The Cape Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus pictus) is one of the species of dog, a subspecies of African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) found in Africa as a role of San people and Egyptians in ancient and antique times.

Etymology

Despite being widely used, conservation groups believe that the term "wild dog" has negative connotations that could harm the species' reputation. One organization advocates for the name "painted wolf," while "painted dog" has been found to be the most effective in reversing negative perceptions.

Singular: wild dog
Plural: wild dogs

Physical Appearance

The fur of African wild dogs consists entirely of stiff bristle hairs with no underfur. They gradually lose their fur as they age, and older specimens become almost naked. Fur color varies geographically, with northeastern African specimens tending to be predominantly black with small white and yellow patches, while southern African ones are more brightly colored, sporting a mix of brown, black, and white coats. Their muzzle is usually black, gradually shading into brown on the cheeks and forehead. A black line extends up the forehead, turning blackish-brown on the back of the ears.

A few specimens sport a brown teardrop-shaped mark below the eyes. The back of the head and neck are either brown or yellow. A white patch occasionally occurs behind the forelegs, with some specimens having completely white forelegs, chests, and throats. The tail is usually white at the tip, black in the middle, and brown at the base. Some specimens lack the white tip entirely or may have black fur below it. These coat patterns can be asymmetrical, with the left side of the body often having different markings from that of the right.

At 20–25 kg (44–55 lb), the nominate subspecies is likewise the largest. Although there are geographical differences in coat color even within this single subspecies, it is far more colorful than the East African wild dog. Cape specimens are distinguished by the large amount of orange-yellow fur that overlaps the black, the partially yellow backs of the ears, the mostly yellow underparts, and several whitish hairs on the throat mane. In comparison to the Cape type, those from Mozambique are characterized by having less white fur and about equal growth of black and yellow on the upper and underparts of the body.

Abilities

The species is a specialized diurnal hunter of antelopes, which it catches by chasing them to exhaustion. Its natural enemies are lions and spotted hyenas; the former will kill the dogs where possible, while hyenas are frequent kleptoparasites. The African wild dog has speed; it can sprint up to 60 km/h (37 mph) in short bursts. It needs stamina since these wild dogs are among Africa's top endurance hunters, able to chase prey for up to 5 kilometers without tiring. During hunts, the African wild dog relies on coordination and exceptional teamwork; they encircle prey using tactical posture and vocal clues. Wild dogs can swim but are not specialized for water mobility. They occasionally traverse rivers or shallow water to access new hunting grounds or avoid predators.

The African wild dogs have strong social bonds, stronger than those of sympatric lions and spotted hyenas; thus, solitary living and hunting are extremely rare in the species. It lives in permanent packs consisting of two to 27 adults and yearling pups. The typical pack size in Kruger National Park and the Maasai Mara is four or five adults, while packs in Moremi and Selous Game Reserves contain eight or nine.

However, larger packs have been observed, and temporary aggregations of hundreds of individuals may have gathered in response to the seasonal migration of vast springbok herds in Southern Africa. Males and females have separate dominance hierarchies, with the latter usually being led by the oldest female. Males may be led by the oldest male, but these can be supplanted by younger specimens; thus, some packs may contain elderly male former pack leaders. The dominant pair typically monopolizes breeding.

Ecology

Nonetheless, there have been reports of larger packs, and the periodic migration of massive springbok herds in Southern Africa may have caused transient groups of hundreds of animals to form. There are distinct dominance hierarchies for males and females, with the oldest female often at the top of the latter. Some packs may contain older males who were once pack leaders since males may be commanded by the eldest male, but younger specimens may replace them. Breeding is usually monopolized by the dominant pair.

Depending on the habitat, the African wild dog plays the role of an apex or mesopredator, which is vital for managing ungulate numbers. The wild dog prefers medium-sized antelopes (impala and gazelles), although it can also eat warthogs and juvenile wildebeest. The wild dog's chief predators are lions and spotted hyenas, which frequently kill pups or take kills. The African wild dog is scavenging and rare; wild dogs are efficient hunters that rarely scavenge.

Reproduction

Pack structure:

Hierarchical, led by a dominant breeding pair (alpha male and female).

Breeding:

The alpha female is usually the only one to breed.

Gestation:

~70 days.

Litter size:

6–16 pups (one of the largest among canids).

Cooperative care:

All pack members help feed and guard pups through regurgitated food and defense.

Denning:

They den in old aardvark or warthog burrows during pup rearing.

Behavior

African wild dogs are not hazardous to people and often avoid close contact. They may appear curious, but they should never be touched or domesticated because they are completely wild animals. Historically perceived these dogs as livestock killers, they have faced persecution as a result of human expansion. There are pack animals; African wild dogs are fast to defend themselves from any animal that poses a threat. It's recommended to stay away from them even though they don't hunt people and usually approach them out of curiosity rather than hostility.

Once misunderstood and dreaded, these canids are today rechristened by African environmentalists as "painted wolves" or "painted dogs" in an effort to foster compassion. African wild dogs are used in folklore and eco-tourism campaigns to symbolize unity, collaboration, and perseverance.

Threats and Conservation

The main risks to this species include habitat loss and fragmentation brought on by human growth, conflicts with livestock farmers and even their offspring, infectious diseases (rabies, canine distemper) from domestic dogs, and car accidents and traps.

This species has an estimated population of around 6,000 individuals throughout Africa, with less than 1,500 mature adults, and its conservation status is "Endangered" according to the IUCN Red List.

The development of corridors between fragmented habitats, vaccination programs for local dogs to stop the spread of rabies, and conservation efforts in protected regions (Kruger, Selous, and Okavango).

Distribution and Habitat

The African wild dog occurs foremost in Southern and East Africa. It is rare in North Africa and mostly absent in West Africa, with the only potentially viable population occurring in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park. It is occasionally sighted in other parts of Senegal, Guinea and Mali. Its distribution is patchy in East Africa. It inhabits mostly savannas and arid zones, generally avoiding forested areas. This preference is likely linked to its hunting habits, which require open areas that do not obstruct vision or impede pursuit. It travels through scrubland, woodland and mountain areas in pursuit of prey. A forest-dwelling population has been identified in the Harenna Forest, a wet montane forest up to an elevation of 2,400 m (7,900 ft) in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. At least one record exists of a pack being sighted on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The "Sky People" or Terrans from Earth brought the African wild dog, an endangered species, to two exoplanets that resemble Earth: Reinachos from Cygnus and Berbania from Ursa Major in the 2600s and 2700s during The Recollections of Queen Arianna (TROQA) saga. Despite the fact that our planet is on the verge of extinction, conservation efforts are helping this species recover from endangerment or near extinction. Human interactions for game hunting and rewilding produced this species, but they backfired when the painted dog became an invasive species. The painted dog inhabited two exoplanets that were similar to Earth in terms of climate and environment.

Movement Pattern: Full Migrant/Random
Individual Type: Solo/Pack
Population Trend: Decreasing
Population: 1,409-6,600?
Locomotion: Terrestrial
Habitat: Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Mountain; Radiated Citadel; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.
Earth:
- Extant (Resident): Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Central African Republic; Chad; Ethiopia; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Senegal; South Africa; South Sudan; North Sudan; Tanzania; Zambia; Zimbabwe
- Possibly Extinct: Democratic Congo; Côte d'Ivoire; Guinea-Bissau; Mali; Nigeria; Togo; Uganda
- Extinct: Burundi; Cameroon; Egypt; Eritrea; Eswatini; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Mauritania; Rwanda; Sierra Leone
- Presence Uncertain: Algeria; Guinea
Berbania:
- Extant & Introduced (Resident): worldwide
Reinachos:
- Extant & Introduced (Resident): worldwide
Sawintir: worldwide