There are many days throughout the year that are dedicated to raising awareness of endangered species, which allow us to start thinking about why certain animals are under threat, what is affecting their population decline and what we can do to help. First of all, it needs to be emphasised that “help” doesn’t just necessarily involve donations to organisations. While this is a very valid method, reading and spreading the word on endangered species is also a great tool to help in raising awareness. When you’re at the bus stop, around a water cooler or making small talk in an elevator, you can talk about what day it is and what there is to know about this endangered and charismatic species.
The African wild dog - also known as the painted dog - is one of Africa’s most successful predators, with 80% of its hunts ending in a kill ( impressive when compared to the grey wolf’s average success rate of just 14%). They hunt via attrition, meaning that they tire their prey by maintaining the chase for extended periods of time. They are able do this by moving in large packs of around 10-20 individuals, taking turns to increase speed and keep pressure on the prey. This is a sharp contrast to other predators, namely the cheetah, who will sprint very quickly to outpace their meal with hunts lasting only around 1-2 minutes. The longest recorded wild dog hunt was nearly 2 days long! Despite the slower tactic they employ to achieve their goal, the hunting dog is not a slow runner - being able to achieve a max speed of 44mph, the same as a greyhound.
When it comes to group dynamics, there is a hierarchy but no alpha pair. The pack will prioritise feeding their young before the older individuals get a look in at a meal. This is done to invest in the future of the group by ensuring the next generation are strong and healthy.
Often mistaken for hyenas because of their striking tri-colouration and stature, wild dogs are unique and belong to a completely different family to hyenas, which are more closely related to cats rather than dogs. One distinct feature is their amazing ‘radar dish’ shaped ears, which give them fantastic hearing. These are not only useful for identifying prey, but for communication. These canids communicate using using high pitch sounds, displaying their high level of social intelligence - they are one of the smartest predators on the planet.
The African wild dog is one of the most endangered mammals on the planet with roughly only 6,600 individuals left in the wild, with their numbers mainly being threatened by habitat loss. They usually maintain very large territories that they move through frequently and will use to hunt - the large area will allow the dogs access to a wide range of opportunities. Without this vital habitat, there is not enough food to go around and numbers dwindle. As as result, the larger African predators take priority and animals such as lion, hyena and leopards will displace the wild dogs, meaning habitat loss affects them more than most.
So what can you do to help? As mentioned before, raising awareness and getting people engaged with this beautiful species is one of the best things you can do. Once people are aware of conservation issues and are emotionally engaged, they are far more inclined to help. If you are able, please consider donating to organisations such as the Painted Dog Conservation Foundation or if you cannot, sharing information about the conservation efforts that are helping this incredible species will go a long way. Thank you very much for reading, and we hope to see you again for the next animal awareness day.