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African wild dogs are fascinating creatures. Check them out! 

What are They?

• African wild dogs are in the dog family.
• But they aren't pet dogs gone wild.
• They're a species of wild dogs all their own, just as wolves and coyotes are.

Other Names:

• African hunting dog
• Cape hunting dog
• Painted dog

Their numbers are falling:

• Wild dogs once could be found over most of Africa.
• Now there are only about 5,000 wild dogs left. They're in parts of southern and eastern Africa--mostly in places where people don't live, such as in parks and other protected areas.  
• Wherever they're still found, their packs are small, and there aren't many wild dogs in them.

Why they're in trouble:

1. People are taking over their habitat--building towns, roads, homes, and farms there.
2. Wild dogs have gotten a bad reputation as "killers" of animals that people raise and hunt.
3. So people have trapped and killed many of them.
4. Many wild dogs have died from diseases carried into their habitat by people's pet dogs.
5. Too many have been hit by cars.

Hopeful signs:

• Luckily, many African countries are now saving more land for wildlife.
• And wild dogs have a lot of human friends. So they have a better chance than before of surviving.

 

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