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Barry Bath

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Barry grew up in Johannesburg and knew from a young age that he had a true love for the African bush yet it was only after spending several years in the corporate world in Europe, followed by a two year sabbatical of traveling ...

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on The Othawa Pack of Wild Dogs: The History

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Barry. Appreciate the backstory sad as it is to the Othawa pack losses. This makes me remember the lone pair of Wild Dog where the female was missing an ear. Any update on them as well?

I was just thinking of them as well!!

Thanks so much for this post Barry. Cant wait for your next dispatch on this clever clan!!

Great blog. Barry, on those wild dogs! I am really happy, we saw them with their 19 cubs. It was such a wonderful sighting!

Wow Barry! now you are going to keep us wondering what happened and how many pups are there. The Plague Rock Male is certainly a male to be reconed with. Did you not get a fright with him standing in front of you and your tracker with the wild dog in his mouth. Hopefully you will enlighten us soon to the second part of your intriguing story.

Thank you Barry for the pictures and update on the wild dogs. Hope that the pack survives and drives in the future.

Thanks Barry, I remember reading a blog about Flat Rock killing a wild dog, (was it by Jess?) and there was an incredible short video of his attack. Would it be possible to add a link to this? The fact I remember it after nearly 3 years shows how exciting it was!

Hi Suzanne, yes Jess wrote this blog on it. https://blog.londolozi.com/2020/12/08/leopard-kills-wild-dog/

Love this! Thank you for sharing.

WOW! Thank you for the much needed update…sad about the alpha female in particular…she seemed to have survived so much. Look forward to part two! and three…

As I followed the story of lions prides for many years, and was incredulous about the fact that carnivores at the top hierarchy in the food chain in a blow were reduced down to barely nothing – the history of the Tsalala prides in Londolozi is an example- no surprise that smaller carnivores may have bad look too. I think that in several areas there’s still a problem with rage. Full packs died of that illnesses caught by domestic dogs, just like buffaloes and fam disease caught by cattle. Sometimes instead, they are so successful in some area for example in Botswana that packs fought against each other to death. We’ll see what happens…

Great story, Barry. I’d never heard their history told in chronological order like this. Looking forward to chapter 2!

Great reporting on the history of this pack Barry. I am looking forward to part two as I’m sure it will include photos and the continuing story of this resilient pack. I’m sure I saw them in April 2021 as a group of approximately 8, where we watched the alpha female who was in heat, keep the alpha male at bay. From your report, they lost this litter. Perhaps this time their pups will have an opportunity to grow into adults.

Hi Barry! It was great to see you for a few minutes on our way out of camp on our recent visit! This is a great story and we look forward to hearing more. Try as we did on our visit, we just missed seeing the big group of wild dogs. Next time will be luckier!

I had not idea this pack had been through so much turmoil, but I did remember the Flat Rock Male killing one of the adults. How awful that three were lost to a lone lion at once! That must have been an awful fight, and such a sad day. I wondered how there could have been 19 pups, but if the alpha female was lost and both the remaining females became pregnant, that certainly explains it. I wonder which will continue to reign as alpha going forward. Can’t wait for part two!

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