WILD DOG Lycaon pictus

Also known as the Cape Hunting Dog or the African Hunting Dog.

Distribution:

They are found in Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, parts of Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and the Transvaal.

Diet:

They will take Impala, Bushbuck, Duiker, Steenbok, female Kudu and Waterbuck; in fact any living thing they can catch and kill.

Habitat:

The Wild dog has a wide tolerance for habitat but have a preference for open plains.

Habits:

They are very gregarious animals living packs from 10 to 40 odd dogs.

When packs become too large they will gradually split up into a more feasible sized group for hunting.

They are the most efficient predators in Africa.

Injured and sick dogs have a chance of recovery and will be fed by the other pack members.

Old dogs can even enjoy a period of retirement within the pack system.

They have a well developed communication system within the pack.

These animals are not territorial.

They will greet each other after being separated.

One male will usually be the one to lead the hunts, usually the most experienced of the pack.

One dog will usually rouse the pack into getting up and hunting.

The dogs are known to jump up on their hind legs when traveling through long grass in order to obtain a better view of their surroundings .

When potential prey is spotted the dogs will drop their heads to make themselves look unthreatening to the prey animals.

These dogs can keep up a fast pace for about five kilometers.

They are often thought of as ruthless and cruel killers but it has been proved that the dogs will kill quicker than lion or leopard.

Breeding:

Normally one female in the pack will breed having large litters of pups, the average being 19 pups in one litter.

They have a gestation period of about three months.

The mother will introduce new-borns into the pack one at a time, if the pack find anything wrong with a particular pup they will rip it to pieces.

As soon as the pups are old enough to stand up the mother will suckle them standing up herself.

Predators:

Hyena and Leopard are said to sometimes hunt young pups.

Lions and Hyena are known to kill adults in fights over food.

Due to their sociable nature disease is the main cause of death amongst pack members. If one pack member catches an infectious disease their social nature ensures that the whole pack will get the disease. Rabies, Distemper and Pavo Virus being the main killers.