![]() Wild dogs roam over long distances to search for prey, and fragmented habitat can increase conflicts with farmers, collisions with cars, and accidental trapping in snares set for other animals. African Wild Dog and Human Interactionĭestruction of habitat is the leading cause of African wild dog decline. They generally choose larger prey items, because they hunt in packs, but they have been known to eat rabbits, insects, cane rats, and dik-dik. African wild dogs have also been known to eat wildebeest, African buffalo calves, warthogs, duiker, zebras, ostrich, waterbuck, and bushbuck. Their most common prey items are Thompson’s gazelles, impala, springbok, reedbuck, kob, and lechwe. Wild dogs are carnivores, which means that they eat meat. Most wild dogs are found in South Africa, and southern East Africa. They are virtually extinct in North and West Africa, and their numbers are low in Central and northeast Africa. Today, however, African wild dogs have been eradicated from most of their former range. Historically, African wild dogs could be found from Sub-Saharan Africa across the entire continent, absent only in rainforest habitats and the harshest deserts. While they prefer to avoid these areas, they will travel through mountain forests, scrub, and woodland areas while pursuing prey. They use their numbers to pursue prey, and work together in the open to bring down game. Instead of stalking prey, which requires dense vegetation for cover, wild dogs hunt in the open. They generally avoid forested areas, because trees can obstruct their hunting ability. Wild dogs live mainly in grasslands, savannas, and arid zones. This also increases instances of farmers killing wild dogs to protect their livestock. This separation reduces the likelihood of wild dogs in two populations interbreeding, cause inbreeding, and reducing genetic diversity. ![]() Farming and development encroach into wild dog ranges, causing increased conflict. The Problem of Fragmentation – African wild dogs are incredibly sensitive to habitat destruction and fragmentation.This means that, while there are 6,600 adult wild dogs, only 1,400 are actually producing pups. If any other females in the pack breed, their pups are quickly killed. The Problem of Social Structure – Though there are many more adult dogs, groups of African wild dogs consist of a pair of alpha dogs, and they are the only animals allowed to reproduce.What’s in a Population – What’s even more concerning about the African wild dog population is the number of breeding Though there are 6,600 or so adults, the number of breeding individuals is much lower at an estimated 1,400 dogs.Each subpopulation is so separated from the next that they rarely reproduce with one another. This population is broken up into 39 different, fragmented, subpopulations. What’s the Danger? – African wild dog populations are estimated to be around 6,600 individuals total.They are unfortunately on the decline, and are endangered by human interaction, which puts them in danger of extinction. Interesting Facts About the African Wild DogĪfrican wild dogs are unique creatures, with beautiful painted coats and skilled cooperation techniques. The wild dog also sports a large pair of ears, and a moderately-elongated muzzle. This dog’s coat is unique among canines, as it is made up entirely of rough guard hairs, and no undercoat.
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