We’ve touched on this momentous event far more on some of our other social media channels, but feel we can’t go on enough about how excited we are to have wild dogs denning on Londolozi for the first time since 2010.
The pack of two dogs and three ears are denning a litter of 10 pups in central Londolozi, and although it’s easy to say this in retrospect, it was almost as if for the preceding weeks, we knew it was going to happen.
Sightings of the pair had been infrequent, and then suddenly dried up.
We held our collective breaths, waiting for the announcement from some neighbouring reserve that they had discovered a den, as has happened every year for the past ten. But… silence.
The female had been so heavily pregnant when she was last viewed, that we were certain that she must have given birth. And although we didn’t want to believe it, in the absence of any updates to the contrary, we were fairly confident it had to be somewhere on Londolozi.
Then one evening, while briefly stopped at a waterhole, Kev Power and I suddenly saw the male emerge from the thickets. It was late evening, and he was alone (the dog, not Kev).
Only three scenarios were really likely:
A.) He had come to the waterhole for a drink from the den.
B.) He was on his way back to the den from a hunt.
C.) The female was dead and he was on his own.
Option C we dismissed immediately.
The red dot indicates the den site.
A or B it had to be, and given the time of day (the sun had gone down fifteen minutes before), the den had to be close, as he was very unlikely to be so far from it after sunset with very young pups. The male disappeared into a dense thicket where we were unable to keep up with him.
The next morning we carefully began checking termite mounds near where we saw the male, but a surplus of elephants in the area made progress difficult, so we were forced to return 24 hours later.
This time, it was barely 15 minutes before Kev smelt the distinct smell of wild dog near a very prominent termite mound, which had a burrow in the side of it with a clearly active entrance. A scan through binoculars revealed wild dog tracks at the burrow’s mouth.
No sign of an actual dog was to be had though, so we sat quietly in the Land Rover and waited.
Only a few minutes had gone by when movement caught our eyes in the thicket line, and both adults emerged with blood on their faces, fresh from a hunt. We were expecting the mother to simply disappear down the burrow to nurse the pups, but instead she ran to the entrance and started squeaking, and tiny movement was seen filtering out from behind the tall grass that obscured our view.
Speechless, we counted 6 tiny pups, their ears still folded, barely able to walk. We think we were witnessing one of their first forays out of the den. At the most they had probably been venturing out for 48 hours, but probably less.
A return visit that evening put the count at 9, and a final check the next day gave us the full complement of 10 pups.
Regular visits to the den since then have shown amazing growth in the pups, and a trail camera placed discreetly watching over the den’s entrance has revealed some fascinating behaviour, much of which we’ll be sharing over the next few weeks.
Although it’s sad that this happened during lockdown, when so many guests from around the world could be enjoying such an amazing spectacle, the reality is this story isn’t about us, it’s about the pack.
With fewer than 500 wild dogs left in South Africa, this tiny pack (who are understood to be the second pack to give birth in the country this year) have given their species something they – and I suppose all of us – desperately need: hope.
Fantastic news
Fantastic and thanks for sharing this with us – lucky to see in one lifetime, never mind one lock down!
James… you are right.. they are extremely cute.
I hope they all survive, but even if only a few make it, that’s progress.
Making me happy with the news. I adore wild dogs. Pups are indeed and exciting bonus for these amazing animals. Is it possible they decided to den at Londolozi because there is so little traffic these days?
It is really so exciting that the dogs denned at Londolozi after so many years.
James, you are correct in stating the birth of the puppies is fantastic news and guests would be amazed and entertained if there, but in the end it’s all about the species and it’s future growth. We all can experience this special event vicariously through your videos and photographs and for now, that’s enough.
Love the dogs. How wonderful that you could share this with us. I have seen pups in the wild many years ago. They are so playful and inquisitive
Cute as cute can be!
“The pack of two dogs and three ears”… LOL
As you mentioned it’s a pity this is happening during lockdown but also rightly pointed out that it’s about them. We are still able to see this and their progression through social media, so for that I thank you. It’s an incredible story and I look forward to many more chapters.
Hope to be able to see them soon
How marvelous! Thank you for, as always, sharing your beautiful wild life with us.
Incredible discovery–let’s hope the majority survive!
It’s also amazing that you number the existing wild dogs in SA at 500.
James, what a wonderful blog today, the pups have located – the one eared dog has given birth🤗
Amazing news
James – you guys are so lucky! We saw pups on Londol0zi in 2012 with Byron/Adam and 2014 with Andrea. Were they born elsewhere and then transferred later to a new den on Londolozi?
Can you tell me if the first pups born this year are at Madikwe, please.
Everyone of your blogs is amazing! But the story of this pair wild dogs is so special. And who can’t fall in love with a puppy? Or 10!!!
Londolozi is such a magical place… those dogs knew exactly what they we doing when the chose to mate and have their pups there!!!
And the adventure continues….
Thank you
So very exciting! Besides being real cuties, these pups represent a hopeful future for the species. Would love to have been there to see them!
Good morning James, – Amidst today’s story, the most profound thing within it all was the last line, as you stated “I suppose all of us – desperately need: hope.” – This brought me to tears. I would have never considered the idea that the birth of a litter of wild dog (puppies) would bring about the expansion in mind of “Possibility.” – Your love for animals and “your craft” for what you do, goes beyond and to the heart. That final line described more than passion. – For me, it truly resembles your leadership at Londolozi, as well as showing what an amazing person you are.
Namaste!
I’m so thrilled about this – even just to see it in pictures is amazing!
So HAPPY about this! Thanks for this update and any future info!
Best. News. Ever. Love that they are in the absolute center of Londolozi. Thank you so much for being there during this time to record what’s going on. It means so much to all of us.
Amazing! Congrats on this heartbreaking litter! Love the spirit if these dogs…
10 pups!!! That is amazing, I was hoping it would be a litter of around that size (in double figures)!!
That is brilliant news, so glad to hear the litter is in Lonodolozi.
Great development and story. Looking forward to your reports of their progress!
Fantastic news, fingers crossed for them and the Tsalala lioness. Both seem so fragile.
Best news ever! Congrats!
Oh my, they are so adorable! Thank you for sharing this!!
This is so wonderful, 10 tiny pups!! Amazing that one female can have so many little ones and they are just sooo cute. Lucky Londolozi that it happened in your territory. And maybe it is not that bad that it has happened now with no guests around. Maybe it gives the dogs even a better chance of survival?? I will keep my fingers crossed that most of them will survive and I might see them when everything is fine again.
Of course, I would have LOVED to see these little ones in reality and not only videos or pictures of them.
However the video is great and so are the photos. I am looking forward to more of them.
Magic, Magic, Magic! Thanks James!
Hats off to the Mom and Dad of this super pack of 10 pups. Also much needed addition to the number of 500 Wild Dogs! They are delightful little pups. And each one of them will have a distinct little personality all of their own. Wonderful new, James! Thank you very much! Wendy M
This is tremendous news! Congratulations. Looking forward to updates about these little ones.
So great to still be part of such a momentous event. Thank you.
This birth is so special particularly if there are so few of these incredible animals left in Africa. How can this be I wonder ? Perhaps this will be the beginning of a new pack to swell the numbers…..let’s hope so.
Awseome….I have no words how much joy Painted Wolves fill my heart with joy especially a new generation!
Awesome! I cannot express the joy that fills my heart when I see images of Painted Wolves especially when there is a new generation!