This blog is to help cheer up the mood after yesterday’s devastating news. There are no two ways about it, the excitement levels are through the roof at Londolozi. Reece posed the question just over a month ago,
After witnessing the female mating with one of the males in the pack, it was just a waiting game, about 70 days to be slightly more precise to see where this pack would settle? Originally having dispersed from an area about 50km away, as the crow flies, the pack was on the search for an area where competition with other packs is low and unlikely to encounter other larger predators. This found them frequenting the open grasslands of Londolozi regularly as they would traverse between Londolozi and our neighbours to the south and neighbours to the west.
![Wild Dogs Backlit (3) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24130447/Wild-Dogs-Backlit-3-RCB-1398x932.jpg)
![Ntsevu Pride, Wild Dogs And Rhino (13) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/12140214/Ntsevu-pride-wild-dogs-and-rhino-13-RCB-1598x926.jpg)
During the later parts of her pregnancy, we then saw the pack lead by the female digging away in several termite mounds, a great sign that she was starting to look for potential dens as they moved about. One termite mound, in particular, had them spend a couple of days at before moving on. We had to contain our excitement so as to not be let down again as has happened many times in the past. Rangers would find a heavily pregnant female wild dog digging in a termite mound, only to hear that a week later she has given birth far away from there on a neighbouring property.
A few days after their time spent at this one mound, the pack was found very far south of our southern boundary, two days later they were then found in the west. So we conceded to the fact that this pack denning on Londolozi was incredibly unlikely. Until, once again they appeared back at the mound, now the female looking incredibly uncomfortable, her belly hanging low. She couldn’t sit, or lie still. Constantly up and down, whimpering, going into the mound for a bit then emerging. Digging excessively. We left her at the end of the morning still inside the mound.
When a few rangers found them during that afternoon drive, her tail was wet and bloody and she seemed significantly more relaxed than she was in the morning. All the signs and signals pointed to her having given birth, except the fact that her belly still seemed full.
The following morning, we went down again to investigate, now this time I had video evidence of how full she initially was and could compare that to how she looked. She had definitely given birth and we could pin it down to the exact day they were born.
A camouflaged camera trap in a tree nearby to the entrance to the wild dog den. Lets see what it captures!
The next few steps for us from the discovery of the den is to set a camera trap up at the den to help monitor the happenings there without impacting the mother and the pups at the den. As soon as I had set up the camera and was reversing out I heard the mother emerge from the den giving off a gently whining-whimpering call accompanied by a high-pitched squeak. I slammed on the brakes of the vehicle, scrambled to get my camera up and this is what I saw.
The mother with a one-day-old pup in her mouth. Absolutely flabbergasted, uncertain of what was going on, I thankfully managed to get some footage of her before she picked the pup up and went back into the den. As far as my understanding goes, this was very unusual behaviour. The pups are normally kept in the den for about 10 to 12 days before they emerge. Could this have been the mother separating one pup from the others because it was the runt? Or was it just pure coincidence and it was just her moving the pups around in the den. As far as we are aware this is the very first litter that this female has given birth to. So she is a new mother and probably just figuring everything out.
We left the camera traps there to do the work for us and after two weeks or so, we checked the camera trap hoping to see some signs of the pups beginning to emerge from the den. Sadly there was a fault with the camera and we missed what activity did go on there. However, we have just changed the cameras and have got some very inciteful information.
Stay tuned for the next update on the wild dog den!
Hooray! This is fantastic news to learn there is a wild dog den again in Londolozi, especially after reading Kirst’s blog about the devastating and heartbreaking loss of the Plaque Rock female and her cub. Either seeing these leopards during safari visits, or following their stories through the daily blog, we become invested in them and their offspring. Losing even one, is a loss but as we’ve witnessed, they are a resilient species and before long another female will take over her territory. Moving on, it was amazing to see that tiny pup brought out by the mom although it didn’t seem normal behavior. With such a small pack of wild dogs, I’m guessing they will be very busy hunting to keep those pups fed when they begin to eat meat, especially if she had more than 8!
It is such fantastic news. We cannot wait to see how many pups they have and follow along with them going forward.
I so appreciate the uplifting story of the Lodolozi wild dog den after yesterday’s devastating blog. And what a bonus to see the newly born pup–way to be in the right place at the right time Sean!!!
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when she brought that pup across. Thank goodness I could at least get a quick video of it.
Hooray! Great news! So we can hope to see little wild dogs when we visit in September – happy day!
I hope that they will still be around for you to see them in September.
Every new life is welcomed, and that’s why yesterday’s news are even more terrible. Wild dogs are often very lucky with pups as they are so numerous and well guarded on turn
We cannot wait to see what unfolds with this pack of wild dogs going forward.
This is indeed fantastic news! How wonderful that these wild dogs have finally decided to den at Londolozi! So great.
You are really lucky because you had pups last year (though no den, but still over 20 of them at first) and now you have a den again like a few years ago. Now the three dogs will have a busy time feeding all the tiny mouths. Good luck to all of them!
And I am so glad about this wonderful news after all the heartbreak of yesterday’s story about the fate of the poor leopard and her cub.
We have had our fair share of luck with wild dogs over the last few years. These three adults are going to have a very busy time keeping everyone fed and safe.
At last some good news about the wild dogs denning on Londolozi ground. I cannot understand why the new mom would bring the one day old pup out. Sometimes new moms do unheard things because she does not better. But let’s hope she has more pups and looks after them properly. So sad and absolutely devastating news about the Plague rock female and her gorgeous cub.
I am not sure the reason why, and as you say sometimes new mums do strange things.
Thanks for the update and information and videos of the wild dogs. Hope the pack of three continues to be successful.
You are welcome, William. We cannot wait to see these pups.
This is indeed very good news, after the tragic news of the death of the Plaque Rock Female and her cub. I really love these dogs, and hope they have a very successful period of denning and that they stay on Londolozi for an extended time afterwards!! Thanks for brightening my day Sean!!
I hope they stay around here too. It will be great to have regular viewing of a pack of wild dogs.
Well done Sean! Super exciting news! How many pups do you think she has?
It really is such exciting news. We are uncertain of how many pups at this stage. As soon as we know we will let you all know.
Great news Sean, will look forward to seeing the camera trap footage.
I look forward to sharing the camera trap footage with you.
How exciting, especially after the news of the Plaque Rock female. I can’t wait to watch this little family grow. That must have been one of the only sightings of a day-old wild dog pup ever. Let’s hope this new mama figures it all out and luck is on their side.
I cant wait either. I think very few other people can say they have seen a one-day-old wild dog pup in the wild.