XINING, May 11 (Xinhua) -- A pack of six dholes, or Asiatic wild dogs, has recently been spotted on the south margin of the Qaidam Basin in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

The animals, which are rarely seen in the wild, were discovered Thursday night during a joint patrol by staff with the wildlife conservation management office in Dulan County, Haixi Mongolian Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, and the local forestry police.

The wild dogs are widespread in Eurasia, but the species population is small. At present, the studies on the distribution and population status of this species in China are very limited, said Shi Yonghong, director of the office.

The findings will be useful in the research and protection of the species. It also indicates that, to some extent, the local ecological environment is well protected and the area has a relatively rich biodiversity, Shi said.

Dholes are highly social animals that live in central, south and southeast Asia. The species are under second-class state protection. The International Union for Conservation of Nature also included the animal on its Red List of Threatened Species.