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If we think of an animal that has more successful hunting rates than a lion, it would be the African wild dog. They are referred to as several other names such as the Painted dogs, African hunting dogs, Painted wolves, Cape hunting dogs, and more. Its scientific name, Lycaon pictus, means “painted wolf.” They share their ancestry with the common wolf, and were discovered in 1820; originally described by C.J. Temminck (Conrad Jacob Temminck) from a specimen in the Mozambique coast. He called it Hyaena picta, thinking it was a species of hyena. Later in 1827, Joshua Brookes renamed it Lycaon tricolor after recognizing it as a candid. George G. Simpson, a paleontologist, placed the African wild dog with the dhole and the bush dog, in the same sub-family Simocyonaie because they had similar trenchant carnassials.
The African wild dog lives in savanna woodlands, open prairies, and grasslands. They are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but the largest part of their population is in the southern part of East Africa, and in southern Africa, specifically in Tanzania and Northern Mozambique. They aren’t a big fan of dense forests, and often live in dens for the protection of cubs and mothers while giving birth. These dens are often abandoned warthog or aardvark dens and the pack adds to their den every year. They don't stay in one den for too long, probably for 3-4 months, due to the concern of predators locating their pack. Although strange, they visit the previous den every year, if it's still empty.
The African wild dog has a robust physique of all African candid. An average adult African Wild Dog is around 30 inches in height, 30-56 inches long, and weighs about 40-70 pounds. This allows them to run as fast as a greyhound and for a very long time. Its fur has patches of red, black, brown, white, and even yellow. Every African wild dog’s coat is unique. Their coats and big ears assist in keeping out extreme heat. They have a white tip on their tails that serves as a flag for other members of their pack. Another unique feature is that they have only one toe on their foot, unlike most wild dogs. The average lifespan of African Wild Dogs is from 10 to 12 years in the wild and 13 years in captivity. They can run as fast as a greyhound and for a very long time.
African Wild Dogs feed on a variety of prey, such as antelopes, warthogs, wildebeest calves, rats, and birds. They also eat their prey alive; as brutal as that sounds it is vital for their survival. This is because they have to eat their meal quickly, as they will be driven off by much powerful predators like lions and scavenging hyenas.
African Wild Dogs are social animals. Their average pack size is between 5-20 dogs. Within the pack, there's one dominant male and female called the alpha pair. The pack works together to take care of pups and hunt. Their pack structure is similar to wolves. If one member is caught in a snare, other wild dogs try to help its fellow pack member, but these snares are very strong and almost all rescue attempts fail.
They usually hunt in a pack and they have a success hunting rate of 80% or four out of five. To put that in perspective, lions only have a one-in-four success rate. This is feasible because of their high levels of communication. African wild dogs are capable of taking down a 240 kg wildebeest. They're strategic when chasing down prey. The alpha can catch up to a prey within two miles of chasing, but two other dogs stay 100 meters behind the alpha so they can plunge on if the prey circles or runs away. Larger prey are chased until they collapse from exhaustion. Their hunting strategy depends on the prey's size and strength. Due to this, they dominate a huge territory.
Males and females look a lot similar, however males tend to weigh more than females. An alpha female usually gives birth to 10-12 pups, sometimes even up to 21 pups. The alpha female gives birth underground in their dens. After giving birth, the other hunters of the pack bring food to her and the newborns while she takes care of them. The pack members help in guarding the den against predators and babysitting pups. When the newborns are about four weeks old, the pack members start feeding them regurgitated solid food. By 16 weeks, they're old enough to leave the den. As soon as the pups are old enough to hunt, the hunters of the pack let them eat first and guard the meal. At 18 months, they reach maturity. Typically, females leave the pack at three years old sometimes with their sisters while males stay with their birth pack. This is why a pack is composed of fewer females and more males.
African Wild Dogs make sounds such as a short bark for alarm, a rallying howl, and a bell-like contact call that can be heard over long distances. Elaborate greeting calls are twittering and whining. Here is how an African Wild Dog sounds like: African wild dog sounds, painted dog
Unfortunately, African Wild Dogs are marked as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Farmers, in order to protect their livestock, often kill them. Also, there is a shortage of habitats with prey. Sometimes accidental hunts, targeted hunts, and competition for food are threats. Diseases such as rabies and distemper also caused declines. Experts think that despite conservation efforts, the species is on an irreversible decline. Several efforts are being taken by the authorities to preserve them.
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Unity is Strength, another great lesson to learn from African Wild Dogs.
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