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
DeWetsWild 
They are of the most interesting animals on the planet! Their social matriarchal system defies logic but it works!
Agreed wholeheartedly, AJ. Pity us humans didn’t recognise that till recently, and most people still don’t…
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?
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yes, Joubert does carry one of the family names, as do I – it’s a tradition I am very fond of though many think it is outdated in today’s world.
Glad you got to see them, and capture some photos too!
As am I! We see painted wolves so seldomly that it really is an encounter to cherish.
Fantastic to see these beautiful and interesting canids. In addition to the many other threats, I understand that distemper is another significant threat to their survival. Very sobering.
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.
Very sad and worrying.
Beslis van my gunstelinge!
Vir ons ook, Tina!
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?
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.
Dekselse mense!! Interessante inligting oor ‘n dier wat ek nog nooit nodig gehad het om aan te dink nie. Hoop om een of ander tyd in die wildtuin te kom weer.
Ek sal duim vashou dat jy dan wildehonde te siene kry!
Dankie!! Moet deel: hier was ‘n kroonarend. ‘n Aap gevang. Reg hier by die huise. Manjifieke voel (jy sal die umlaut moet verbeel).
Ek weet jy weet hoe bevoorregd jy is om te bly waar jy bly!
Ja. En om dit beskerm te hou kan nogal ‘n ding wees.
A fortuitous sighting!
Really one of the biggest bonuses you can hope for from a Kruger visit!
Thanks for sharing it.
always an enormous pleasure!
What a treat to see these beautiful animals, our sighthounds are descendants of wolves and I can see a lot of similarities 🙂🐾🐾
They really are beautiful, Xenia, and truly wild, as they should be. We absolutely love seeing these rare creatures.
Het een keer ‘n klompie kleintjies in die pad sien lê, hulle het reguit na ons toe gekyk, met die pragtige ronde oortjies gespits. Dit bly ‘n wonderlike beeld!
Ai Tannie Frannie, wat n wonderlike voorreg was dit nie! Sekerlik iets wat jy vir altyd sal onthou!
Wild Dogs – also used to be known as Cape Hunting Dogs – never fail to please. I am glad you were able to see them in action 🙂
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.
What beautiful creatures!
Thanks, Montucky – that’s absolutely true!
Very excited to see these views of the African wild dogs! Like hyenas I feel they are far too under-appreciated. I like their big ears too 🙂 Wishing you and your family a lovely weekend.
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!
Great shots, Dries. My sister did a wonderful painting of one of these African Wild Dogs.
I wish I could do them justice on canvas, they really are such beautiful creatures.
What’s the comparison between these and hyenas?
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.
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.
They have an amazing social structure, John, that is very true. One of my favourite animals as well and terribly sad that they are becoming ever more rare.