African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus
Points
40
per confirmed sighting
African Wild Dog.
Lycaon pictus
A highly social pack hunter with one of the highest hunting success rates of any large carnivore.
Category
mammals
Family
Canidae
Size
0.9–1.1 m body, 18–36 kg
Points
40 pts
Location sensitive. Exact coordinates for this species are never shown publicly. Sightings are masked to a wide region to protect it from poaching.
A closer look
Field notes for spotting, identifying and understanding african wild dog in its natural range.
Overview
A highly social pack hunter with one of the highest hunting success rates of any large carnivore.
How to identify it
Mottled tan, black and white coat, large rounded ears and a white-tipped tail.
Habitat
EltonTraits foraging-stratum classification: ground-dwelling/terrestrial (including aquatic ground-associated coding).
Diet
Impala and other medium antelope
Behaviour
Packs of 6–20 with a dominant breeding pair; nomadic outside denning season
When to look
EltonTraits activity classification: crepuscular and diurnal.
Where to see it
South Africa
Namibia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Mozambique
Malawi
Angola- Kruger National ParkZA
- Moremi Game ReserveBW
- Hwange National ParkZW
- Mana Pools National ParkZW
Field notes
- Fewer than 7 000 are thought to remain across Africa.
Safety and etiquette
Observe from a vehicle or a safe distance and never feed wildlife.
Verification and sources
1500 verified species across ten Southern African countries. Spotted an error? Tell us through community guidelines.