Breeds of 'smart' singing dogs are rediscovered, reviving conservation hopes

One of the special features of this dog is its unique vocalization. - Photo / San Diego Zoo

DOGS, called the New Guinea Singing Dog, are among the dog breeds believed to be extinct, but recent findings give researchers hope that this special group of dogs can still be saved.

It was first discovered and became the topic of study in 1897. It is known for its special feature of unique vocalization and can produce a harmonious voice with quality tones.

This dog's 'singing' sounds like a yodel (a form of singing that involves repetitive and rapid tone changes). Once in a group, one will start 'singing' and the other will join in a different tone, producing a unique sound.

New Guinea Singing Dog was previously claimed to be extinct. - Photo / San Diego Zoo

There were only about 300 dogs at that time and it was claimed to be extinct since the 1970s.

However, researchers have found that dogs called Highland Wild Dogs or highland wild dogs, have very similar physicalities to New Guinea Singing Dogs.

Considered the rarest animal-like animal, the upland wild dog is actually older and exists earlier than the New Guinea Singing Dog.

Four years ago, the University of Papua and the New Guinea Upland Wild Dog Foundation led an expedition to Puncak Jaya, a mountain peak in Papua, Indonesia.

As a result of their study and observations, they reported that there were 15 highland wild dogs around the Grasberg mine, the world's largest gold mine.

Comparison of DNA extracted from the blood collected from the three breeds showed the animal had a genome sequence very similar to the New Guinea Singing Dog, according to a report published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on Monday.

This dog has a unique 'singing' ability. - Photo / San Diego Zoo

"Detailed DNA tests have confirmed that highland wild dogs are descended from New Guinea Singing Dogs," said Dr. Kylie Cairns, a conservation biologist at the Center for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales.

"New Guinea Singing Dog is no longer to be found, it is an exotic breed with unique vocal abilities.

"The loss of this species is a loss. We do not want that to happen," said Elaine Ostrander, head of the research group at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NGHRI).

Previously, there were concerns that highland wild dogs had also become extinct due to habitat loss, in addition to factors already mixed with wild village dogs.

According to the San Diego Zoo, the joints and spine of the New Guinea Singing Dog are very flexible, allowing it to jump and climb like a cat.

The researchers hope to breed highland wild dogs with New Guinea Singing Dogs, possibly through the use of sperm samples, aimed at regenerating the New Guinea Singing Dog population.

They also hope to formulate a conservation program to help diversify and conserve the animal population.