African Wild Dogs Diet

The African wild dog is a skilled hunter.

Only about 3,000 to 5,000 African wild dogs still exist in parts of Africa, according to The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Also called Cape hunting dogs, these creatures are not really dogs but part of another separate genus of which they are the sole member. The African wild dog is a carnivore with a very successful approach to its diet.

Prey Species

An animal called a gazelle comprises the largest portion of the diet of the African wild dogs, with as much as 85 percent of their food coming from this one source. Other creatures the African wild dog will bring down include the zebra, kudu, duiker, wildebeest and reedbuck. Smaller prey such as rodents and birds must suffice when larger prey eludes capture or is scarce.

Pack Mentality

Unlike many African carnivorous predators, the African wild dog has an incredibly high rate of success when hunting. Estimates place their fruitful hunts as high as 90 percent, as the dogs hunt in a well-disciplined pack. The packs however are more for protection from more powerful enemies such as hyenas and lions. In some instances, a pack of these animals may encounter another pack of their species, in which case the larger pack will prevail in the bid to claim the territory as its own.

Sharing the Kill

African wild dog have a unique way of sharing their kills, which goes against the norm when it comes to canids. The dogs that actually killed the prey will lay back and allow the young pups to eat, followed by those that are about a year old, then the two-year olds and so on. The one pair that dominates the pack can eat any time they like, but even they will typically allow younger members to eat as well.

Young Pups

The females that have just given birth to pups do not go hungry, as other members of the African wild dog pack will return after a hunt and then regurgitate the meat they swallowed. The nursing female will eat this meal, providing her with the nourishment to produce milk to feed her young. The litters of this species are normally large, says the African Wildlife Foundation, but threats such as flooding from rains, disease and lack of prey usually mean that only a few of the pups will live to adulthood.

The Hunt

The pack, out of necessity, will clean the carcass of an entire prey animal of all its meat in as little time as 15 minutes. Animals like leopards, lions and hyenas can and will take a kill away from the African wild dogs, so they can waste little time when eating. The African wild dog can run as rapidly as 35 miles an hour for long stretches, and will tire their prey out before biting it several times. The hapless victim often dies from its injuries and sometimes winds up eaten while still alive, states the Honolulu Zoo.

References

• Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
• Honolulu Zoo: African Wild Dog
• African Wildlife Foundation: African Wild Dog