Asanterra

African wild dogs, the painted wolves of Africa

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Nyerere and Ruaha National Parks in Southern Tanzania are famous for their wild dog population because the large park size and high availability of prey create the ideal habitat.

The wild dog is one of the world’s most endangered mammals. They are currently extinct in West and North Africa, no longer available in 25 African countries out of 39 known to appear in the past 30 years. Viable populations were reported to be present in Selous Game Reserve (Tanzania) and Kruger National Park (South Africa), with 1300 and 342 individuals, respectively (IUCN/SSC 2007; Lindsey et al 2004).

According to the Wild Conservation Society, Tanzania’s Ruaha–Katavi landscape is thought to be home to Africa’s third-largest remaining wild dog population.

Wild dogs are known for their colorful, mottled black coats. Each wild dog has a unique coat pattern, similar to human fingerprints, making it possible to identify individual dogs based on their markings.

With their unique appearance and complex social structures, wild dogs capture the fascination of wildlife enthusiasts. They are highly social animals that live in packs ranging from 6 to 30 individuals.

They are renowned for their cooperative hunting style, where they chase prey in relay-like teamwork that has one of the highest success rates of any predator. However, they lose 2% to 86% of their food to spotted hyenas.

Wild dogs are diurnal hunters, often hunting at dawn or dusk. They rely on their impressive endurance rather than ambush, chasing prey until it tires. Their prey mainly includes antelopes like impalas and gazelles.

Wild dog packs are typically led by an alpha pair that is the only breeding pair within the group. The pack raises the pups together, showing strong group cohesion and cooperative care for the young.
After pups are born, the whole pack participates in caring for them. Pups are fed by the adults and gradually introduced to hunts as they grow older.

African wild dogs thrive in savannahs, grasslands, and open woodlands where they can use their speed and stamina to pursue prey. In Tanzania, they are commonly found in Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park.

Wild dogs are best spotted early in the morning or late in the afternoon when they are most active. During the midday heat, they tend to rest in shaded areas. They are highly mobile and can cover large distances. Spending time with an experienced guide who can track them will increase the chances of sightings.