wild dogwild dog classification wild dog are classified in the following manner: kingdom - animalia...

– Game Ranging / Field Guiding Course

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Mammals © Copyright

Module # 7 – Component # 15

Wild Dog

Classification

Wild dog are classified in the following manner: Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Chordata Class - Mammalia

Order - Carnivora Family - Canidae Genus - Lycaon

Species - pictus

Common names:

English - Wild dog / Cape Hunting Dog / Africa’s Painted Wolf German - Hyanenhund French - Chien sauvage

Afrikaans - Wildehond Shangaan - Hlolwa

Swahili - Umbwa mwitu



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Myth & Legend “For centuries before the first white explorers came to Africa local tribes all over

the continent fought bitter wars over land. From the thousands of anecdotes of these wars comes this short story of a brief exchange between one tribal warlord

and his sangoma. The chieftain had recently lost a significant battle and unless he changed his

fighting strategy, he knew he would soon lose everything. Puzzling over this he sought the advice of the resident sangoma. This mystical man was the tribe’s

witch-doctor, spiritual leader, healer and advisor. Taking the carcass of a scrub hare he had recently hunted, the chief sought out

the venerable sangoma, as a successful outcome with the seer was often (and still is) dependant on the offering brought...

“Teacher,” asked the chieftain,” tell me what I must do to be successful in battle.”

Taking the scrub hare and beginning to skin it, the sangoma asked the chief if he had ever noticed the wild dog of the plains.

“Yes” replied the warlord,” I have and what of them?”

The sangoma then enquired as to whether the chief had ever noticed that each animal had different coat marking.

“Yes” replied the warlord”,” I have and what of it?”

The old man explained that each wild dog is the embodiment of fallen comrades, and each has retained its own individual identity so that men would be able to

recognise it. The warlord was to study the wild dog, as they would show him the solution.

This man had always looked to nature for signs and omens and quickly became interested in the wild dog. He soon came to admire them for their team work and

tenacity. He saw that when working together they would almost always catch and kill their quarry. However individually, they would fail.

Recognising the strategy, the chief immediately set about altering his battle plans and was soon afterward successful in battle.”



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Vital Statistics

Males Females

Shoulder Height 75cm (30in.) 65cm (26 in.)

Weight 24kg (53lbs.) 20Kg (44lbs.)

Spoor length 9cm (3.5in.) 8.5cm (3 in.)

Gestation period 72days

Hunting success 40 - 85%

Maximum speed 65 - 70 Km/h (40 - 44 mph)

Killing technique Dismemberment and disembowelling

Social grouping Highly social packs

Longevity 9 -10 years

Record Auction Price: R 15, 500.00

Wild dog – Lycaon pictus



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Introduction

These are without doubt one of the most enigmatic and endangered animals

on the African plains. On the verge of extinction for the last 100 years, they continue to persevere against the odds.



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Description

Wild dogs have a similar appearance to that of many domestic dogs with a few

differentiating features. The wild dog has only four toes on its forefeet as opposed to the five in other dogs, large rounded ears, a bushy white tipped tail and a

unique coat patterning. Researchers have reported that the tail of these animals, indicates mood in the same manner as domestic dogs. From wagging (friendly/playful), held high and straight (aggression) and between its legs

(submission). The coat of these medium sized killers is a blotchy combination of black, sandy-yellow and white. Each animal has unique coat markings, as

individual as a finger print. This fact was exploited a number of years ago, when The Kruger National Park

harnessed the enthusiasm of its tourists in an attempt to get the most accurate possible census of the wild dog population in the reserve. Tourists were

encouraged to take photographs or video of the left side of any wild dogs encountered.

These were then collected, compared and collated over a period of months and each individual wild dog in the Park was recorded. They came up with ± 400 animals.



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Habitat and Distribution Records of wild dogs in Southern Africa date back to 1684 in the Cape. At this time

and up until ± 1925 they were endemic throughout the whole country. Today they are restricted to the larger parks and reserves. In the past, they have been

recorded in 20 other African countries, from the Ivory coast in the west to Somalia in the east and all down central and Southern Africa.

The alternative name of ‘Cape Hunting Dog’ is something of a misnomer, since there haven’t been wild dogs in the Cape for nearly 100 years. Experts now estimate

that their numbers within formal conservation areas have declined by up to 50%, and they no longer exist in any free-range form. Today their global population numbers are less than 5000 individuals and declining.

These carnivores are generally considered an open plains species avoiding forest,

but will range into woodland and dense bush in pursuit of prey. Home ranges for wild dog will be dependent on their chosen habitat, location and

prey density. These range from 450 Km2 [180 mi2] to 4000 Km2. [1600 mi2].



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Social Grouping

Wild dogs are extremely

sociable and gregarious animals that form co-

operative packs. These packs vary in number from 3 to 50 animals, although

no recent records show packs of more than 28 dogs.

On average packs of 12 are commonly encountered.

Packs are headed up by a dominant pair, the alpha

male and alpha female. These animals are mostly responsible for all the breeding activity within the pack. The dominant pair in the pack can be identified by reproductive behaviour (such as mounting) or by urine marking, as these are

the sole prerogative of the dominant pair.

New packs form when females leave their pack at 2 ½ to 3 years and go in search of unattached males. When they encounter them the first individuals to pair generally become the dominant influence. The alpha female is rarely

challenged and beaten and she usually remains with the first pack she joins, retaining breeding status for up to 8 years. The status of alpha male however is

more transitory and he may be displaced at any time.

Intra-pack interactions are principally friendly and are characterised by submissive and begging behaviour rather than fighting and aggression. Inter-pack meetings, on the other hand, are quite unpredictable, and how encounters

play out is a factor of how good recent hunting has been and the interrelatedness between the packs. Aggression and fighting are rare events.

Unlike lion, but in line with other social mammals, the young occupy a particularly privileged position. After the first few weeks of suckling, their

mother becomes almost redundant as the whole pack assumes the responsibility for their care and upbringing. Pack members will remain with

the pups while the other adults hunt, and all the hunters will bring back food for the pups. This service (unlike suricates) is also extended to the pup minders.

Social interaction within wild dog packs has evolved beyond the point of simply co-operation. Not only do the dominant pair rely on the other pack

members to care for and bring up the puppies, but without a group effort these animal’s hunting success would drop to below 10 %.



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Hunting

Hunting in the wild dog is unusual for many reasons. They are the only members

of the dog family (Canidae) that are exclusively carnivorous, not taking any arthropods or vegetation at all. Their hunting technique is only shared by spotted

hyaena, but not to the same degree of co-ordination and success. All members of the pack benefit from the kill, subordinates and puppies included.

Lycaon pictus is a remarkable athlete showing stamina unparalleled on the African plains. Although they can reach top speeds of up to 70 K.p.h. [44 mph],

their hunting strategy is not one of stalk and explosive rush or ambush, but rather a sustained chase until their quarry is exhausted and collapses. Chases may last for up to 5 km [3 miles], with the dogs maintaining a pace of 60 kph [38

mph].

Image: Andrew Russell



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Hunts frequently begin with the pack rushing almost aimlessly toward a herd of potential prey, scattering them. The alpha male then looks for any stragglers or animals that seem to be in less than prime condition. Once an animal is selected

the lead dog will begin to pursue it with ‘dogged’ determination. Once the chase commences almost nothing will distract the canines from their goal. The pack

strings out behind the leader, with the lead chaser continuously being replaced, either as the leader tires or one of the other dogs gets the opportunity to cut the

prey animal off, should it take an erratic path. Unlike other carnivores, wild dog kill neither cleanly nor quickly. Their prey is

either disembowelled while on the run or dismembered when it collapses. This type of action ‘may upset sensitive viewers’.

While we cannot know for sure, experts assume that the prey animal is so exhausted and in such a state of shock, that it is unlikely that it feels much of

anything when it is taken down and killed.

Due to the co-operative nature of the hunt, these small to medium sized carnivores can take down prey many times larger than they are. Prey routinely killed by wild dog include: steenbok, duiker, impala, springbok, Thompson’s gazelle,

bushbuck, waterbuck, kudu, wildebeest, sable, zebra and, incredibly buffalo (an animal nearly 30 times their size and weight). No other predator is more

successful in taking down prey, with the victim only having a 10 – 30 % chance of escaping wild dog compared to the 60 – 80 % chance of them escaping a lion attack.

Once the prey is killed another remarkable facet of wild dog behaviour becomes

evident. Instead of the adult who killed the animal eating first, this privilege is given to the juveniles and sub-adults in the group. The kill site is also unlike those of hyena and lion in that no fighting over the carcass occurs. This also means that

fewer predators will be attracted to the carcass. Wild dog can easily defend their kills from spotted hyena if their numbers are sufficient.

When a kill is made no pack members go hungry. Wild dogs regurgitate eaten food, giving it to other dogs who beg for it. It is in this way that meat

from a kill that may have been made several kilometres away is brought back to the pack’s den. Puppies, puppy minders, injured, sick and old pack members are

all fed by those who participated in the kill. Like most canids wild dogs are endowed with superior senses. They are diurnal

hunters, preferring the early morning or late afternoon cooler periods. Prey is principally identified by sight. They almost never take carrion or chase other

predators of their kills. If packs are large, the dogs can be expected to make 2 or even 3 kills daily. When approaching prey the dogs make no attempt at

concealment. Prey animals also seem to be able to read the intention of the canines. If the dogs approach in a slow walk or dawdle, antelope will let them come as close as 50 m [165 ft] without moving. However, if wild dog are spotted running

determinedly, antelope will take flight while the hunters are 2 Km [1.2 miles] distant.



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Reproduction

Wild dogs are prolific breeders, and while only the dominant female comes into

oestrus and bears a litter, litter sizes may be quite large. Coupled with the fact that pups are communally cared for, this is another factor that should make for

prolific wild dog populations, but doesn’t. The alpha female becomes reproductively mature at ± 2 years old. After a

brief mating and a 72-day gestation, between 2 and 19 pups are born, with an average litter size of 10. Her breeding interval is approximately a year,

meaning that in her life time she may produce up to 60 pups. The breeding female selects a den, usually a disused aardvark, warthog or hyena

hole. Puppies are born altricial, blind and feeble like domestic dogs. Although they will suckle for up to 3 months, they begin to take solid food at 2 weeks by

begging for food from hunting pack members.

Unfortunately, the mortality rate for puppies is very high, due to disease more

than malnutrition or predation. They join their first hunts at 14 months old as stragglers, not being able to keep up with the adult dogs. They find their way to

kills by following scent trails, or are led by pack members that back track to fetch them.



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Status

Wild dog should by all accounts be the most numerous and

most successful of all the Southern African carnivores, instead they are the species most likely to become

extinct. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) list this species as endangered. The reasons for this are multiple.

As an aside, the most endangered carnivore on the

African continent, is not the wild dog, but rather the Ethiopian long-legged wolf.

While wild dog are exceptionally well adapted to their environment, they are incredibly susceptible to a wide range of diseases. These include most

domestic dog ailments from distemper to parvovirus, and sadly domestic vaccines and treatments are ineffectual on wild dogs.

Captive breeding and rehabilitation of wild dogs is at the same time an incredible success and a miserable failure. A well-known captive breeding

centre for wild dog and cheetah called De Wildt has been successfully breeding wild dogs in captivity for many years. There is however a shortage of reserves where wild dog can be reintroduced. Several successful reintroductions have taken

place and areas where wild dog had long since disappeared now host them again.

A recent program to reintroduce them into a reserve bears recounting. A captive bred pack of ± 8 was re-established in a large conservation area and soon reared a

large litter and the pack size grew to 24. Inexplicably one of the adults contracted rabies and in one terrible night killed all the puppies and most of the adults. More wild dog were introduced again and these died of a contracted disease. This

example just illustrates just how vulnerable wild dog populations can be.

Amazingly, many puppies have been killed by tourist’s reckless driving and more bizarre there have been reports of tourists kidnapping them from National Parks.

How an animal that has a high breeding success and is one of the most prolific

and effective hunters could have fared so badly is a scientific conundrum. However, conservation has rallied around the wild dog. As long as formal conservation areas and dedicated individuals remain, wild dog will also continue to

remain.

wild dogwild dog classification wild dog are classified in the following manner: kingdom - animalia...

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