Having studied Real Estate at university, I always find it quite fun to do a twist on the animals searching for property. In a previous blog I wrote about the Weavers and how they find the perfect spots for their nests. Recently, Londolozi Real Estate is being eyed out by a different animal that is in the market for a home to raise their young; the wild dog.
And so the property hunt begins…
A particular pack of wild dogs has been seen a lot more regularly on Londolozi recently and it seems that they are scratching around, starting to look for a den site to raise their pups.
The main pack we have been viewing has been seen with a heavily pregnant alpha bitch, who is probably only a few weeks away from giving birth. Soon she will struggle to keep up with the rest of them, and will need to give birth, but before the alpha female gives birth, the pack needs to find a suitable den.
There are three important factors that affect property value: location, location and location. This applies to the wild dogs too, as they venture far and wide to find the perfect spot.
One thing Londolozi is not short of is large, impressive termite mounds, many of which are inactive. Much like us and going to view houses on a show day, the wild dog are house hunting too. Dens should be as parasite free as possible, and ideally the hunting in the area should be good. With the impala population in the Sabi Sand Reserve numbering close to 20 000, I don’t think food will be a problem for them, although they do like hunting where it’s open.
This wild dog took some time to cool off and hydrate after hunting a herd of impala. Wild dog will often have to drink up to twice a day. A factor they may well consider when choosing a den.
Wild dogs are one of the rarer sightings we get here as they can cover a lot of ground in a day. They can even run across the whole of Londolozi without anyone seeing them.
We have seen the pack of wild dog mostly in our central parts of the reserve, where we haven’t been seeing as much movement from the local lions over the last few months. Wild dogs can reportedly den in response to lion movement, tending to establish where there is less chance of bumping into their greatest threat. The denning period coincides with the end of the impala rut (breeding season). During this time there are a number of out-of-condition rams exhausted by the intense territorial defence and breeding stress. This makes them easy targets for the wild dogs.
Map of Londolozi, the pack has been seen in the central parts between East central and West central as seen on the map.
Once the pups are a couple of months old, a wild dog pack will move them a few times to new dens within the first 4 months of the denning period. This can be for a number of reasons but a lot of it is to avoid parasite build-up within the den, and possibly to move to an area of better hunting, should the food resources near the den have become depleted after a solid couple of months of having the dogs in the area.
African wild dog pups play together, awaiting the the rest of the pack to return from a hunt.
With many factors to consider, the pack has over 65 000 hectares to choose from. Here’s hoping they will choose to den on Londolozi.
I think it’s a prime location.
Don’t you?
Londolozi is definitely prime location Dean. Holding thumbs that the wild dogs den on the property. It will be an amazing experience.
That it will be. Thank you Marinda
Oh fingers crossed for the dogs and some wonderful posts. I do know how sensitive the rangers and trackers ar where dens are concerned, the hyena den was one of my absolute favourites when I visited a few years ago
Hi Ian. Yes sensitivity is extremely important. So glad you got to view the den.
Well, wild dogs or painted wolves as some like to refer to them, seem to have the same problem as the other predators….. where to den your pups/cubs in order to keep them safe from – predators! I hadn’t thought termite mounds would be an optimal birthing place but I guess it makes sense.
I know Singita has seen a good sized pack of dogs lately and I wonder if it’s the same one-scouting for real estate.
Hopefully the pups will be delivered soon, within Londolozi borders or at least Singita where you have driving rights. I’m planning to be there in late March but they’ll be grown by then. Oh well, perhaps there will be other youngsters to keep eyes and cameras busy. 📷📷.
Good blog and nice images!!
Hi Denise. Yes, there has been a pack moving between us and Singita, so we can only hope it is within those borders. Yes by then they will be big but I have no doubt there will other youngsters. Nonetheless, the wild dog are always great to watch.
Thanks for the comment.
Dean, great picture of the wild dog in the water, loved it!
Thank you so much Joan
Dean, Fingers crossed that they den at Londolozi! How fun it would be to watch their pups grow up! How many pups are in a normal litter?
Hi Michael and Terri. We can only hope. The average is around 10 but anywhere from 2 to 20 pups. Highest recorded litter is 21.
Fingers crossed!
Definitely. Thanks Chelsea
Fingers crossed Dean. To have such a rare animal who is also an apex predator is quite a coup. They travel so fast and range over such wide areas we actually might get to see them on our next visit if they den on property. Any idea when/if there was a resident pack here last? Also, are they cathemeral?
Dear Dean. We await, with bated breath, to see where the Wild Dogs will decide to den. How exciting for you all at Londolozi at the thought of watching them settle and raise a litter of babies on Londolozi! Also, through the pics sent to us we too will be able to watch their progress …. Wendy M
Hi Wendy. Yes, the thought is way too exciting. Fingers crossed!
We saw this pack on two occasions just two weeks ago in Djuma Game Reserve . They were a joy to watch, wonderful sightings. Alpha Mom looked very close to giving birth.
Hi Kristin. Very lucky you got to see them. Always a great experience watching them.
I love the house hunting of the wild dogs. What a thrill to have the pack in a nice abandoned termite mound that does not have too many bugs. No self respecting mother wants bugs all around. Victoria
That’s very true, thanks for comment Victoria.
Loved this article and the photo of the wild dog in the water. They are so interesting to watch, their social interactions are fascinating, I could watch them for hours. Fingers crossed they den on Londolozi. Thanks for sharing Dean.