The morning was cloudy, the air was still but there was an exciting buzz in the air when ranger, Patrick Grealy, called in on the radio
“Stations, we have found the pack of wild dogs running along boundary road.”
The suspense was tangible, was the pack going to turn east away from Londolozi or west onto Londolozi?
Pat Grealy and Dorrence Khoza enjoy front-row seats to another phenomenal wild dog sighting.
I eagerly awaited Pat’s next update while desperately trying to get across to hopefully get a glimpse of the wild dogs. His husky voice crackled over the radio,
“the pack are now moving west onto Londolozi.”
Informing them of the news and to hold on tight, we turned it up a notch as the guests we were driving were desperate to see a pack of wild dogs.
On our way across there, we happened to find two wild dogs that were part of the pack that Pat was with. They had lost their pack and were frantically trying to find them, the dogs were calling and sniffing the ground searching for their pack member’s scent to follow. We tried our best to stay with these two, but eventually, it became too difficult as they went through an incredibly thick and rocky area. Our best option for seeing them again would be to join Pat with the rest of the wild dogs. As we arrived there and switched off the vehicle, we heard this…
Before I tell you more about the hoo call, I want to explain the events that happened before the pack all called.
- The alpha female of this pack was last seen when she was heavily pregnant and is believed to have given birth in a den near the Londolozi boundary.
- The pack had no evidence of blood around their face (which often suggests that they have killed something) and their stomachs were not round and full of food. Thus, they were on the hunt looking for any prey to provide for themselves and for the Alpha female who was back at the den looking after the pups.
- They had a run-in with the Nkuhuma Sub-adults, and thankfully their acute senses allowed them to notice the lions before it was too late and their athleticism got them away unscathed.
- The two of the pack members were still missing.
A male wild dog is silhouetted by the sun setting. It’s not often we silhouette wild dogs so I tried to take the opportunity.
There are many theories as to why Wild dogs “Hoo” call (I say Hoo because it sounds just like that). Wild dogs will hoo call as a means of reconnecting with other members of the pack after they are separated. They may become separated after a hunt where they end up chasing different impala in different directions. Occasionally they have a run-in with a threat such as lions and need to run from the danger causing them to be split up. Wild dogs’ hearing is amazing and they will be able to hear this hoo call over large distances helping them find each other.
Another reason for the hoo call is when different members of the pack are believed to be establishing dominance or forming a new alpha male or female pair. This may occur if one dies or it is a newly formed pack and they are still working out the ranking amongst themselves. The last theory is that it could be a mating ritual call. It is difficult to determine from this exactly what the reasoning behind this call was as it was the first time many of the wild dog enthusiasts I have spoken to have heard it. It could be any combination of the reasons I have mentioned above.
A pack of over 20 wild dogs find relief in a pan of water to help cool their bodies down. It was a cloudy afternoon and the sun was about to set through the clouds but we were lucky to get this gap of sun rays.
If you might have a theory, please let us know in the comments section below. Either way it was an amazing game drive spent with the wild dogs and one that left us intrigued as to why the wild dogs were calling like this.
Jess – thank you for outstanding photos and blog. The light behind the Wild Dogs is beautiful and silhouette (although straight out of Disney!) just fabulous. As usual you have given us a little more insight and learning into the wild life behaviour of those special creatures – the Hoo sound!
I have not heard it, but I imagine all reasons you mention are valid. I am starting another Ecotraining course and will ask what their ideas are………
Jess it is an amazing story about the wild dogs calling each other. To me it sounds as if they are calling to hear a response from the pack, because these two are now separated from the pack. I know you Jess love the wild dogs with a passion and I am so glad that you could hear and see them. Hopefully the alpha female has made her den on Londolozi for the third year in a row, that would be fantastic.
Interesting vocalizing. There were some “hoo” sounds in there along with others. I did find other videos/recordings of wild dogs doing only the “hoo” sound. The African Wildlife Foundations info on Wild Dogs refers to the call as “bell-like” and used as a contact call to the pack.
Nice photos. Especially like that silhouette!
Wild Dogs are certainly a very special treat for guests on safaris.
They are such interesting animals, their interactions are just amazing, as are their hunting skills.
I guess that there could be a lot more research till we understand their behavior better.
Your blog is a great help to understand them a bit more. Thanks for it.
Interesting reading Jess. I had just imagined the “hoo call” to be a means of communication regarding hunting strategy but understand now, it can mean a variety of circumstances. Good article!
Intersting blog … it does look like they are contact calling to me, showing signs of concern/distress by putting their ears back, then putting them up to listen for a return call. Since a lot of their normal chatter consists of high-pitched chirps, I imagine they don’t carry very far. So they’re drawing deep into their lungs and trying to make as resonant a call as they can. A “bell” sound as Marcia Packer describes it below sounds about right …
This is unusual and in my gut I think it transmits a loos of a pack member
loss sorry cannot edit post
What a great moment to capture Jess..I certainly have never heard them hoo..ing. It seems a rather sad call and I sincerely hope that they were happily reunited eventually and not crying over the loss of a family member. Stunning silhouette👌🏻Thanks for sharing with us 🙏🏻❤️
Hi Jess, I’m a little late catching up with the blog. So, with over a month gone, I hope you get this email. So, my theory extends back a few decades to am album called “Live at Leeds”, in which a grea rock and roll band sang, “Whoooooo are you? Who, who, who, who? Whoooo0 are you? who, who, who, who?” And, in some stanzas, they add, “I really want to know.” I’ll give you 2 seconds to guess the name of that band. I think the wild dogs are honoring one of the great band legends of our times. So, it’s really a “Who” call, not a ‘Hoo” call. Nature is a very amazing and forgiving force.