African wild dogs are among the most endangered carnivores in Africa. Their highly cooperative pack structure makes social cohesion the central welfare requirement in captive management.
African wild dog welfare is fundamentally a social welfare challenge. Pack stability, appropriate group size, and maintained social hierarchies are prerequisites for psychological health in this species. Individual housing or pairs are inadequate. Institutions managing wild dogs must commit to maintaining cohesive packs rather than rotating individuals for breeding purposes without careful reintegration protocols. Activity provision must partially compensate for the inability to hunt over large territories — puzzle feeders, scent trails, and live feeding opportunities where legally permitted and ethically considered are valuable. Reproductive management should prioritise breeding within established packs rather than between unfamiliar individuals, which disrupts social structures and reduces reproductive success.