African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), also known as painted wolves or Cape hunting dogs, are among the most efficient hunters in the animal kingdom.
With their relentless teamwork, impressive stamina, and finely tuned hunting strategy, these carnivores are built for endurance and precision. Despite their prowess, wild dogs are endangered, with populations dwindling across Africa due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and disease.
In Tsavo, where these dogs were once believed to be extinct, their resurgence is both remarkable and fragile. Tsavo Trust, in partnership with the Painted Wolf Foundation (PWF), is spearheading new conservation efforts to ensure their survival. But what makes wild dogs such remarkable predators, and why is their protection crucial?
The Hunting Strategy of African Wild Dogs
Unlike lions, which rely on brute strength, or cheetahs, which depend on short bursts of speed, African wild dogs use endurance and strategy. Their hunting technique is a masterclass in cooperation:
- Pack coordination: Wild dogs operate with near-military precision, silently communicating through body language and vocalizations. They rely on teamwork to chase, exhaust, and bring down prey.
- Speed & stamina: Capable of reaching 44 mph, they can sustain high speeds over long distances, outpacing most prey.
- Tactical pursuits: Their hunts involve relentless pursuit, with pack members taking turns leading the chase to tire out their target.
- Quick consumption: Wild dogs devour their kills in minutes, minimizing the risk of losing food to scavengers like hyenas and lions.
- Success rate: A staggering 60-90%, significantly higher than lions (25%) and cheetahs (55%).
What do African Wild Dogs Eat?
African wild dogs primarily hunt medium-sized ungulates:
- In East Africa: They prefer Thomson’s gazelles but also take impalas, wildebeests, and warthogs.
- Larger prey: Occasionally, they target zebras and even young buffalos.
- Feeding patterns: Hunts usually occur at dawn and dusk, and a single wild dog consumes approximately 1.7 kg of meat daily.
Where do African Wild Dogs live?
Once widespread, African wild dogs now exist in fragmented populations across 14 African countries.
- Global population: Estimated at 6,600 adults, with only 1,400 mature individuals.
- Key strongholds: Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Kenya’s population: Estimated at 865 individuals, with Tsavo Conservation Area holding around 111 wild dogs.
The Current State of Wild Dogs in Tsavo
The status of wild dogs in Tsavo is precarious. Once locally extinct, their numbers rebounded in recent years, only to face new threats. The most alarming case is the Triangle Pack, which plummeted from 18 individuals to just 4 in a single year.
- Primary Threats:
- Disease: Suspected rabies outbreaks have wiped out packs.
- Snaring & poaching: Illegal wire snares meant for bushmeat kill and maim wild dogs.
- Habitat fragmentation: Expanding human settlements cut off traditional roaming routes.
- Human-wildlife conflict: Wild dogs are sometimes mistaken for threats to livestock and killed in retaliation.
Tsavo Trust’s Role in Wild Dog Conservation
Tsavo Trust has built a reputation for its work in protecting Super Tusker elephants and rhinos. Recognizing the need to extend this expertise to wild dogs, the organization has partnered with the Painted Wolf Foundation to establish a dedicated conservation program.
- Extensive anti-poaching operations: Tsavo Trust already runs 12 ‘Tembo’ anti-poaching teams, which are actively removing snares—one of the most significant threats to wild dogs.
- Strong partnerships: The organization has well-established relationships with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), park authorities, and local communities.
- Advanced monitoring resources: Tsavo Trust has aerial surveillance capabilities through its slow-flying Super Cub aircraft fleet, which will be crucial in tracking wild dog movements and identifying threats.
A Three-Part Strategy to Save Tsavo’s Wild Dogs
Recognizing the enormous challenge of protecting wild dogs in such a vast landscape, Tsavo Trust and PWF have developed a three-step strategy to guide their conservation efforts:
1. Building Expertise
A critical first step is to train and recruit specialists who can focus on painted wolf conservation. Since Kenya currently has very few experts dedicated to wild dogs, Tsavo Trust will hire and train a dedicated painted wolf conservationist under the guidance of Joseph Kyalo Kimaile.
To ensure long-term success, Will Donald, PWF’s Conservation Training Manager, will lead the training efforts. Donald has extensive experience in painted wolf conservation, having successfully monitored and protected them in Zambia’s Kafue National Park.
Additionally, Tsavo Trust will collaborate with Kenya’s Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) to support Grace Waiguchu, a PhD researcher studying painted wolves. She will receive conservation training and essential field equipment to enhance her research.
2. Gaining Knowledge on Wild Dogs in Tsavo
“You cannot protect what you don’t know,” says Will Donald, emphasizing the need for detailed monitoring and data collection. Given the size and remoteness of Tsavo, traditional monitoring methods like camera trapping are impractical and expensive. Instead, Tsavo Trust will utilize:
- Aerial surveys: Pilots will track wild dogs from the air using telephoto cameras.
- Ground patrols: The Tembo anti-poaching teams will be trained to identify wild dog tracks (spoor) during their routine patrols.
- GPS collars: Collars will be fitted on key individuals in high-risk packs to gather movement data.
This information will allow conservationists to understand the territory range, pack composition, and movement patterns of Tsavo’s wild dogs.
3. Addressing Major Threats to Wild Dogs
Once data is collected, Tsavo Trust will implement targeted conservation actions to reduce threats and improve survival rates. The main threats identified so far include:
- Disease: Rabies and canine distemper are suspected causes of mortality. Understanding how these diseases spread and whether domestic dogs are transmitting them is a key focus.
- Snaring: Wild dogs often fall victim to snares set for bushmeat hunting. By expanding its anti-poaching efforts, Tsavo Trust aims to reduce snaring in key wild dog habitats.
- Human-wildlife conflict: Painted wolves occasionally hunt livestock, leading to retaliation from pastoralist communities.
To address human-wildlife conflict, Tsavo Trust is working with the Kamungi Community, a group that the organization has already established a deep relationship with. Tsavo Trust has previously provided boreholes and education support to Kamungi, earning their trust and cooperation.
Now, the organization will conduct surveys to understand community attitudes toward wild dogs and find ways to reduce conflict. Strategies may include:
- Livestock protection measures, such as better enclosures.
- Community education programs to shift perceptions of wild dogs.
- Compensation or incentive schemes for livestock losses.
According to Ruth Kabwe, PWF’s new Programme Manager, it is crucial to approach the community with respect and understanding. Just as farmers in Europe struggle to accept predators near their livestock, African communities living with wild dogs face real challenges that must be acknowledged.
The Future of Wild Dogs in Tsavo
This new conservation initiative offers hope for Tsavo’s wild dogs, but it is only the beginning. The project aims not only to stabilize the population but to increase their numbers over time.
Nick Dyer emphasizes that PWF does not fund studies unless they have a clear conservation purpose. This means every step—from identifying packs to tracking movements and reducing threats—is designed to directly protect and grow Tsavo’s wild dog population.
If successful, Tsavo could become a stronghold for painted wolves in East Africa, much like it is for Super Tuskers and rhinos. With Tsavo Trust, PWF, and the Painted Dog Fund working together, the future of these endangered predators is looking brighter than ever.