Back from extinction? Or just visiting from South Sudan?

What has brought the wild dogs to Narus Valley? And how many individuals are in the pack? A team of Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers are actively searching for them today.

African wild dogs, also known as painted dogs or painted wolves, are “one of Africa’s most interesting animals” according to Richard D. Estes, author of “The Safari companion: guide to watching African mammals.”

Facts about African wild dogs

– Africa’s largest canids (dogs).
– One of the reasons they are such effective predators is that they can maintain a fast pace for longer than most of their prey. Although an antelope can run faster than a wild dog, wild dogs can keep running twice their distance
– With an 85% hunting success rate, you might understand local people being nervous about having wild dogs in the vicinity of their livestock. However, the real threat is from humans: persecution as “problem animals”, disease and encroachment into wildlife habitats have drastically reduced wild dog numbers across the continent.

Photo by Gilbert Manyimanyi