Find facts and information about the African Wild Dog, as well as plush toys, at Animals n More.
These plush toy African Wild Dogs can be found at our sponsor's website. We have the Wild Republic Cuddlekins African Wild dog, the Wildlife Artists African Wild Dog in three varieties and the Eco Pounce Pal African Wild Dog from Animal Planet. Visit them at: Jeannie's Cottage Gift Shop.
The African Wild Hunting Dog, Lycaon pictus, is a
medium-size dog about 40 inches long. These dogs have various coat patterns of black, ocher and white. Their colors and large round ears are unmistakable. The face is black with a tan or ochre forehead with a black line running through it. They are lean and lanky, weighing about 60 pounds.
African Wild Dogs are carnivorous and only prey on medium-sized antelope including Thomson's gazelle, impala, kob, lechwe and springbok. They bring down their prey by outrunning them. They can run at about 35 mph for several miles and have been known to chase their prey for more than an hour.They hunt during the day, mainly around dawn and dusk, because they rely on sight when hunting. If there are youngsters present at the kill, the adults will allow them to eat first unlike lions.
Only the dominant male and female in the pack (the alpha pair) reproduce. The gestation period is about 72 days. Of the 10 to 12 young born only a few survive. Pups at birth are all black and white, the tan coloration developing in the second month.
The pups are dependent during their first 12 to 14 months and the entire pack is needed to help feed them.
The African wild dog is one of Africa's most endangered animals. Natural predators include lions and hyenas. But the primary reasons for their decline are: loss of habitat, illegal killing by farmers and ranchers, getting run over on roadways, and getting caught in snares. They are also devastated by diseases such as rabies, canine distemper and parvovirus, which is spread by domestic dogs.
Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, it is believed that fewer than 5,000 wild dogs currently exist in the wild, and their range has declined from 33 to 15 countries. The largest populations exist in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
African Wild Dogs rarely live in the wild more than 9-10 years.
