Amidst the green and gold grasslands and ancient woodlands of our beautiful Greater Kruger region, roams a creature whose existence is shrouded in mystery but draped in magnificence, the African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, the ‘painted wolf’. We have been incredibly fortunate in the last few months to have had many wild dog sightings here on Londolozi. These sightings, no matter how often they happen, will never not be a highlight of any day.

Those who don’t know how special it is certainly do after their ranger finishes an enthusiastic narrative extolling the mania (in the best possible sense) that these predators can introduce to a game drive.

Your guide whips about to tell you about a change of plans after hearing about the Wild dog tracks found just up ahead!

Gorgeous.

These majestic canines, adorned in a vibrant mosaic of blacks, browns and white, traverse the landscape in packs ranging from 2 to (on rare occasions) 40+, their social bonds tighter than the strongest of familial ties. Unlike their social predator counterparts, lions and hyenas, African wild dogs epitomize cooperation, forging a society where no fully-fledged member is left behind and where unity reigns supreme.

Within the tight-knit packs of these small but vicious canids, a complex hierarchy reigns, orchestrated by the wisdom of the alpha female, usually the oldest female in the pack. The role of an alpha male seems to be less pronounced than the alpha female, possibly changing from year to year as a power struggle for mating rights plays out. Males usually remain loyal to their birth pack while females may embark on solitary or semi-social journeys, seeking new alliances in which they may gain alpha status by virtue of introducing genetic vigour.

Barely waited for the end of the meal!

Mating is a chaotic affair, the alpha male mounting at any opportunity, be it mid-meal or whilst lazing in the shade during the 20-day oestrous window that occurs just once a year. Occasionally a subordinate female will also become pregnant through this time. Still, sadly they will more often than not see their offspring fall victim to the ruthless laws of nature, a sacrifice for the greater good of the pack’s survival, usually at the jaws of the alpha female, a tragedy that we witnessed play out here on Londolozi in 2022.

My heart.

But the cuteness of a litter of wild dog pups can melt the heart of any bushgoer lucky enough to see them. Very little compares to seeing a trail of yipping pups tenaciously tearing after an older relative in search of a regurgitated meal.

And then there are the sounds – the chirps, whines, and yelps of African wild dogs communicating in their unique language. Their vocal repertoire, though less elaborate than their distant cousins, the wolves, speaks volumes of their deep-seated bonds and shared purpose. The strangest sound to emanate from the mouths of these hounds must be the “hoo-hoo” of their long-distance communication, usually sounded after a hunt in which the pack has bomb shelled into a herd of impala, scattering themselves to the four winds as they run down their meal.

Anyone who has seen wild dogs playing should be able to “hear” this picture.

African wild dogs are specialized pack hunters and execute their strategies with military precision, chasing down their prey with astonishing speed and agility. Their success rate in hunts often defies the odds, a testament to their mastery of the art of predation. They boast an 80% kill rate as opposed to the meagre 30-35% of their large feline contemporaries

Wild dogs feeding on the oxygen-rich organs of the impala give the bright red colour

Yet, amid the grandeur of the African wilderness lies a dark cloud of uncertainty. At the last census, there were only 280 wild dogs counted in the entire Greater Kruger, a mind-bogglingly small number for the 2.1 million hectares (5.2 million acres) that it encompasses. Habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and disease as well as the looming threat of larger predators cast a shadow over the future of these magnificent creatures. Conservation efforts are essential to safeguarding their existence, ensuring that future generations can marvel at their beauty and resilience.

These efforts focus on habitat protection, mitigation of human-wildlife conflict through community engagement and education, and monitoring and management of disease outbreaks. Organisations such as the Boucher Legacy are key players in the conservation of these critically endangered animals.

The future looks a little bit brighter for this young pup thanks to organisations like the Boucher Legacy as well as many others working across Africa to protect this incredible species.

In 2020 they partnered with SANParks, Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Max-Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour to attempt to collar the alpha female of every pack in the Kruger system, tracking the movement of the packs, and ultimately working towards ensuring their safe return to the Greater Kruger, should they roam beyond the borders of the Kruger Park as well as monitoring the success rate of vaccinations against diseases like rabies and canine distemper which can rip through an entire pack with tragic results.

Iconic.

The African wild dog stands as a symbol of unity, resilience, and the delicate balance of nature. As stewards of this planet, it is our collective responsibility to protect and preserve these majestic creatures, for they are not just inhabitants of the savanna but guardians of its secrets and wonders. Let us pledge to stand by them, to honour their legacy, and to ensure that their weird and wonderful “hoo’s” continue to echo across the African plains for generations to come.