This is when they are big and strong enough to move freely with the pack. Wild dog pups need to stay in a den until they are about 4 months old. Another reason is to avoid or reduce parasite infestations – especially fleas. This is due to a number of reasons but is usually to avoid other predators in the area that could pose a threat to the pack and the pups. African Wild Dogs Moving Den SitesĪ wild dog pack will move their young to a new den site (usually a hole in the ground or a rock crevice) a few times during the denning period. Earlier in 2015, one such pack in Hluhluwe Game Reserve (named Crossroads Pack) can be seen in the video below moving den sites along with their 8-10 week old pups. The timing of these events seems more than a fortuitous advantage for the young learners.ĭuring wildlife monitoring, packs of wild dogs can often be sighted moving den sites. When the impala lambs start dropping in November, the pups are moving with the pack and learning to hunt. The denning of wild dogs takes place towards the end of the rutting season of impala, usually in May. Photo by: Andreas Schneider African Wild Dog Behaviour: Moving Den Sites The dogs that were left on sentry duty will often then swap with the returnees and go and feed too. The adults will also carry meat back to the pups if they’re close to a kill site. Whole chunks of meat will be brought up for the little ones to eat. On arrival, the hungry pups will beg from the adults – encouraging regurgitation with a cacophony of squealing and excitement. (Some authorities regard the domestic dog as being a separate species. The domestic dog is usually regarded as being a subspecies of gray wolf. Well-known wild dog species include the gray wolf, coyote, red fox, Arctic fox, kit fox, African wild dog and golden jackal. Once the hunting party have consumed their kill, they return to feed the pups. The world’s wild dogs include animals known as wolves, foxes and jackals. Wild dog pups are cared for by the entire pack and usually have older siblings to watch over and feed them.Īn adult wild dog is left to guard the pups while the rest of the pack go out and hunt. African Wild Dog Behaviour: BreedingĪfrican Wild Dogs live in packs that are usually dominated by a monogamous breeding pair – an alpha male and alpha female. African wild dogs can cover over six miles a day in search of food. African Wild Dog behaviour is fascinating to observe and some interesting and important data has been collected about them via wildlife monitoring efforts. Sneezing completed, the decision is made. (By comparison, lions have a success rate of 30%). They are the most successful hunters of any predatory mammals on the continent, with a success rate of around 80%. Operating as a single unit, wild dog packs are some of the most successful predators in the world. They form incredibly strong social bonds with one another and are highly intelligent animals. African Wild Dog behaviour is rather unique among canid species. The African Wild Dog is currently the second most endangered canid in Africa after the Ethiopian Wolf, and the most endangered carnivore in South Africa.
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