The African wild dogs, also known as the painted wolfs, are one of the most persecuted predators on the planet. At one point, the population of these painted wolfs was estimated to be as high as 500,000 but is now down to just over 6,600 adults over a much-reduced range. Some of the main reasons that have led to their population decline are increased human development and encroachment on their territory.
Currently, these animals are only found in southern Africa and the southern part of East Africa, particularly Tanzania and Kenya where large areas of their original territory remain intact.
With that being said, here are some fascinating facts about these creatures.
1. African Wild Dog Appearance.
The African wild dogs are Africa’s largest indigenous canid. These graceful animals do not have under fur and they gradually lose their fur as they age. The color of their fur also varies geographically, with the northern African specimens appearing black with small white and yellow patches, compared to the southern African specimens that tend to look more vibrantly colored, with coats that are a mix of brown, black, and white. A few specimens have a brown teardrop-shaped mark below their eyes. And the back of their head and neck are either brown or yellow with white patches appearing behind their forelegs on occasion.
2. African Wild Dog Behavior.
African wild dogs are highly social creatures that live in packs with distinct dominance hierarchies for males and females. Most packs are usually made up of 2 to 30 adults and yearling pups. Females, rather than males, disperse from the natal pack once sexually mature, which is unusual among social carnivores. Males rarely disperse, and when they do, they are almost always rejected by other packs that already have males. They are also very specialized diurnal pack hunters that catch their prey by chasing them to exhaustion at speeds of up to 66 kilometers per hour for 10 to 60 minutes. They are one of less aggressive carnivores and do not fight for food. In fact, after every kill, puppies that are old enough to eat solid food are given first priority, eating even before the dominant pair with the subordinate adult dogs playing a role in helping them to feed.
3. African Wild Dog Diet.
African wild dogs eat primarily gazelles, antelopes, warthogs, wildebeest as well as African buffalo calves. They also hunt smaller prey such as dik-dik, insects, birds, and cane rats. These animals rarely scavenge, but once in a while, they have been observed taking carcasses from spotted hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, and lions, as well as animals caught in snares.
4. African Wild Dog Conservation Status.
African wild dogs have drastically disappeared from much of their original range as a result of habitat fragmentation, human persecution, and disease outbreaks.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, the total population of African wild dogs is around 6,600 individuals, with only 1,400 mature individuals. This species is currently classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
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