Very Important Predators
PRESENTS
The Painted Dog
By Billy Timms
Photographs by expert safari guide and photographer Edward Selfe of South Luangwa, Zambia
With their colorfully painted coats and pack-hunting tactics, African wild dogs prowl the savannah not just with ferocity, but with playful comradery. The African wild dog, scientific name Lycaon pictus, is Africa’s most efficient predator, netting more kills per hunt than any other animal on the continent with a success rate of around 80%. They are the largest canine species in Africa and by far the most lethal. These handsome canines are pack hunters that use intelligent communication and adapt their hunting strategy to their targeted prey.
African wild dogs are incredible predators that typically hunt in groups of 5 to 20. When hunting in this manner, they are capable of taking down larger animals such as antelopes and wildebeest.
Their high energy levels and quick speed enable them to chase down swift prey like impalas and gazelles. Remarkably, these animals can maintain speeds of about 37 mph, showcasing their immense stamina and teamwork which allows them to hunt prey even larger than themselves.
African wild dogs are extremely social animals that cooperate with one another in nearly all aspects of pack life. These intriguing canines hunt together and eat together, with food access granted in a specific hierarchical order. Pups eat first, then the dominant pair, followed by the rest of the pack in order of ascending age. They have been known to even take food to sick or weak members.
This magnificent dog is one of the world’s most endangered animals. There are less than seven thousand remaining in the wild and their populations continue to decrease. A significant escalation in conservation efforts is needed to ensure the survival of these very important predators.
African Wild Dogs
Photographs by expert safari guide and photographer Edward Selfe of South Luangwa, Zambia
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Our VIPs are critical for ecosystem health and stability. They are the masters of land, sea, and sky, the balancers of environments, and the most important predators on Earth.
