The African Painted Dog

The African Painted Dog is one of the world's most endangered mammals, with a worldwide population of perhaps only 3000 to 5000. It is thought that there are about 300 individuals in the lower Zambezi region. We were fortunate to see about 100 of these.

also known as the African Wild Dog

or the Cape Hunting Dog


The dogs are very social and live in packs of from 10 to up to over 40 individuals.They share food and therefore disease. As a pack they have low immunity to illnesses and are also threatened by human encroachment and rabies in village domestic dog and cat populations.

An infection can wipe out an entire pack quickly.