10 {important} facts about African wild dogs

20 {important} facts about African wild dogs

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)—also referred to as the African hunting dog, painted dog, and Cape hunting dog—is one of the most endangered  carnivores.Lycaon pictus, means “painted wolf,” referring to the animal's irregular patches or spots which features patches of red, black, brown, white, and yellow fur.

1} African wild dogs they hunt for a wide variety of prey, including gazelles and other antelopes, warthogs, wildebeest calves, rats, and birds. Like most predators, they play an important role in eliminating sick and weak animals, thereby helping to maintain the natural balance in the wild areas.

2} Wild dogs kill only for food. They have a reputation for being cruel, but in fact they kill their prey as swiftly as most other predators. Prey is chased by the pack and small animals are pulled down. Larger prey may keep running while the dogs continue to bite and tear at it.

3} The African wild dog lives in grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. They are mostly found in the African plains; they do not live in jungle areas. They also live in parts of Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, and in the Tra tunsvaal of South Africa.

4} African Wild Dog conservation status in 2020. According to the IUCN, the painted dog is an endangered species. With only about 5000 dogs left roaming the arid zones of the Savannah, it's beyond time for African wild dogs conservation efforts.

5} By body mass, they are only outsized amongst other extant canids by the grey wolf species complex. Females are generally 3–7% smaller than males. Compared to members of the genus Canis, the African wild dog is comparatively lean and tall, with outsized ears and lacking dewclaws.

6} Wild dogs can run more than 44 miles per hour and roam across large areas of more than 770 square miles. 

7}  They breed only once a year, not twice, as dogs do. African dogs are very curious about their puppies there is only one alpha male and alpha female which do the breeding and gives a litter in a year and the other dogs help to raise the puppies.

8} African wild dogs have many mortal enemies such as Hyena, Lions and many others which seek opportunity to kill their young ones . So wild dogs are very curious about their puppies.

9} African wild dogs live in packs averaging from seven to 15 members and sometimes up to 40.  Wild dogs also have a large range of vocalizations that include a short bark of alarm, a rallying howl, and a bell-like contact call that can be heard over long distances.

10} In Australia African wild dogs are also known as different name the Dingo is Australia's wild dog. It was probably introduced to Australia by Asian seafarers about 4,000 years ago.

      

                    

               Lovely as mother hunt as killer