Painted in Smoke 1

The African Wild Dog, also known at the Painted Wild Dog, has a colourful, patchy coat, large bat-like ears, and a bushy white tip tail that some believe might help with communication during a hunt, or help pups keep up with a parent.

No two wild dogs have the same spots. The African Wild Dogs’ numbers are estimated at a severe 6 600 left in the world, and their numbers are still declining even with conservation efforts. Human conflict, infectious diseases, habitat loss and larger predators all play a role in their slow disappearance from our planet.

As if this is not enough, accidental killings by cars on the road and snares set for other animals by farmers and/or poachers makes it even harder for this species to increase its numbers again.