Seven African wild dog pups welcomed
The Waterberg District is home to most of the free-roaming African wild dogs in South Africa.
The last remaining breeding pack in the Waterberg is currently denning on a private property between Vaalwater and Lephalale and has just welcomed seven new pups.
The Post interviewed Reilly Mooney of the Waterberg Wild Dog Initiative (WWDI), which was established in August 2020 to assist with the conservation of African wild dogs in the Waterberg area.
“We are excited to confirm that all seven pups are doing well. They were born either end of May or early June this year and are now between 6-8 weeks old,” she said.
“This pack of wild dogs now comprises 14 dogs, including three adults and four young dogs, born in 2020 and seven new pups born this year.”
African wild dogs are a highly sociable species that is well known for their rearing abilities and their devotion to their pack.
The alpha male and female are the only pair that breeds, but all members of the pack are involved in protecting, caring, playing and teaching the pups during denning season.
Only the alpha female nurses the pups. They also feed on regurgitated meat provided by members of the pack.
Mooney confirmed that the duration of denning season is only two to three months where after the pack will leave the den and resume their nomadic lifestyle, covering over 45 000 ha in the Waterberg District.
The WWDI have partnered with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the owners of the private property to allow members of the public to view the pack up close during denning season.
Interested parties may contact the WWDI to book such an experience in advance.
Earlier this year The Post reported on the successful collaring of the second male in this pack.
The GPS tracking collars provide valuable information to the research teams and also assist in the human-wildlife conflict, because landowners and community members are alerted in advance when the packs are moving into their area.
The African wild dog, or painted dog, used to roam free in the grasslands, forests and mountains in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
But sadly, they are now a globally endangered species, with less than 6 000 free-roaming wild dogs remaining in Africa and fewer than 550 in South Africa.
Find out more on the WWDI’s Facebook page: Waterberg Wild Dogs, or e-mail waterbergwilddoginitiative@gmail.com (.)
