Africa's Wild Dogs Are the Most Hated Carnivores on the Continent. Here's Why Some Conservationists Are Saving Them Anyway
African wild dogs are the continent's most successful hunters, with an 80% kill rate, yet they are also the most hated carnivores, often killed by farmers and game reserve owners. With only 6,600 left, conservationists like the Endangered Wildlife Trust are relocating dogs across borders to create genetically diverse packs. This article follows the transport of three sisters from Mozambique to South Africa, highlighting their playful social behaviors, such as 'voting' sneezes, and the challenges of saving a species that humans have long persecuted.
If you told people 20 years ago that we were going to be flying wild dogs under sedation to other countries—it’s just quite crazy.
- UI_at_80x24
This information may have been supplanted but newer studies, but one study determined that African Wild Dogs were the most successful pack hunters on the planet with a ~92% success rate. (success being defined as 'eating' after a hunt.
Edit: Opening line from the article - Wild dogs are the most successful hunters in Africa, with a kill rate of 80 percent.
And my favorite story about these animals is that they vote!
https://www.science.org/content/article/wild-dogs-vote-initi...
- bryanlarsen
For those who didn't know, to save you the search I just performed: the African Wild Dog is not literally a wild dog. It's not even a Canid, it's a separate genus (Lycaon) from dogs, wolves & coyotes.
- Nykon
I've spent the last 2 years in East Africa and the last thing this place needs is another predator gaining back ground. This sounds like a great idea until you find yourself after sunset in an area where electric is scare - which means basically everywhere. I got hunted by street dogs in Bulgaria, multiple times, that shit will make you go to a gun shop and I'd rather get assaulted by another boda robber than facing those things.
- everyday7732
They look so similar to hyenas. Maybe they fit the same evolutionary niche.
While the article claims that wild dogs are the most successful predator in Africa, I found a national geographic article which claims the same for hyenas:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/hyenas-my...
- nozzlegear
There's a group of these dogs at the zoo in Sioux Falls, SD. Like all dogs, I think my wife and I were predispositioned to like them. It didn't help that they all started howling when a police car drove by with its sirens on, which was cute.