Wild Dog vs Zebra

Recently, we encountered Matthews pack, the pack of wild dogs often found in our area, on the hunt. They are a large pack with approximately 19-20 adults and about 4 pups from this years litter have survived from the original 12 that were born. A number of the dogs in the pack are collared by the nearby predator researchers who spend alot of time collecting data and watching the dogs. While following them, we watched as they came across a zebra stallion on his own.

Zebra are quite large prey for wild dogs, although they often go for kudu which are also large herbivores. However, the blow from a zebra could be lethal to a wild dog. We were uncertain whether they would pursue the stallion, however, he was clever and held his ground and did not run, which might have proved to be a bad decision.

A number of dogs tried their luck but they appeared to be more interested in teasing the poor guy than actually making a meal of him. Eventually they left him alone and continued on their hunt, chasing a few impala but not succeeding.

They rested for awhile and we sat with them, enjoying their social dynamics and especially the pups who were fooling around with each other, occassionally getting a hiding from one of the adults when pushed too far. When evening fell they all began the hunt again but we lost them when they moved into Moremi Game Reserve.

African Wild Dogs are classified as endangered, with an estimated population of 5,000 individuals left in the wild. These amazing canids have been classed as pests in many areas, particularly farming areas and have been shot, poisoned and snared as a means to get rid of them. More recently, a bigger threat to these predators is human population expansion. As humans expand their range so contact between Wild Dogs and domestic animals becomes more frequent, increasing the spread of introduced diseases, now the biggest threat to wild dogs populations. A number of researchers work towards stopping the decline of these social carnivores in southern africa and are coming up with new ways to protect and preserve the African Wild Dog. Check them out:

Rosemary Groom - African Wildlife Conservation Fund - Zimbabwe http://www.africanwildlifeconservationfund.org/ - see her blog about her work with the Wild Dogs. OR check out their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/pages/African-Wildlife-Conservation-Fund/311031642244260

Save the African Wild Dog - http://www.save-the-african-wild-dog.com/painted-dog-research-kenya.asp