Wildlife

Wild African Wild Dog Pack Conservation

African wild dogs are among the most endangered carnivores in Africa, with packs requiring large territories and facing persecution, disease, and habitat fragmentation.

Key Facts

Fewer than 7,000 African wild dogs remain in the wild
They have the highest hunting success rate of any African predator at around 80 percent
Packs require territories of up to 2,000 square kilometers
Rabies and distemper from domestic dogs are major threats
Snaring and shooting by farmers cause significant mortality

Welfare Considerations

African wild dogs killed in snares die slowly and painfully. Disease outbreaks that sweep through tight-knit packs can eliminate entire family units, causing social disruption to surviving pack members. Vaccination programs protecting packs from rabies and distemper have proven highly effective at reducing disease-related suffering and mortality.

What You Can Do

Support Painted Dog Conservation and other wild dog protection programs
Donate to vaccination programs protecting wild dog packs from disease
Advocate for wildlife corridors connecting wild dog habitat
Learn about wild dog pack ecology and share this information
Oppose persecution of African wild dogs by farming communities