African Wild Dog
Painted wolves that hunt cooperatively and care for all members.
via Wikipedia: Pack (canine) · see source
African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) live and hunt in packs. Males assist in raising the pups, and stay with their pack for life. The females leave their birth pack at approximately 2.5 years old to join another pack without females. Males outnumber the females in a pack. African wild dogs are not territorial, and hunt cooperatively in their packs. For example, they will run down large game and tear it apart with their pack. They also cooperate in caring for wounded, sick, and young pack members.
Quick Facts
- Scientific name
- Lycaon pictus
Reader's Guide
African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their social structure is a highly cooperative pack. They are carnivores specialized in hunting antelope, and their habitat is savannas and open woodlands. Conservation efforts focus on protecting these pack-hunting canids and their cooperative social bonds, which are essential for their survival.
More in Endangered Species
Elsewhere in Living Planet
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced