The hounds of Tamil Nadu (Rajapalayam, Chippiparai and Kanni) have been brought back from the dead. Can the Kombai, another breed from the State, be rescued from the jaws of extinction too?
Dog watchers believe reviving the Kombai is bound to take a lot more than what it took to preserve the sight hounds. The Kombai is in this situation because of long neglect by breeders. As it resembles a pie dog, and lacks the striking features of a hound, breeders have found marketing the Kombai a challenge.
The long wait
R. Srinivas, who adores Indian breeds, and has researched the southern breeds extensively, says though the Kombai looks like a robust pie dog, it has distinguishing features. It is dark brown or rich red with black in the muzzle and the tail. In Kombais of good bloodline, black markings may be found near the claws. The back has a pronounced dark marking, which can be a darker version of the main pigment or black. The ears are semi-erect, and the head is broad. “Most importantly, the Kombai is not the least bit like a hound.”
As the breed has been considerably diluted due to continued neglect, sourcing Kombais with good bloodlines is anything but easy. Prabhakaran David Boaz, who has a kennel for what he calls ‘Dravidian breeds', had to wait long to get two Kombais that meet the standards.
“Anyone looking for authentic Kombais has to be patient. In the region south of Madurai to north of Tirunelveli (the original home of the sight hounds), dark brown-coloured hounds with certain Kombai features are often palmed off on unsuspecting buyers. Kombai belongs to the Cumbum-Theni belt, and it is believed that dogs with good bloodline are still found there,” says Srinivas, and adds that a Kombai is known as much by its temperament as by its appearance.
The Kombais have a short fuse. They don't run as long as a sight hound in pursuit of an animal, but are great as ambush dogs. “They are more like the Rhodesian Ridgebacks, known to have been used in South Africa to ‘corner’ lions. It is a sturdy and brave breed. There is an unsubstantiated theory that the Kombai descended from shen -naai (red wild dog of Tamil Nadu),” says Srinivas. “In temperament, the Kombai resembles the pit bull terrier. It can't stand any other animal, and does not tolerate taunting by humans.”
Unusually ferocious
Boaz relates how he had to give up the plan of taking two adult dogs from a Kombai breeder because the dogs displayed unusual ferociousness. “Relocating adult dogs that are accustomed to a particular environment is almost always difficult. But with these dogs, relocation was an impossibility,” says Boaz. “As they have a strong streak of territoriality, these dogs make for good farm guards.”
So, what of the Kombai’s future? Srinivas believes two unrelated Kombais with impeccable bloodlines are all that's required to revive the breed. “The Irish wolfhound and the Scottish deerhound were brought back from the brink of extinction. With determination and enthusiasm, the Kombai can also be brought back!”
