Ancient singing dog thought to be extinct discovered in the wild, may help further understand human vocalization

An ancient species of dog, believed to be extinct in the wild, was recently discovered roaming near the largest gold mine in the world in Papua, Indonesia. 

The ancient dog breed may revive a dying species and add a new chapter to the understanding of human vocal learning, according to a press release from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The study that led to the discovery was done by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, Cenderawasih University in Indonesia, along with other academic centers.

The researchers used a combo of conservation biology and genomics to determine that the New Guinea singing dogs (NGSD), thought to be the oldest domesticated dog species in the world, "still wanders" the highlands of New Guinea. Singing dogs were last seen in the wild some 50 years ago in the 1970s. 

First studied in 1897, the singing dog is "known for their unique and characteristic vocalization," which almost sounds like singing, and has been likened to whale song. Today, anywhere from 200-300 captive dogs remain in refuges. 

"The New Guinea singing dog that we know of today is a breed that was basically created by people," Elaine Ostrander, Ph.D., NIH Distinguished Investigator and senior author of the paper, said in the press release. 

According to Ostrander, only a handful of these ancient canids were brought to the US, which then created the existing captive population. 

Over the last several decades, inbreeding within the captive population has reduced the native genetic variation that they had in the wild. The lack of genetic variation today threatens the existence of these ancient canines. 

In 2016 at Puncak Jaya, a mountain summit in Papua, Indonesia, the Highland Wild Dog (HWD) breed of New Guinea was [re]discovered near the Grasberg Mine and is strikingly similar to the NGSD. Highland Wild Dogs may be the progenitor of the NGSD and even the Australian Dingo. 

It was thought that the two dog species were, in fact, a different breed due to the dearth of data and genetic information on the HWD. That is until recently, when in 2018 a "follow up" field study collected blood samples, as well as demographic, physiological and behavioral data that showed striking similarities, according to the NIH press release. 

Staff scientist Heidi Parker, Ph.D. with the NHGRI, led the research delving into the genetics of the highly similar canids. Dr. Parker explained that the NGSD and the HWD are genetically very close, with slightly different gene variations, but of the same breed. "In the tree of life, this makes them much more related to each other than modern breeds such as German shepherd or basset hound."

Genetically not identical due to "physical separation for several decades" and the inbred genome of the captive singing dogs, the two separated kin species still share "a 70% genetic overlap," NIH said in the press release. 

Researchers also believe the HWD contains the original gene sequences that have since been lost to the captive singing dog population. By breeding them in conservation centers, researchers hope to rebuild the singing dog populating

Ostrander said by studying these dogs we may learn a lot about the early domestication of humanity's best friend. 

"After all, so much of what we learn about dogs reflects back on humans," Ostrander said in the press release. Researchers also hope to use these dogs to study vocalization and "the genomic underpinnings that could lead to future treatments for human patients... After all, so much of what we learn about dogs reflects back on humans."