Africa's Wild Dogs Are the Most Hated Carnivores on the Continent. Here's Why Some Conservationists Are Saving Them Anyway
African wild dogs are the continent's most successful hunters, with an 80% kill rate, yet they are also the most hated carnivores, often killed by farmers and game reserve owners. With only 6,600 left, conservationists like the Endangered Wildlife Trust are relocating dogs across borders to create genetically diverse packs. This article follows the transport of three sisters from Mozambique to South Africa, highlighting their playful social behaviors, such as 'voting' sneezes, and the challenges of saving a species that humans have long persecuted.
If you told people 20 years ago that we were going to be flying wild dogs under sedation to other countries—it’s just quite crazy.
- bryanlarsen
For those who didn't know, to save you the search I just performed: the African Wild Dog is not literally a wild dog. It's not even a Canid, it's a separate genus (Lycaon) from dogs, wolves & coyotes.
- UI_at_80x24
This information may have been supplanted but newer studies, but one study determined that African Wild Dogs were the most successful pack hunters on the planet with a ~92% success rate. (success being defined as 'eating' after a hunt.
Edit: Opening line from the article - Wild dogs are the most successful hunters in Africa, with a kill rate of 80 percent.
And my favorite story about these animals is that they vote!
https://www.science.org/content/article/wild-dogs-vote-initi...
- ptsneves
It is amazing the failure rate and how people working in these endeavours keep on working and do not step in to intervene deeper. The statistics are what matters even if whole days are wasted because some leopard or lion ate the work done. These are not cute animal lovers, they are the real deal. Much luck!