This species is considered endangered in Africa although they
are still moderately abundant in Botswana and the Zambezi valley.
Field studies have shown that the wild dog is a highly intelligent
and social animal.
Like most predators, it plays an important role in eliminating
sick and weak animals, thereby helping maintain a natural balance
and ultimately improving prey species.
Wild Dogs are undeservedly perceived as voracious killers of
game and livestock. The stereotype of the wild dog as a cruel
butcher is slowly being replaced by a less harsh image.
Family Life
The pack has a communal breeding burrow and the whole pack co-operate
in bringing food which they regurgitate for the young who first
go through a begging ritual. There is often a preponderance of
male pups in a litter. They live for 10 - 12 years in the wild.
Wild Dogs live in socially complex packs composed of several
related adult males and one or more related adult females originating
from another pack. Often only the dominant bitch will rear pups
successfully. Packs of wild dogs wander continuously never staying
long in one place.
Hunting
African wild dogs use their sense of sight, not smell, to find
their prey. They pay no attention to wind direction and they do
not use cover when approaching their prey. They can run up to
55 km/h for several kilometres.
Living in groups of 10 - 20 they are very efficient hunters using
the open plains or savannahs and depend on their excellent eyesight
and stamina to run down their prey. They usually take the smaller
antelope but packs have been known to take animals as large as
the kudu or waterbuck.
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