For a few months each year, one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores settles down around a den site, making it a little easier to see these incredible animals that are usually tearing through the bush at high speed in search of prey. Our time on safari coincided nicely with a pack of wild dogs that were midway through their denning period.
With thirteen adults and five confirmed pups of around 6 weeks old, we were treated to a number of special moments with them including adults at high speed on hunts, running through a herd of elephants and stopping to have some fun with the herd. Teasing adult elephants and nimbly sidestepping their charges as the cow elephants protected their calves from these high energy predators who were just enjoying themselves and were no real threat at all. We also watched as the adults returned from a hunt and fed the young pups just meters from where we sat.
Typical of wild dogs, their enthusiasm and concern for the other pack members never ceases to amaze me and those who remained at the den were all fed first, with the young pups being the first priority. With an estimated number of between 3 500 and 5 000 of these animals remaining in the wild, we were truly fortunate to be able to spend so much time with them.