African Wild Dog

[ice]

more info here

[ice]

a few of my own observations:

- I don't think you could say "everything is in balance in Kruger": they have a huge poaching problem and an even bigger problem with way too many elephants in the park

- before watching this report my information was that during the last "big" census in 2009 172 dogs were counted; now they talk of 130 in 2012...another huge decline

- when I booked accomodation for our last trip (see http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=66697) I made sure to spend some nights in Pretoriuskop, specifically to try and find the dogs they are talking about; unfortunately we never found them (they had already left the den) but we did see the Skukuza pack twice (video footage to come); in fact, while we were there, it was seen on a regular basis

- at ca. 4:35 they talk about the guy getting a tweet - that was in fact a message from KrugerSightings (you can see their logo in the lop left corner of his cell phone)

[ossendryver]

This is a video of amazing footage which was taken seconds after the Crocodile Bridge back of Wild Dogs caught and killed an impala.
It was taken on the S25 just west of Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Video was taken by David Da Silva.

[Pumbaa]

Incredible - Within only seconds not much left

[Patto]

Actually the most "humane" and efficient method of killing. The animal is disembowled and dies in seconds. It is only torn apart after death. Compare this to say a lion, which suffocates its kill which, depending on the size of the prey, could take quite a few minutes.

[Highbury]

The last census showed less than 200 dogs - which is historically very low . Their numbers vary generally between 200-450 and are influenced by a number of factors including the numbers of their competitors and amount of rainfall . Generally their numbers have tracked rainfall patterns , and they don't seem to do well in periods of good rainfall . In the 1990's which were generally drier , their numbers ranged from 300-450 .

[Highbury]

Suggest you do a google search for wild dog census numbers . The Sanparks annual report has overall game census numbers - I recall a link somewhere on this site to that report , but I don't think cheetah and wild dog form part of that census . There have been sporadic counts/estimates of cheetah and wild dog numbers over they years , and Sanparks have run photo competitions to assist in gathering data on these species .

I did a quick google search and have pasted a quote from an article on the iol.co.za site that has some relevance , but if you want to find more , just google search - there are many links .

" The first Kruger Park wild dog photographic census was completed in the 1980s and again in 1995, 2000 and 2005 and wild dog numbers have "fluctuated" between a peak of 434 in 1995 and 120 in 2005. When cheetahs were added to the list in 2005, 103 individuals were identified ..."

[adw]

I have just returned from a trip to Satara and I saw the Orpen pack last Sunday 500 metres from the Muzandzeni Picnic spot. I was told at last count this pack was 16 strong. Well I can tell you it has been swelled by a healthy crop of younsters and we counted at least 25 dogs, both adult and sub adult. Our count was a best estimate but the young sub adults are in excellent condition.
I will post some photos later.

[Selamat]

Our experience with wild dogs:

Kruger Park - South Africa - 15 september 2012

A rainy morning, around 9 am. We're driving on the 'Circle Road' near Pretoriuskop.

On the road ahead, we see an unexpected animal. It appears to be a domestic dog, complete with collar and leash around his neck.
He probably strayed away from a village close to the border of the Krugerpark and must have gotten lost; he's running around aimlessly.

Suddenly we notice a group of 'Wild Dogs' walking high up between the rocks. They spotted the little domestic dog as well and climb down towards the road.
Fearing the worst for the little dog, we could do nothing but watch the violent confrontation happen in front of our car.
The three Wild Dogs attack and they engage in a wild and unfair fight, chasing the defenseless dog into the high grass.

The little dog gives everything he's got: he bites, growls, barks, bares his teeth...

Just when we're thinking the little animal must be getting devoured in the bushes, something even more unexpected happens:
the three big dogs give up their fight and flee away, tail between their legs.

After his surprising victory we see the domestic dog one last time. Limping slightly on his rear leg, he disappears along the road.


http://youtu.be/j7wM7rvE4kU

[cheetah2111]

The Orpen pack is 30 strong now
So it is safe to say that the numbers are up in that pack

Not sure of the overall picture of wild dog numbers in Kruger though

[shortcourse]

We came across 18 wild dog on the Orpen road near the dam outside Satara (Nsemani maybe?) this last week. Great sighting and the pack was clearly well fed - one dog did appear to be blind in one eye (very milky) though but seemed to be coping fine!
Also, there were numerous sightings of the Skukuza pack and one individual managed to see the pack make 4 (FOUR!!!) kills in one morning!!!

[onewithnature]

Excellent advice, Friedrich.

We actually saw the pups and pack circling the Napi Road in November; was an amazing sighting as we had the privilege of following them all alone for three kilometres along the tar and then down the dirt road. Strangely, just as the lead dogs and trailing pups disappeared through the long grass near the koppie, three cars came into view around the rocks. Of course they did not believe that they had missed them by literally seconds. Makes me wonder how many times we've missed these elusive animals by the smallest of margins.

[onewithnature]

Hi OWN,

What a special experience that must have been!
Glad to hear you saw PUPS, which implies more than one??!

We spent 2 nights at Pretoriuskop in September, and were told the dogs had left the previous week and were no longer around... on the last evening 10 minutes before gate closing time, we turned off the H1-1 to Pretoriuskop, but via die DIRT road, and yes, 3 adults and 1 pup came trotting down the road and disappeared into the grass. We made a u-turn back to the tar road and waited. A car came by and we stopped them. "Wait for wild dogs" we said. They smiled and drove on. Ten seconds later the dogs were in the tar road. They slammed om brakes and came back, grinning sheepishly!
But only 1 pup.
Glad you saw the others too!

God bless,

Friedrich von Hörsten

How lovely, Friedrich. I've done that dirt road probably two or three dozen times and have never seen anything of great consequence on it, perhaps as the grass there is particularly high. I've noticed too how flippant people can be these days, probably because so many are impatient. Do you know how old the pup was?

As for our sighting, we were cruising the tar road towards Skukuza and had just passed the first Napi turnoff when I noticed shapes spread out on the slight rise about 400m distant. Even before I had trained the binocs on them, I knew it was wild dogs. Then I had to control my excitement as I moved steadily towards them, trying not to scare them off by being too frenetic. However, they were in easy trot mode and, as we closed on them, my spine almost shot through my head as the excitement levels climbed just as quickly: "PUPS," I yelled, as silently as possible. They were probably around five to six months old and there were five of them trailing the lead dogs. An adult stayed with them at the back and it was delightful to see the interplay between them. Every so often the lead dogs would stop and gaze off into the bush, fully alert, before continuing on their loping trot. I couldn't believe that there were no other cars and then we were doubly excited as they turned onto the second Napi road as we could still continue following them. As wild dogs often do, they split into two fronts and fanned out, always keeping their steady trot. Just before the great boulders the lead dogs veered off through the thick grass and sped up, causing a troop of baboons on top of the rocks to squeal and scramble higher. We never did see what prey they had spotted, but we didn't mind as the sighting itself had been so special: it's not often that one can get to follow these amazing predators so freely and without the hindrances of other cars. It will forever remain one of the greatest sightings that Kruger has dished up for us.

[Johann]

Found a pack of 12-15 dogs on the H1-2 somewhere between the H12 turn-off and the N'watindlopfu river on 02 July 2013. Not easy to photograph or count even as they were quite busy and on the move. Managed to get only a few shots.


Clicking on image will open original


Clicking on image will open original


Clicking on image will open original

[Gunner]

Took this image on the S126 Sweni road