The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) is an effective carnivore of the sub-Saharan African wilderness. Often called the painted dog due to its distinctive mottled coat, this species relies almost entirely on meat for survival. They are renowned for their intricate social structure and cooperative hunting, which allows them to pursue and take down prey larger than a single animal could manage. This pack mentality and exceptional stamina make them one of the most successful large predators on the continent, with a hunting success rate that frequently surpasses that of lions and hyenas.
The Primary Targets
The bulk of the African Wild Dog’s diet consists of medium-sized ungulates, which are hoofed mammals. These animals are selected because they provide a substantial meal for the pack while still being manageable to take down efficiently. Common examples of their staple prey include impala, kudu, and various gazelles like the Thomson’s gazelle. These species generally fall within the preferred prey body mass range of 16 to 32 kilograms, which minimizes the risk of injury during the hunt.
Wildebeest calves are also targeted frequently, as they are vulnerable and easier to isolate from the herd than adults. Warthogs are a regular part of the diet, although male wild dogs typically grab this more dangerous prey by the nose to minimize the threat of the tusks. The collective hunting strategy of the pack results in a high success rate, often exceeding 60% of chases.
Supplementing the Diet
While medium-sized antelope form the core of their diet, African Wild Dogs are opportunistic hunters who supplement their diet with smaller prey. These smaller animals are important when large game is scarce or when the pack size is small, limiting their ability to bring down bigger quarry. This secondary tier of prey includes small mammals such as rodents, hares, and sometimes ground-dwelling birds.
Wild dogs rarely engage in scavenging, preferring to kill their own food. They are obligate carnivores, but they will occasionally consume smaller reptiles and other minor fauna. They sometimes appropriate a carcass from other predators like spotted hyenas or leopards, but this behavior is uncommon and usually only occurs if the pack is very hungry.
Specialized Hunting Strategies
The African Wild Dog’s feeding process relies on highly coordinated and relentless pursuit of prey. They are built for endurance running, capable of maintaining speeds up to 66 km/h over several kilometers to exhaust their quarry. The pack initiates the hunt by approaching silently before launching into a chase, often covering about two kilometers.
During the chase, pack members communicate through high-pitched vocalizations and body language to maintain coordination. This teamwork allows them to run the prey animal to exhaustion, often in short, high-speed bursts. Once the prey is overtaken, the dogs dispatch it with speed, repeatedly biting the legs, belly, and rump until the animal stops running.
The consumption of the kill is a rapid process, often beginning before the prey is fully deceased; a Thomson’s gazelle can be consumed in as little as 15 minutes. This hurried feeding is a survival tactic, reducing the time spent at the kill site to minimize the risk of larger competitors like lions or hyenas stealing the meal. The pack exhibits cooperation, with adults regurgitating meat for pups and injured or subordinate members, ensuring the whole group benefits from the hunt.
Influence of Habitat and Pack Size on Prey Selection
The African Wild Dog’s diet is not uniform across its range but is significantly shaped by the local environment and its social structure. Different habitats determine the availability of prey species; packs in open plains have access to different ungulates than those living in dense bushveld. Studies have shown that packs will select for greater kudu, Thomson’s gazelle, and impala wherever they coexist, indicating a clear preference for certain species.
Pack size is a major determinant of the maximum size of prey they can successfully target and kill. While smaller packs are generally restricted to medium-sized antelope, a very large pack of over 20 individuals may occasionally attempt to take down animals as large as adult zebra or wildebeest. In smaller, fenced reserves, wild dogs have been observed utilizing fences as a hunting tool, which can allow them to successfully target larger species like kudu.