The+African+Wild+Dog

The African wild dog is a canide native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also known as the Cape hunting dog, who are highly social animals. The African Wild Dog has thirty-nine known subspecies that are distinguished by their fur. The animals’ fur is a “splotchy” brown-black color and contains only stiff-bristle hairs and no underfur. As the animals age, they loose their fur. The oldest dogs appear to be nearly naked. The African wild dog in particular is a very bulky and well-built animal that weighs 60-70 lbs. They have oversized ears, fused paws, and are known for the degeneration of their smallest molar. The African Wild Dogs live in packs that are dominated in a grouping called a monogamous breeding pair. This is when they pair bond, or stay with the same partner to reproduce. The dogs hunt in packs of six to twenty. The smaller packs are more commonly seen today because of the animal's endangered status. The canine typically lives in savannas and arid zones. These areas help them with hunting, scavenging, and avoiding predators. The typical wild dog pack raises their pups until they are six months old. For the first several weeks after the babies are born, they slow down on hunting. After the pups are seven weeks, they go out and teach them life skills. When the pups reach six months of age, they set off without their pack and begin a life of their own. A typical day for an African wild dog consists of hunting and scavenging. The animals hunt impala, reedbuck, kob, lechwe, and springbok. The smaller packs go for smaller prey while the bigger packs go for bigger prey. In the dogs' habitat, there is not much competition for them because they are some of the fiercest animals. However, the lion is a major predator. Lions have caused a dramatic decrease in their population. The African wild dog population is currently at 500,000. They are an endangered species and are impacted by poaching, mining, and logging in their territories. Many South Africans are taking the extra step to save these animals, and it is predicted that the population level will rise in the next decade.