African wild dogs are social animals that live in tight-knit packs and are known as one of nature’s most successful predators.
By Damien Lafon / Edited by Sherenna Scheers / Photography © Cécile Ducreux.

It goes by several common English names, including the painted dog, African spotted dog, and Cape hunting dog, referring to its irregular, blotched coat, covered in spots of red, brown, white, black, and yellow fur.
Each African wild dog has its own distinctive coat, as unique as a human fingerprint. But they all share big ears resembling those of bats and a bushy tail with a white tip, aiding pack communication during hunts. Renowned as the world’s most dangerous dog, this wonderful animal possesses an incredible personality.
The savannah’s elite hunters
With an impressive 80 percent success rate, wild dogs rank among Africa’s most successful predators, which is higher than predators like lions or leopards.
African wild dogs are social hunters, they have a pack system unlike that of other social mammals. They live in packs typically comprising six to 20 members, although some packs may grow as large as 40 members.
Before a hunt, the pack communicates through vocalisations and body language to plan their approach. With silent precision, they stealthily stalk their target, using cover to remain unseen. Once they initiate the chase, their endurance comes into play, allowing them to pursue the prey relentlessly.
As soon as the pack catches their prey, they quickly pull it apart. For larger prey, they chase it down until it dies from exhaustion. African wild dogs have sleek bodies and powerful legs that allow them to reach speeds of up to 60–72.5 km/h during a chase.
Hypercarnivorous diet
African wild dogs have what scientists call a “hypercarnivorous diet,” meaning they eat fresh meat mostly 70 percent of the time. As a result, they must keep on hunting to sustain themselves. Their diet consists mainly of antelopes, such as impalas and gazelles, but they will also hunt smaller animals like rodents and birds if they need to.
Even though they belong to the same family, African wild dogs are neither wolves nor dogs
African wild dogs stand apart from wolves and domestic dogs in several key ways. While they belong to the same Canidae family, their social structure sets them apart. Unlike wolves, which have a strict order in their packs, or pet dogs that rely on people, African wild dogs live in groups with complex hierarchies. Within the pack, one dominant male and female, known as the alpha pair, lead. The pack works together as a team to hunt and care for the babies.
But breeding is only for the alpha pair
Alpha male and female wild dogs are the sole breeders of the pack. However, in rare cases where the beta female does produce offspring, these pups are either killed or taken by the alpha female.
In a study featured by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), African wild dogs are seasonal breeders. Whelping typically happens between April and September, following a gestation period of around 70 days.
In southern Africa specifically, pups are predominantly born from late May to early June. This timing coincides with favourable environmental conditions, ensuring that the pups are born into a period of abundance when food and resources are readily available. This seasonal breeding strategy allows the wild dogs to synchronise their reproductive efforts with periods of optimal food availability, increasing the likelihood of survival for the offspring.
Cooperative breeding is also the norm within their packs. This breeding behaviour within the pack ensures that all members contribute to the care and upbringing of the pups, further extending their chances of survival.
African wild dogs are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List
Sadly, these amazing wild dogs are in danger. They are on the endangered list by the IUCN Red List. There are about 6,600 adults left, with 1,400 of them being mature, spread out in 39 different groups.
Their numbers are going down because of a few reasons. Their homes are being broken up, people are hunting them, and diseases like rabies and distemper are making things worse. The biggest group probably has less than 250 dogs. This means African wild dogs are one of the animals in most danger of disappearing from the world.
On their own, wild dogs are not great hunters, but together in packs, they are formidable hunters. With incredible teamwork and coordination, these wild dogs can take down prey much larger than themselves. And for their prey, it’s hard to beat a pack that doesn’t give up the African wild dogs.
More about : World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – African Wild Dog

