The Struggle of the African Wild Dog

They have all the hallmarks of an iconic predator; yet, wild dogs are a struggling species in Africa.

Image: By Michael Gäbler (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Lions are often considered to be one of the most iconic predators in the world, but if you look at statistics only 30% of hunts are successful. However, there is a more cunning and formidable predator that shares the African plains: the wild dog.

Wild dogs are extremely intelligent pack animals which have a complex social structure and an 80% success rate when hunting. They are so successful because they co-ordinate hunts by means of vocal communication. They have all the hallmarks of an iconic predator; yet, wild dogs are a struggling species in Africa. They are an endangered species and have been since 1990; their population is still declining, despite numerous conservation efforts.

Decline of wild dogs

The decline of wild dogs began when European settlers first came to Africa, bringing with them their domesticated dogs and subsequently, rabies. Rabies is responsible for wiping out a large proportion of Africa’s wild dog population. Vaccination techniques in the past have proven frustratingly unsuccessful. However, research has shown that repeating vaccinations will create a more robust immune response. So, perhaps death by rabies may become a thing of the past, but disease is not the only problem facing wild dogs.

Wild dogs have vast ranges that far surpass the space available in the majority of African game reserves, which means they often roam beyond boundaries into unprotected land. They are known to kill livestock, and as a result wild dogs are considered vermin by farmers and are often poisoned or shot. Furthermore, these animals are not considered the most “humane” hunters. They begin eating their prey while it is still alive and have been known to start while the animal is still running for its life. This creates an image of cruelty that generates little sympathy for wild dogs, yet what we perceive as cruelty is just another day in the life of a wild animal.

It saddens me to think that such a well adapted and intelligent animal has been so easily endangered by human activity . I hope that future conservation efforts will bring better things for this truly iconic predator.

Tags:

No comments yet.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.*

Tick the box or answer the captcha.

You might also like

  • Seagrass Loss Leaves Caribbean Islands Vulnerable

    New research from the Caribbean shows that pressures on seagrass meadows, such as clearance for tourism development, will leave coastlines more prone to erosion and flooding. The rich marine life that live in these meadows will also be lost, so urgent conservation action is required to save them.

    By Alex Taylor
  • Improved Assessments of Asiatic Lions

    An alternative method for monitoring Asiatic lions using whisker patterns and body markings to identify individual lions has been demonstrated. This could lead to improved population estimates and help inform conservation policy.

    By Alex Taylor
  • Legalising The Trade of Rhino Horns

    This increasing demand has further increased poaching in South Africa, home to around 90% of the world’s remaining white rhino population. The level of killing is now reaching record levels.

    By Richard Hassall