African-Wild-Dog Facts

No two African wild dogs have the same coloration pattern.

The African wild dog is an offshoot of other types of canines, with fossil records indicating that the animal developed about three million years ago, states the San Diego Zoo website. The African wild dog inhabits the plains and open woodlands of Africa below the Sahara region. It is a social creature, living in packs and displaying behaviors that often go against the norm for pack animals.

Identification

The African wild dog, standing up to 30 inches high at the shoulder, weighs in the range of 55 to 70 pounds, according to the African Wildlife Foundation site. The dog possesses a mottled coloration, from black to brown to white, with no two specimens having the same markings. The bushy tail has a white tip and the ears on this canine are round, resembling those of a bat but much larger.

Dog Pack

The size of the groups in which these dogs live ranges from about five members to as many as 20. The African wild dog is not an animal that displays aggression to the other dogs in its pack. The group functions as a friendly, cohesive unit. Although a hierarchy exists for both the males and females, the status of each dog does not involve intimidation from others, as it does with other types of canines such as wolves. An unusual aspect of behavior for this species is that rather than the juvenile males' leaving a pack to find or establish a new one, the females leave around the age of three, while the males stay with the group of their birth.

Hunting

Few predators boast the success rate at hunting of the African wild dog. Once these animals target prey, the creature stands little chance of escape. The African wild dogs communicate using different sounds and movements of their ears, and take turns running in a sort of relay after a tiring victim. Once the dogs kill their prey, they quickly devour it to prevent larger carnivores like hyenas or leopards from pilfering it. Their favored prey includes large mammals like gazelles, warthogs and wildebeests, as well as impalas and other types of antelopes.

Care of Young

The two dominant wild dogs in the pack are the ones that breed. The female has a large litter, with some numbering as high as 21. Not all the pups survive, but the entire pack takes on the responsibility of watching out for these young ones and bringing them food to increase their chance of survival. The adult African wild dog will eat and then regurgitate its meal for the pups to dine upon before finally eating for itself. The pack will also feed any sick or injured members before eating their own meals.

Threats

Different factors combine to contribute to the decline in the numbers of this species. When human beings move into an area they degrade the habitat, scare away prey species and fragment the territory of the wild dog, making it difficult for the animal to find suitable habitat. African wild dogs become victims of collisions with vehicles and diseases brought into their range by domestic dogs. Aside from places where they receive protection such as parks and preserves, the African wild dog experiences persecution from hunters and farmers, who shoot, poison and trap them.

References

• San Diego Zoo: Mammals: African Wild Dog
• African Wildlife Foundation: African Wild Dog
• Canadian Museum of Nature: African Wild Dog