What do African wild dogs look like? African wild dogs are known for their unique patterns. They have patterns that cover their bodies. They also have beautiful shades that look like painted canvas. This is why sometimes they are called “painted dogs”. They have long legs, rounded ears, and hairy coats.
Each animal has a different pattern. You can identify an individual wild dog. You can see these unique animals while on safari. Would you like to know more about wild animals? Keep reading this post. We provide 5 interesting facts about the African Wild Dog (Lycaon Pictus). Let’s learn more about these most endangered animals.
5 Interesting Facts about The African Wild Dog (Lycaon Pictus)
- They are very social
African wild dogs are very social. They live in packs. Each pack has about 7 to 15 members. A pack can even have 40 members. When the population was high, packs could have 100 members. Every member plays a role in taking care of a sick or wounded animal. Members of a pack are not aggressive toward one another. They rarely intimidate one another.
A hunting group has a dominant pair. This pair is usually monogamous. They live together for life. This is one of the fun facts about wild dogs. They use sounds to communicate. They have a bell-like sound. They can bark and howl. These sounds can be heard over long distances. They whine when greeting each other.
Each member of the pack babysits young ones. This is among the fun facts about wild dogs. Both males and females must play a role in raising babies. Every member must also play a part in providing food.
Some members of the pack go hunting. They return to the den with meat for babies and nursing mothers. Babies are born large. But very few survive. This is because of several reasons. Their dens may flood. Pups may die from diseases. Food may not be enough for all pups. This is common when a pack has few members.
- They are efficient hunters
This is one of the 5 interesting facts about the African Wild Dog (Lycaon Pictus). When it comes to hunting, they are among the best. The success rate can be as high as 80%. This is the highest hunting success in the wilderness. Other large predators such as lions cannot reach this rate.
The success rate is a result of teamwork. Hunting members of a pack work together to get food. They have tight social bonds. Most animals such as lions cannot meet their level of teamwork. The hunting group gives prey no chance of escape. Watching them hunt is a fascinating experience. You feel the tension as they attack from all sides. They can run after ‘food’ at a speed of 44 miles per hour. They are usually very determined. They do not give up. After all, they need to feed their young ones and other members.
- Mating is a short affair
Mating among African wild dogs occurs very quickly. It can last between 1 and 6 minutes. This is among the 5 interesting facts about the African Wild Dog (Lycaon Pictus). When a female goes into heat, the mating courtship begins. The male will protect the female. He keeps her from other males. Both release a chemical that leaves other members infertile. The female urinates on a spot where mating will take place. The male does the same. They can produce sounds while mating.
When mating succeeds, the gestation period starts. This takes about 2 to 2.5 months. The mother gives birth to a large liter. This can be between 10 and 20 babies. The babies are born helpless and blind. They open their eyes a round a month after birth.
- They can live in any habitat
African wild dog habitat is not fixed. Climate or vegetation rarely bother wild dogs. They live in a habitat that can give them food. You can find them in woodlands, open savannahs, and open plains. You can find them in the grasslands. They will go anywhere to search for food. But most hunting takes place in open grassland plains.
- They are endangered animals
This is one of the 5 interesting facts about the African Wild Dog (Lycaon Pictus). They are enlisted as endangered animals in the world.
Why is the African wild dog endangered? They have many natural enemies. They are small in size. Predators such as hyenas and lions find it easy to kill them. Lions have an easier time overpowering wild dogs. They steal their food and kill pups. Canine diseases kill many wild dogs. A loss of habitat has also led to a decline in wild dogs. Humans are using most of their habitat. Humans also kill them because they eat their livestock.
In this post, we have answered two questions. These are; What do African wild dogs look like? Why is the African wild dog endangered? We have looked at African wild dog habitat. We have provided 5 interesting facts about the African Wild Dog (Lycaon Pictus). We also have many other articles on African wildlife. Follow our blog and discover the beauty of Africa. It is one of the continents that you must visit. Just make sure that you travel with the best tour operators. Do you need more info about African safaris? Feel free to contact us today.
