Volunteer with African wild dogs abroad

7 facts about African wild dogs

1) Many mouths to feed

An alpha female typically has a litter of 10 to 12 pups, but sometimes it can be up to 21 pups! That's more than any other dog species!

2) What’s all that noise? 

Special muscles allow the large rounded ears of African wild dogs to swivel, giving these predators incredible hearing.

3) Skilled hunters 

These predators are the endurance champions of the savanna. They can cover huge distances at up to 44mph - that’s 70kph - the same speed as a greyhound!

4) Beautifully unique

Their distinct colourful, patchy coat is not only beautiful but also completely individual. Like a human fingerprint, it's a unique identifier for each animal.

5) All for one and one for all

When pregnant females or pups are in the den, the rest of the pack will return from a successful hunt to regurgitate meat to feed the mother and pups.

6) Collaboration is key

With one of the highest hunting success rates among large African carnivores, the pack’s dynamic teamwork is a great indicator of the intelligence of the African wild dog.

7) King and Queen

African wild dogs have a distinctive pack structure led by a dominant pair—an alpha male and female— who lead a group of up to 20 individuals.

Want to learn more? Read our wild dog fact sheet!

Conservation spotlight: what's in a name?

Commonly referred to in South Africa as African wild dogs, there are over 10 other names to pick from, including Cape hunting dogs, African-painted dogs, and African-painted wolves. Despite the various names, African wild dogs are only distant relatives to both European and American wolves and domestic canines. 

Their Latin name Lycaon pictus directly translates as painted wolves, a name that depicts the mottled white, brown, and black colouring that gives each animal its unique patterned coat. Their lean build, 'satellite dish' ears, and team-orientated approach to hunting make them incredible predators on Africa's plains and savannahs. They are opportunistic, meaning wild dogs hunt a wide variety of prey. Their diet is made up of mammals like antelopes, warthogs, wildebeest, calves, and rats, as well as birds and insects.

Conservation of a species: habitat fragmentation to human-wildlife conflict

African wild dogs are key to maintaining ecosystem balance through their role as one of Africa’s most successful hunters. They contribute to biodiversity by controlling prey populations and their movements. With decreasing numbers, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified African wild dogs as Endangered (EN) and the second-most endangered carnivores in Africa. This highlights the critical urgency of their conservation efforts.

So, how do we protect this species? Understanding the challenges they face is the first step. Even in protected areas with lots of food and water sources, the habitat may not be suitable for the pack as they could be competing with other large predators like lions and spotted hyenas. These larger predators also directly prey on wild dogs.

Even though wild dogs are fast and determined hunters, they lack the strength to fend off lion or hyena attacks. In the face of such threats, they retreat to less favourable habitats. However, with their remarkable hunting success rate of approximately 80% and their ability to cover long distances, they’re able to raise their pups safely away from alpha predators.

Another threat comes from the coexistence of domestic and wild canines. Despite their distant relation to domestic dogs, African wild dogs are highly susceptible to the same diseases. Infection can spread rapidly within their family groups as they regurgitate food for their young. Implementing a vaccination programme for domestic dogs near territories of wild dogs can reduce disease transmission.

Habitat fragmentation also poses a significant threat, as wild dogs require large areas to thrive. Creating wildlife corridors that allow them to move between areas of land is a successful way to prevent population isolation and improve genetic diversity. Wildlife corridors can also be used to steer packs away from areas with livestock, reducing the risk of conflict with humans. Collaboration among governments, private landowners, and local communities is essential to creating and maintaining access to these corridors.

African wild dogs are tough, impressive animals, but these are just some examples of the threats they face from every angle. Without space and conservation efforts, the way that these animals live, breed, and hunt as a unit goes from being one of their greatest strengths to their biggest vulnerability.