Characterisation, Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Kombai Dog Breed: A Unique Genetic Resource of India

Abstract

Kombai is an ancient dog breed of Tamil Nadu, India. The Kombai dog is renowned for its fierce loyalty to its family and aggressiveness towards its adversaries. They are incredibly powerful, extremely intelligent, courageous, protective, resilient, territorial, and amiable breed making them as excellent guard dogs. Other names of this breed are Indian/Tamil Bear Hound, Poligar Dog, Mandai War Dog and Indian Rottweiler. The significant feature of this breed is that it lacks a fierce bark, it barks infrequently. Kombai is a sight hound, it hunt by sight and speed rather than by scent and stamina. The breed originated from the foothills of the Western Ghats in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. The breeding tract of this dog are Kombai, Uthamapalaiyam, Pannaipuram, Thevaram, Periakulam, Bodinayakkanur, Cumbam and Kudalur of Theni district and consequently dispersed throughout the southern India. The variants of this breed are Pulicharai Kombai and Porr Kombai. Kombai is medium-sized dog with muscular physique. True to this type of breeds are tan, brown, or reddish brown in color with a black muzzle, hence it is called as “Karuvaisevalai” or “Karumunji naai”. Piebald and brindle coat types are less popular. The head of a Kombai dog appear to be slightly larger than the body as a whole. Large oval-shaped dark brown eyes, strong jaws, and a broad, deep chest characterize the Kombai, and it has single, uniform, dense coat that is neither patchy nor uneven. It has lean muscles and a ridge that runs the length of their spine in the opposite way strengthens the entire body. Their mid-length ears are mostly flat or fold over at the front or sometime erect. The legs are designed for agility and quickness. The tail has smooth hair and is long, curling at the edge like a sickle.  An adult dog weigh up to 30kg (Male 25–32 kg; Female 20–25 kg) and 24 inches in height (Males: 22 to 24 inches; Females:19 to 22 inches). Average life span of this breed is 12-15years. Litter size is 4 to 6. Kombai dogs attain sexual maturity between 6-10 months. At present, the Kombai breed is becoming scarce and is in danger of going extinct as a result of ban on hunting, indiscriminate breeding, lack of knowledge about their significance, and shortage of traditional breeders. It is imperative to take immediate action to conserve this superior distinctive genetic resource. Establishment of Kombai breeders association and proper coordination and integration among various agencies is highly needed. This unique Kombai dog should be conserved in their innate habitats by implementing partaking approach by including breeders, communities, and other pertinent shareholders in conservation programs and it should be registered as breed.