Endangered. Precious.

Painted Dogs

Although in some circles there is strong debate about what they should be called, painted dogs, a name I happen to love, are one of the most charismatic, sociable, excitable and just plain wonderful creatures you are ever likely to see on a safari. To be precise, the scientific name for these stunning creatures is Lycaon Pictus, or Painted Wolf. You can find them in areas of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia and a small population in Kenya. Mozambique and South Sudan also have painted dogs in remote and very wild National parks. There is speculation dogs might still be in places like Niger, Mali and Chad. Political instability and inaccessibility are a hindrance to knowing more.
Many people, in particular scientists and researchers, refer to them more formally as African wild dogs, a term I believe that doesn’t do them justice, nor any favours.

They were placed on the IUCN threatened species list in 1990, their numbers in the wild are estimated between 6,000 – 7,000. Painted dogs have huge home ranges, they’re capable of covering big distances very quickly, which can and frequently does bring them into conflict with humans. They were persecuted in the past, considered by many to be vermin, before a number of critical conservation and research efforts across Africa helped to slow the decline in numbers over the last 30 years. For your own interest, the IUCN redlist is a remarkable and sobering site to visit. African wild dogs are in there, along with the other 45,300 species that are threatened around the globe.

https://www.iucnredlist.org/

Their sophisticated pack structure, with the alpha female at the top in a similar way to hyaenas – but with less bickering, has many moving parts. It’s like a highly successful football team, where everyone somehow knows their role and carries it out with enthusiasm and a strong work ethic. No room for passengers here.

In the photograph from Botswana below – ears back, low crouch, but in this case not hunting mode, merely the daily social ritual, introducing themselves again to the other pack members in the late afternoon, before heading out to hunt. Reinforcing bonds, us against the world. It’s poignant and joyful to watch.

My first encounters with painted dogs came in the late 90’s, when I was working with a company called Kwando safaris in northern Botswana. Indeed so far north we could call out to someone in Namibia to kick the football back across the Kwando River, over the crocs and hippos. I/we, were unbelievably spoilt. There were a couple of packs near Lagoon and Lebala camps, one of which at one point had 19 adults and 14 pups. There are stories of packs of 50 and more dogs before they became a target for hunters in the late 1800’s. Generally pack sizes around 20 today are considered to be big. Along with Mark, one of the original Kwando guides, we watched a lion bomb the big Kwando den one day and kill 3 of those 14 pups. How she didn’t get more was due entirely to the bravery of the adults and the furious efforts to get the rest to safety. An unforgettable day, Africa at it’s most raw.

The image above was taken by Sam, on the ground, with this very curious dog checking out the make of camera ! An incredible photograph.
Hunting with dogs, if you’re lucky enough on your safari, is a thrilling and wild ride. By the way you’re in the game drive vehicle, not running with them! It’s generally considered among researchers that about 80% of painted dog hunts are successful. Far and away the best hit rate of the top predators. Herbivores such as impala and puku are their first choice. The dogs will hit speed very quickly and give chase with incredible skill, co-ordination and courage.

As I touched on, there are a number of fantastic organisations and long term projects doing critical work to understand the complex ways of painted dogs and to help protect the wilderness where they exist. At the top of that list are husband and wife research Tico and Lesley McNutt, who’ve been in Botswana studying dogs since 1989. They’re applying all they’ve learned to helping secure a future for dogs, the communities that are impacted by them and working with the safari industry, which has grown exponentially in the last 20 years. You can follow more of Tico and Lesley’s work and find some amazing content and information through their Botswana Predator Conservation Trust https://www.bpctrust.org/

With it’s small population and big chunks of wildlife protected land, Botswana is a real stronghold for painted dogs. They’re a big part of marketing for safaris, with many of our own clients building itineraries to have the best chance of seeing painted dog packs in the wild. Tico and Lesley authored probably the definitive book on these gregarious creatures, Running Wild, Dispelling the myths of the African wild dog.

In Zambia in the South Luangwa Valley, both the Zambia Carnivore Programme https://www.zambiacarnivores.org/ and Conservation South Luangwa https://cslzambia.org/ are vital cogs in the greater system, with ongoing study and research projects on predators and community programmes that help manage that difficult wildlife and conservation intersection. Lions and hyaenas aren’t the only threats faced by painted dogs, they frequently become victims of poaching snares or find themselves in places they shouldn’t be around livestock and villages.

Even more difficult to manage are the constant threats of diseases like canine distemper, which can devastate populations of wild dogs, jackals and lions.

For my own part, I’ve been involved with a brilliant organisation called Painted Dog Conservation Inc, supporting some of the above projects over many years. John and Ange Lemon live in Perth in Western Australia and have worked tirelessly for the last 20 plus years to raise money and awareness around Painted Dogs. John, like Tico, is one of the world’s most knowledgeable people when it comes to his beloved dogs.

https://www.pdcinc.org.au/

Long may these beautiful creatures roam the savannas and woodlands on the African continent. They are absolutely at the top of my list of animals to see on any safari. There is never a dull moment around Painted dogs, exhibit A below! An epic encounter. This small elephant herd with some youngsters in there, were furious at the presence of these dogs at the water. Dogs are no threat to elephants, but these girls were having none of it!

Before signing off here, I’ve had the privilege of spending a couple of days filming with Dr Matt Becker from the above mentioned ZCP and also Rachel McRobb from Conservation South Luangwa in the field some years ago. This little story was the result https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6sev1g7qSs

We hope we can take you to Botswana or Zambia, maybe Zimbabwe, some day, to experience the electricity and emotions that Painted dogs bring to an Epic safari .

#travel stories

Photography:Simon Reeve + Brad Horn + Sam Wallace + Rob Barbour