African Wild Dog

[Richprins]

https://lowvelder.co.za/443243/watch-li ... -save-cub/

[Lisbeth]

The video does not load...or it takes ages I saw it yesterday and that's why I did not post it.

[Richprins]

Works fine!

[Lisbeth]

Better that way. I'll have to do without

[Lisbeth]

13 Wild dog pups born at Kalahari reserve

Posted on 31 July, 2018 by Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve in Animal Encounters, Destinations, Kalahari, South Africa

© Barry Peiser

Tswalu Kalahari has welcomed a litter of no less than 13 African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) pups to their pack. Born about seven weeks ago to the alpha female of the pack, the average size of a litter of wild dogs is 8-12 pups.

Their birth is particularly relevant considering the fact that the population of African wild dogs, or “painted dogs” as they are also known, is estimated at roughly 5,000. Their decline is ongoing, mainly due to hunting, habitat loss and the fact that they are particularly vulnerable to the spread of disease by livestock


© Barry Peiser

The new pups’ eyes will have opened at 10-14 days with the ears becoming erect at 2-3 weeks, so it’s not surprising that the pups stayed hidden in their den until they were about two weeks old. Eventually, the patience of the guides was rewarded, and they were lucky enough to begin counting them as they emerged from their living quarters to experience the big wide world around them. You can imagine the surprise and delight when the guides discovered there were 13 pups in the pack!

They are seen just about every day, usually at dawn and dusk when the adults are leaving and returning to the den where they regurgitate food for them, but if you are lucky you can also see them in the middle of the day.

Wild dog pups are playful, curious and energetic by nature and their antics are fascinating to our guests. For the first three months or so they will stay at the den site being nurtured by their parents, but it is not long before they will be seen running with the pack.


© Barry Peiser

(Tswalu is situated in the heart of the Northern Cape Province, some 300 kilometres north-west of Kimberley and 270 kilometres north-east of Upington. Johannesburg lies 560 kilometres to the east and Cape Town some 850 kilometres to the south.)

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

Excellent!

[Richprins]

Various wild dog interactions with hyena and lion: (10 min)

[Lisbeth]

Wild dogs VS hyenas - none of them seems to know very well what the game is about, but funny to see how the hyenas are playing individually while the wild dogs are team players.

What they are up to with the lion is not very clear. Probably they only want her to get out of the way

[Richprins]

The hyena irritate the dogs more than anything else, as they follow them around to scavenge.
But I think they will kill cubs should they find a den.