The typical hunt will involve the dogs finding prey (various antelope, often impala, kudu, gazelles, springbok and wildebeest) and spreading out in line to cover a larger space. Working flawlessly as a team, the pack is well coordinated during a hunt. They are agile huntersīuilt for high stamina chases, the African wild dogs are swift, agile hunters that can endure long-distance chases to wear down their prey. The only time wild dogs remain in one area is when they are denning.
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They can travel 50 km in a single day and their territories can range between 4 square kilometres. Wanderers, that rarely stay in one place for long, African wild dogs are nomadic and require large territories to thrive. Another example is when a dog becomes ill, injured or elderly, restricting them from hunting, the rest of the pack cares for and feeds them while they return to better health. When feeding, they share the kill, even with members who weren’t involved in the actual hunt. When feeding, the young cubs take priority over the kill – even over the Alpha pair – while the rest of the members wait for the cubs to finish. They rarely intimidate or battle one another for dominant positions, instead, they display behaviours that support the health of the pack over the individual.įor example, young cubs are raised and protected by all members of the pack, both male and female.
![wild dogs of africa wild dogs of africa](https://www.hluhluwegamereserve.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wild-dogs.jpg)
Unlike many other species in the animal kingdom, once the African wild dogs reach maturity, it is the males that stay within their natal pack while females migrate and join new packs.Īfrican Wild dogs have incredible relationship values. There is a strict hierarchy within the pack, seeing a dominant breeding pair in charge of the group with the rest of the pack assuming roles as subordinates. Their unusual colours also allow the wild dogs to blend into their natural habitat of grassland, savannah and woodland.Īfrican wild dogs are incredibly social animals and are constantly communicating with one another through touch, tail wags and a variety of vocalizations.Īfrican wild dogs live in packs ranging from six to up to 30 members. Each dog has a unique patterning, which helps members of the pack distinguish between one another. Painted refers to the mottled black, brown, yellow and white colouring in their fur. The last name, the painted dog, may seem a bit unusual, but it actually refers to the scientific name of the African wild dog, “Lycaon pictus” which translates to “painted wolf.”
![wild dogs of africa wild dogs of africa](https://img.dog-learn.com/dog-breeds/african-wild-dog/african-wild-dog-i3.jpg)
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Most commonly known as the African wild dog, these pups are given many other names, including the African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog or African painted dog. In no particular order, here are a number of African wild dog facts. Interesting Facts About African Wild Dogs If you love learning about animals, read our previous animal facts posts about lions and pangolins. Be sure to look out for these incredible animals during your next safari trip to Africa. To bring you more information on one of Africa’s lesser-known animals, we’ve compiled a list of amazing facts about the African wild dog. There are many incredible animals to see during an African safari, but catching a glimpse of the African wild dog is one of the most precious sightings you could hope for.Ĭritically endangered due to human activity and habitat loss, African wild dog sightings are a rare occurrence outside of specific conservation areas.