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What is a New Guinea singing dog and how did it return from extinction? Credits: Social Media
By Jane Corscadden

What is a New Guinea singing dog and how did it return from extinction?

By Jane Corscadden

What is a New Guinea singing dog? You’ve probably never heard of this rare breed, and for good reason  they were thought to have become extinct. However, 50 years on, the animal known for making unusual singing noises has been rediscovered.

A study has found dogs in New Guinea, known as New Guinea highland wild dogs, share DNA with New Guinea singing dogs.

This breakthrough research shows the singing dogs arent extinct, as scientists once thought.

The studys findings show highland wild dogs should be protected to help rebuild the endangered population.

What is a New Guinea singing dog?

New Guinea singing dogs are native to Papua New Guineas highlands. They are closely related to the Australian dingo.

They have also been around for a long time, with predictions the breed has existed since the Stone Age  about 10,000 years ago.

With a fox-like appearance, singing dogs are medium-sized and boast muscular legs, triangular ears and a dense coat.

However, the most distinctive aspect of these dogs is hinted at by their name. They are the only breed with a harmonious tone, which has been described as a wolf howl with overtones of whale song.

Domesticated singing dogs have an intelligent, gentle and lively temperament.

Theyre also super cute.

How rare are New Guinea singing dogs?

It is an extremely rare breed. So rare, in fact, they were believed to be extinct.

New Guinea singing dogs hadnt been found in their natural habitat for half a century until 2016, when researchers located 15 wild dogs in the remote highlands of New Guinea.

The New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society predicts there are only about 200 singing dogs on the planet, living in conservation centres and zoos.

For instance, they can be found in San Diego Zoo.

Its hoped that with the latest DNA breakthrough relating the breed to the New Guinea highland dogs, more of the breed can be conserved.

Elaine Ostrander, head of the research team at National Human Genome Research Institute, which is studying the animals, told Gizmodo: Assuming these highland wild dogs are the original New Guinea singing dogs, so to speak, that gives us a fantastic opportunity for conservation biology.

Researchers also hope they can breed some of the highland wild dogs with New Guinea singing dogs, possibly through the use of sperm samples, to enhance the singing dogs population.

It is hoped that, through the conservation effort, this rare breed of dog will be able to survive for many years to come.