -- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine -- Theses

LCSH: Dogs -- Diseases -- Epidemiology

LCSH: Dogs -- Diseases -- Bhutan

LCSH: Dogs -- Virus diseases -- Bhutan

LCSH: Veterinary epidemiology

Abstract: In Bhutan, free-roaming dogs pose health hazards to human, livestock, and wildlife. Understanding the perceptions and practices of local communities regarding free-roaming dogs is important to mitigate their negative impacts. Therefore, a cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in the buffer zone of Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve, western Bhutan. The survey was carried out during February-October 2018 using a questionnaire survey, “free-listing” of dog diseases, group discussions and key-informant interviews. A total of 140 households from Katsho and Esue geogs (sub-districts) were interviewed. People classify dogs under three categories: “Gokhi”/pet, “Changkhi”/stray dog, and “Shakhi”/feral dog. A higher proportion of rural people owned dogs, which were used for guarding crops and livestock against wildlife, and to protect owner themselves. Owning a dog also contributed significantly to the non-material well-being of people in both the semi-urban and the rural areas. All the respondents indicated sharp decrease of self-assessed happiness index if their pet dog was removed from them. In contrast to the perceived positive impacts of pet dogs, the majority (81%) of the respondents considered that stray and feral dogs are a problem in the community. The main threats included attacks/bites to humans, livestock and also to wildlife. Sixty five percent of the respondents indicated that they were extremely or very afraid of dogs, with a significantly higher proportion of females expressing fear of stray dogs compared to males (p=0.0001). Rabies was the most frequently (69.7%) mentioned dog diseases with the highest rank (1.46) in the list, followed by scabies (49.5% and 1.52). The respondents in both the study sites indicated limited knowledge about dog diseases and associated epidemiological risks. The majority (56%) of the respondents indicated that stray and feral dogs originate from abandoned pet dogs. The management of pet dogs through proper housing/confinement is believed to reduce the free movement of dogs within the village. The results of this community-based survey call for a multi-sectoral/one health approach to mitigate the threats posed by free-roaming dogs. Proper guidelines and education on pet dog management and population control could reduce the size and the impacts of uncontrolled stray dog population in the country. However, local communities and other stakeholders, including livestock and environment services, acknowledges that they have very little knowledge about feral dog populations and thus, more detailed studies are required to document and possibly control their impacts.

Kasetsart University. Office of the University Library

Address: Bangkok

Email: tdckulib@ku.ac.th

Name: Waraphon Phimpraphai

Role: Thesis Advisor

Name: Michel de Garine-Wichatitsky

Role: Thesis CO-Advisor

Created: 2021

Modified: 2025-07-10

Issued: 2025-07-10

วิทยานิพนธ์/Thesis

application/pdf

URL: https://www.lib.ku.ac.th/KUthesis/2564/dorji-tsh-all.pdf

CallNumber: SF991 .D67

eng

Spatial: Bhutan

Spatial: Bhutan

DegreeName: Master of Science

Level: Master's Degree

Descipline: Bio-Veterinary Science

Grantor: Kasetsart University

©copyrights Kasetsart University

ลำดับที่.	ชื่อแฟ้มข้อมูล	ขนาดแฟ้มข้อมูล	จำนวนเข้าถึง	วัน-เวลาเข้าถึงล่าสุด
1	dorji-tsh-all.pdf	3.88 MB

ใช้เวลา

0.032255 วินาที