Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus (also known as African Wild Dog)

• Distribution:
  Africa, south of the Sahara Desert
• Habitat:
  Savannah (grasslands), wetlands and desert
• Diet:
  Antelope species such as impala, kudu and wildebeest
• Gestation:
  62-72 days, can have up to 20 pups in a litter, average is normally around 10 pups
• Longetivity:
  Up to 12 years
• Predators:
  Human, lions, hyena; eagles may attack young
• Conservation status:
   
  Endangered – less than 5000 survive in the wild
• General:

  Notable for its patterned coat, each dog's pattern is unique except for the white tip to their tail, tan forehead and black muzzle. Pups are born black and white with the tan colour appearing after a few weeks. Hunting dogs have very big ears. This gives them exceptionally good hearing and also helps them to keep cool.

  They live in groups or packs averaging 10 individuals, however, groups of over 30 have been seen in the wild. Hunting dogs hunt in packs and chase down their prey over long distances. They have great stamina and can run at 60km/hr (37mph) for over three miles.

  Generally only the dominant pair breed. All members of the pack are involved in caring for the offspring, regurgitating food for them upon returning from a hunt and supervising when the parents are hunting.

  The species is endangered due to human influences on the landscape and its inhabitants. Habitat loss is a major cause of endangerment worldwide; farming, land clearance and roading allow humans to spread while decreasing natural areas for animals and plants. Reduced prey species is a logical effect of habitat loss, leading to hunting by humans as carnivores are forced to prey on stock. Introduced domestic dogs spread diseases such as distemper and rabies, which spread rapidly through hunting dog packs due to their regurgitation food-sharing. Accidental deaths of hunting dogs by vehicles are common.