The Wild Dog kill

 

Whilst it can be shocking to see the instant a predator takes it's prey is always a special moment. Of all the large African predators  perhaps the most spectacular are Wild Dogs.

Their communal approach to hunting is really special to watch and to be able to follow a hunt as we did for a long time and over a number of kilometres was a real privilege.

The culmination was swift and brutal, and in a way I am glad I wasn't quick enough to catch the moment the Dogs caught the Impala and was only able to film the aftermath, but if you were to choose a way to go this would be it. From start to finish a matter of minutes.

Having followed the pack of Dogs along the route of their hunt we finally saw an Impala flushed from cover. racing from the pack in a series of leaps the antelope almost escaped. But Wild dogs don't have an 80% + success rate for nothing.

As the Impala leapt, perhaps two metres off the ground one Dog tripped its rear leg and a second jumped and caught it by the belly. Down it went and within seconds it was engulfed by the rest of the Dogs. Three minutes later hardly anything was left.

Wild Dogs abound

Whilst threatened elsewhere in Africa, it is clear that Wild Dog packs are thriving in the South Luangwa National Park. A tribute to all the park staff and to the Zambia Carnivore Program

 

It's raining cats and dogs

 

Dogs on alert

On a game drive from Tena Tena bush camp we found these two wild dogs. Probably separated from the rest of the pack we watched them hunting together.

After losing sight of them we carried on with our drive only to see one of them chasing a Puku. To see a dog hunting at full speed is heart stopping.

Wild dog have an 80% success rate with hunts - here though the Puku took it's chances by leaping into a lagoon, preferring the chance a croc might be waiting to the certainty of the dog. A throw of the dice that this time paid off.

Wild Dogs relax

A highlight of any trip on Safari is seeing African Wild Dogs - they are always doing something interesting and remind one so much of domestic dogs - like the one here having a roll!

There is a good article here highlighting the excellent work being done by the Zambian Carnivore Programme to encourage this threatened species to not merely survive in the South Luangwa valley but positively thrive there. 

Wild Dogs come to say hello

It doesn't get much better than seeing Wild Dogs on the first game drive of a holiday.

Here we saw a pack of around 20 dogs hunting, running through the bush trying to find breakfast.

Wild Dog

Wild Dog are one of our favourites. One of the most endangered animals in Africa it is always a privilege to see them.

In this case they were in a small pack denned on the edge of the nThambo area. We saw them over a period of a few days in various places.

Wild Dog portrait

More Wild Dog

Resting before the hunt. These animals are some of the most successful predators in Africa - sadly pushed to the brink of extinction by man. 

Wild Dogs

For the second day running we saw Wild Dogs. A real treat and as always a privilege to see such wonderful animals.

Flying Dog

Our favourite animals by a country mile - Wild dogs - and this one could levitate!