DID YOU KNOW?
African Wild Dogs vote in their packs by sneezing!
The African wild dog is known for its black, white and yellow spotted coat, with each one having its own unique pattern (just like a fingerprint!). This spotted pattern gives the African wild dog its scientific name Lycaon pictus which is Greek for “painted wolf-like animal”. Even though they aren’t very large, the strength of the African wild dog lies in it’s pack’s hunting strategy. In packs, they are able to take down prey much larger than themselves, such as wildebeests. In fact, the San people of Botswana consider the African wild dog to be the ultimate hunter. Legend also has it that medicine men can transform into African wild dogs.
Just like we welcome and care for a newborn baby into our own families, African wild dogs give newborn pups priority even over the pack’s alpha. In fact, when pups are born, some of the pack members personally feed them while other members take turns guarding till it is their turn to feed. These wild dogs also care for their elderly: the entire pack is known to come together and care for the old and injured members when need be.
CURRENT STATUS:
The species is currently listed as endangered.
CHALLENGES:
Habitat fragmentation is the main threat to their survival and happens when people build roads and houses on the homeland of these animals. This forces contact with humans and domestic animals which means that they are seen as a pest and a danger to livestock. This contact is harmful because it can cause the spread of diseases to the African wild dog which can wipe out entire populations in certain areas. Because they already exist in smaller population sizes, invasive illnesses like this can make entire packs go completely extinct. Currently their population is on the decline.
AFRICAN WILD DOG
OUR ALLY FOR PROTECTING THE AFRICAN WILD DOG
Based in Zimbabwe, Painted Dog Conservation is considered by many to be a model for conservation. For more than twenty years, Painted Dog Conservation has been battling the dual threats of loss of quality habitat and poaching, which are driving the painted dogs towards extinction. Painted Dog Conservation is action oriented and places emphasis on the value of the individual Painted Dog and local residents. With a mission to protect and increase the range and numbers of Painted Dogs, they aim to create an environment where the painted dogs can thrive, and have implemented an Education & Development Program that targets the local communities. Painted Dog Conservation believes that conservation needs to deliver tangible benefits to local communities that share their daily lives with the wildlife.
Our allies at Painted Dog suggest that the following actions can help protect the African Wild Dog
-
Visit a Painted Dog Awareness day event at a zoo near you hosted by Painted Dog Protection.
-
Donate: Painted Dog Conservation depends totally on donations to continue our conservation projects and community work that directly fund and support their projects.
-
Sign up for a membership package at their foundations in Netherlands or Australia.
SOURCES
