What are African Wild Dogs?
Lycaon pictus are members of the Canidae family, and the most endangered relative of the domestic dog in the wild. They are not to be confused with Hyenas, which are actually more closely related to mongooses and meerkats than dogs, and are in a completely different biological family, Feliformia, which also includes cats. African Wild Dogs are lean, 35 – 80 lbs, and tall, about 30 inches at the shoulder and 40″ long with another foot of tail. They have a special coat, each unique to its owner, in a disruptive pattern that makes a group of dogs look much larger than it really is and confuses prey. They have an unusual social structure in which males help raise the pack’s cubs and there is very little aggression among pack members. If young dogs are present at a kill, adults will even allow them to eat first, unlike any other pack arrangement, like lions or wolves. They are among the most efficient hunters in the world, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the ecosystem’s balance. They
