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Name || African Wild Dog

Scientific Name || Lycaon pictus

Conservation Status || Endangered

Habitat || The African wild dog still ranges from south of the Sahara to South Africa, but only in widely scattered populations. Wild dogs require immense amounts of territory and packs range across areas of 200 to 700 square miles. Dogs occupy many different kinds of habitat but prefer open woodlands and plains.

Unique Features || The African wild dog is quite different from the more familiar domestic dogs or the gray wolf. It has highly specialised sharp shearing teeth, large round ears and only four toes on its front feet, rather than five. Each wild dog has its own unique markings of yellow, black, brown and white. It weighs from 20 to 40 kilos and stands up to 80cm high at the shoulder. Social Behaviour || Social hunters, African wild dogs have an unusual pack system. The pack, usually seven to ten adults, consists of males who are related to each other and females who are related to each other; the males and females, however, are not related. Historically, more than 100 dogs gathered in packs during spring migrations, but today the average pack of African wild dogs contains approximately 10 members. Unlike other canine species, packs of wild dogs frequently contain more male members than female members. Diet || African wild dogs are almost exclusively carnivorous and hunt various types of antelope and small mammals such as warthogs. On occasion they will feed on ostrich, rhino or elephant. It is not uncommon for the dogs to lose their catch to hyenas and lions. Reproduction || Only the dominant male and female usually breed, with the female bearing litters that average ten pups. All adults help raise the pups, feeding them regurgitated food. Such additional care is vital if pups are to survive: packs rarely manage to raise any pups if they contain fewer than four members. Both sexes leave the pack when one to two years old. Life Cycle || Life expectancy is up to about 11 years. Relatives || Related to the other canid species. Interesting Facts : The Latin name for the African wild dog means "painted wolf", which aptly describes the colourful coat of dark brown, black and yellow patches. No two wild dogs are marked exactly the same, making it easy to identify different individuals. Why such a pattern should develop, and how it serves the hunting dog, has long intrigued scientists. Wild dogs have bushy tails with white tips that may serve as a flag to keep the pack in contact while hunting. They have elaborate greeting rituals, accompanied by twittering and whining. Their large range of vocalisations includes a short bark of alarm, a rallying howl and a bell-like contact call that can be heard over long distances. Breeding Programme || Our African wild dogs are part of an international breeding programme Environmental Conditions || Due to their large home ranges, African wild dogs are especially vulnerable to habitat destruction and direct persecution. Human encroachment also brings domestic dogs in contact with wild dogs, transmitting diseases such as distemper and rabies. Despite protective laws, the dogs are still shot by herders seeking to protect their livestock. At Wellington Zoo || Wellington Zoo has seven African wild dogs; two adult males and two adult females, which arrived from Johannesburg Zoo on the 5th July 2003 and a litter of three pups (two girls and a boy).

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