My first experience with African Wild Dogs
Most of my 30 years on earth I have spend on this continent called Africa, and last month was the first time that I happen to stumble upon a pack of wild dogs. Spending some time in a nature reserve in the Mpumalanga area my husband and I came upon a pack of wild dogs hanging out on a gravel road after a meal. Being called wild dogs, I some how didn’t think that a ‘wild dog’ would actually be so dog like. (I don’t know what I was thinking?). They did absolutely everything exactly like a dog would. They scratched like dogs, growled like dogs, played like dogs, pounced upon one another like dogs, turned their heads slightly to the side and tilted their ears - like dogs. But, on the other hand they where more fit and unpredictable than any dog I’ve encountered.
What also surprised me was that all their teeth where so strong and white and their coats where fluffy and shiny. I don’t know how good it would be to try this at home, but it seems a diet consisting mostly of fresh impala meat goes down very well with dogs.
The other thing that amazed me was how fearless they where. While we were watching the Wild dogs at a water hole, we saw a pack of three nervous zebras chasing down upon the them. A dog would be singled out for attack by the zebras and it would stand its ground until the last minute before fleeing. As the zebras would chase the ‘unfortunate’ dog the other dogs would assemble from behind and chase the Zebras! It was just one big game for the wild dogs, but the zebras seemed pretty out of it.
Something about wild dogs that I find very interesting is their ability to share - which is definitely not a main characteristic of most carnivores in Africa. The pack is run by an Alfa male and female which are the only ones that get to mate. The babies born form the Alfas are taken care of by the whole pack. So every time after a hunt the dogs will assemble and through-up a little ‘fresh’ food into the babies’ mouths. The wild dogs that stay behind to take care of the babies will also receive some take always…
Wild dogs are also known for the fact that they are nomadic and babies are moved on a regular basis. Can’t help to think that it might contribute to the fact that they come across so incredibly fit and slender.
While spending time with the wild dogs I also made a new discovery. I was allergic to them! At one stage we spend some time quite close to a few wild dogs lying under a tree. At first I was captivated being so close to them, but then I got exactly the same allergic reaction I get form being close to normal dogs… I couldn’t keep my sneezes in and startled the wild dogs every timed it happened. So unfortunately we had to leave…
Even though the mannerisms of wild dogs are very similar to those of your pooch at home, I will under no circumstances suggest that you climb out of your car and try and hang out with them. Unlike your pooch these dogs kill for a living, and it seems like they quite enjoy it too. You might think you have your eye on the dog in front of you, just to be taken down form behind by 15 other dogs. Oh, and if you think that you are a pretty big guy, think again, your might have size but they’ve got the numbers.
There was something quite mesmerizing about these animals. They represented a sense of freedom, a wild secret that they carry with them. One you would only know if you had run with the pack and felt the excitement of a kill… It always makes me sad to think of how endangered they are.
