Did you know...
- Their markings are individual, just like a fingerprint, and help the pack identify each other.
- It is the only species from the canidae family that does not have dewclaws on their forelimbs.
- Their scientific name is Lycaon Pictus is derived from Greek and means ‘painted wolf’.
Mammals
African Wild Dog
Geographical Region: Africa
Our Animals
At Adelaide Zoo we have an all female-pack.
Distribution & Habitat
Once found through-out sub-Saharan Africa, out of the former 39 states that supported them, 25 no longer do. The remaining large populations are found in southern Africa and the southern part of East Africa.
African Wild Dogs reside in a diverse range of habitats including bushy savannah, semi-deserts and short-grass plains.
Description & Behaviour
Their coats have individual patterns of yellow, white and black. Their body is about 100cms in length, with their tail between 30-45cms long. African Wild Dogs in southern Africa are slightly larger than those in western and eastern Africa.
Also there is little difference between male and female dogs although males are slightly larger.
They hunt in packs and they have an 80% success rate. They hunt by running down their prey during a long chase, reaching speeds of up to 75km. The vocalise between pack members as a means of coordinating their movements.
After their feed they will go back to the den and regurgitate the food for the pups and the dominant female. They will also bring food for any maimed, sick or old dogs that cannot join the hunt.
Reproduction
African Wild Dogs reproduce throughout the year. Before the litter is born the pack will find an abandoned den. The pack will stay there until the pups have matured and are able to follow the adult dogs around. It is the only time the pack will stay in one place.
The den is abandoned when the pups are around 3 months of age. Pups are able to hunt small prey at around 12-14 months and they reach sexual maturity at 12-18 months. The young pups are born black and white and as they mature, yellowish-red spots begin to appear.
Females usually move to a different pack where there are less sexually-mature females. Only the dominant male and female will breed and females compete for males to help hunt and rear the pups.
Diet
Before each hunt, they circle around each other, touching and vocalising to get themselves excited.
Their main prey will vary between populations but usually consist of medium-sized ungulates (hoofed mammals). Some packs also hunt larger ungulates such as the zebra or even warthogs, baby giraffes and giant eland.
Threats & Conservation
Human encroachment has now seen their numbers fall to below 5000 animals, many of which exist within packs with no viable long-term breeding outlook.
Click here to read more what is being done to help them and about the conservation programs Zoos SA are involved with.