Painted Wolves on the move (and quickly!)

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Coming across a pack of Painted Wolves, also known as African Wild Dogs, on the road to Skukuza was another special encounter from my solo visit to the Kruger National Park in May 2019. These animals are highly endangered – it is thought that fewer than 7,000 remain in the wild with the estimated 200 living in the Kruger National Park representing South Africa’s biggest population of the species. Seeing these energetic and attractive animals is therefore always thrilling!

African Wild Dog, or Painted Wolf, on the lookout for prey
Heavily pregnant female African Wild Dog
Heavily pregnant female African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog on the run
Pack of Painted Wolves, or African Wild Dogs, near Skukuza
African Wild Dogs

 

38 thoughts on “Painted Wolves on the move (and quickly!)”

  2. Teresa

    They are interesting looking dogs that is for sure. Off topic for a sec., I have been reading a history of the Boer War and came across your family name with your sons first name, I was wondering if you have ancestors that might of been key players of that war that your son was named after? I also found one of my ancestors names that were involved, small world. I hope you are all well?

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Hi Teresa! So nice to hear from you – are you well?

      Indeed yes, Christiaan de Wet, one of the most celebrated Boer generals, is a direct ancestor of ours. And yes, Joubert does carry one of the family names, as do I – it’s a tradition I am very fond of though many think it is outdated in today’s world.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Indeed, Carol – I know of two packs we lost to distemper, one in Kruger and one in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, in the last two years alone. Because they’re such social animals, as soon as one in the pack has it – perhaps transmitted from a stray domestic dog – the disease spreads through the pack like wildfire.

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  6. petrujviljoen

    Wat’s die rede vir die wilde honde se klein getalle Dries? Interessant om te hoor waar hulle inpas. Ook hulle sosiale strukture. Het ek nie erens gelees hulle jagmetodes laat veel te wense oor nie?

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Soos jy jou kan voorstel sit die mensdom maar agter die wildehonde se agteruitgang, Petru. Juis daardie onverdiende reputasie dat hulle wreedaards is het daartoe gelei dat hulle meedoenloos gejag is, selfs deur wildbewaarders! Dis natuurlik onverdiend, want wildehonde se prooi lei in werklikheid baie minder as byvoorbeeld die prooi van leeus en luiperds wat versmoor word tot hul vrek, en bowendien doen die wildehonde maar net wat hul natuur voorskryf. Verder trek hulle oor ongelooflike gebiede rond, so die paartjies wat nog buite reservate voorkom kom gereeld met mense en hul siektedraende honde in aanraking. Die moontlikheid van die oordra van aansteeklike siektes is die grootste rede waarom mense se troeteldiere nie in reservate toegelaat word nie – katgriep, hondsdolheid en so aan kan hele troppe wildehonde in n ommesientjie uitwis omdat hul so sosiaal is.

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  8. Tranature - quiet moments in nature

    What a treat to see these beautiful animals, our sighthounds are descendants of wolves and I can see a lot of similarities 🙂🐾🐾

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      They can be very difficult to keep up with when they’re on the move like these were – especially in southern Kruger where you seldom see them without other vehicles in the vicinity.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Absolutely Takami – their rarity today is in many ways a result of human’s animosity and even today they’re not always appreciated to the extent that they should be.
      All the best at your end of the world as well, thank you!

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      The Painted Wolf or African Wild Dog is a true canid, Beth – related to jackals, wolves and the domestic dog, while hyenas are a family all their own and closer relatives of the cats and mongooses. So while hyenas and wild dogs may look superficially similar and share several behavioral traits, they’re actually not related at all.

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  15. John

    Great pictures of my favorite wild dogs.😊 The African wild dogs are probably the most social animals in Africa. They take care of everyone in the pack, even those who are injured. Unlike lions, the wild dogs’ kids get to eat first.

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