BREEDING PROGRAMMES - african wild dogs

African Wild Dog : Lycaon pictus (Temminck 1820)

Review and Perspective

The African Wild Dog is also commonly referred to as the Wild Dog, Cape Hunting Dog and Painted Dog.

The National Red Data book (2004) listing of “endangered” for the African Wild Dog remained the same as it was in 1986. The global listing for these animals as “vulnerable” may need to be recognized as it is regarded as one of the most endangered predators in the world. In South Africa, the African Wild Dog is protected by Provincial legislation through permit conditions.

High variances of numbers are given for different known populations of this species in the wild. This, as well as their migratory habits, cause difficulty in ascertaining the existing wild population numbers. In South Africa, however, it is estimated that there are more than 250 animals, including about 50 breeding pairs, in the wild. The total population of wild dogs is estimated at between 3000 and 5000 individuals worldwide.

A summary of known African wild dogs in sub-populations in protected areas (including the Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, Venetia – Upper Limpopo, Madikwe Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park) in South Africa is given as 33, whilst the Red Data book gives the number of African wild dogs in captive environments as 98.

Background and rationale for breeding African wild dogs

African wild dogs require large protected areas with a suitably large prey base to support them. At this stage wild dog populations are limited to the Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, Marakele, Pilansberg and Venetia Game Reserves.
Small populations of between five and seven wild dogs have also been introduced in Shambala, Karongwe and Shamwari private game reserves. Other than the Kruger National Park with an estimated 25 breeding pairs of dogs, the smaller reserves are limited to only one or two breeding pairs per reserve.

So far limited successes have been achieved with the incorporation of captive bred wild dogs into wild packs. Additional research should be conducted on methods to incorporate captive bred dogs into easting wild packs of dogs. Captive bred wild dogs destined for possible reintroduction into the wild should be reared in larger camps where exposure to humans is limited as much as possible. These animals will have to undergo gradual ‘rewilding” and controlled contact with wild animals before attempts could be successful. The introduction of captive bred dogs into coalitions of wild dogs will imply disruption of the social structure of the animals. This will require active management and monitoring of the pack until the dominance of the alpha male and female has been reaffirmed.

As free roaming wild dogs are limited in numbers, research could be conducted on dogs that are in captivity. Although the effectiveness of different drugs on dogs has been tested on animals in captivity in the past, there are still applications that could be tested and refined.

The possibility and success of artificial insemination on female wild dogs in captivity could lead to a possible way of managing the genetic diversity of small packs of dogs in the smaller reserves.

Over the period from 1991 to 2008, 154 pups were born at the Centre.