Legal status Categorised as "Specially protected" in KwaZulu-Natal and listed as "Endangered" in the SA
Red Data Book. Not listed on any CITES appendices.
Distribution and status Records of former distribution (1830 - 1890) suggest that wild dogs possibly occurred
throughout KwaZulu-Natal, but mainly in Zululand (Pringle 1977, NPB unpubl. records). By 1920 they
were still present around Lake St Lucia and in Umfolozi Game Reserve, while last recorded from near
the Drakensberg between 1918 and 1924. Pringle (1977) gave 1930 as the date of probable
extirpation. In 1980 and 1981 twenty-two were re-established in Hluhluwe GR. By 1989 there appeared
to be two packs in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park (30 - 45 animals altogether). Home ranges of the
packs in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi extend beyond the game reserve boundaries. Additional small parks have
formed north and south of the protected area.
The only two museum specimens were collected in 1928: localities Umfolozi River and White
Umfolozi.
Living requirements Wild dogs occur in open savanna, areas of moderately dense bush, and open grassland (Ginsberg
& Macdonald 1990), avoiding areas with thick underbush or tall grass (Skinner & Smithers
1990). Presence is more strictly governed by the availability of prey (Skinner & Smithers
1990). The diet varies from one area to another, depending on the most abundant bovids (Ginsberg
& Macdonald 1990); the most commonly recorded prey in the Kruger National Park being impala
(Maddock 1989). They are not dependent on drinking water (Skinner & Smithers 1990).
Area requirements range from 750 km²/pack in the Kruger National Park to 1500 km² in Tanzania
(Maddock 1989; Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990).
Social organisation Wild dogs live in packs comprising several related adult males and one or more related adult
females originating from a different pack (Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990). Pack sizes recorded in
the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park range from 4 - 29, most frequently 9 - 14 (T. Sandwith, NPB, in litt.).
Each pack has a dominant female, which is usually the only bitch to successfully raise pups.
This female remains at the den with the pups, being fed on regurgitations from the other pack
members (Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990). Pack home ranges of between 500 and 1500 km² have been
recorded, with up to 50 - 80 % home range overlap (Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990).
Population dynamics In the Kruger National Park breeding is seasonal : mating takes place during April and May,
and parturition occurs during June to August after a gestation of 69 - 73 days. Litter sizes range
from 2 - 19, most frequently 7 - 10. Lactation lasts 10 weeks. Although females are physically
sexually mature at 18 months, breeding is suppressed by the dominant female (Ginsberg &
Macdonald 1990). Pup-survival rate is 20 - 50 % (Maddock 1989). No data were found on longevity.
Threats There is little hope for the expansion of the wild dog population in KwaZulu-Natal, owing to
the large home range requirements of each pack, relatively small protected areas, and the
incompatibility of wild dogs with livestock farming. Wild dogs appear to be susceptible to
diseases, mainly canine distemper, rabies, and anthrax (Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990).
Furthermore, wild dogs may be prone to low levels of genetic heterozygosity owing to their
particular social organisation: the fewer the number of packs, the smaller the gene pool, which may
make them more vulnerable to the effects of diseases and parasites (Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990).
Human importance Wild dogs which emanate from Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park are responsible for killing livestock
(goats, calves), but damage is sporadic.
THE CARNIVORES OF NATAL
D T ROWE-ROWE
ISBN 0-620-16629-0
