“Wild dogs are highly intelligent and super charming. They’re very interesting socially. They live in groups where the alpha female and alpha male have very important roles, but they also hand out chores to other family members in group members. They have a hunting technique that has given them a very bad reputation, but it’s very efficient. It’s very tactical, very intelligent and, from a human perspective, ruthless, but it’s much more successful than many cats or other predators. 

When you’re close to them, you see their amber coloured eyes and their oversized ears. I’ve spent time with them mainly in Selous National in Tanzania and in Mombo Game Reserve in Botswana, but other places as well. It’s always a joy when you bump into them or when you can approach them carefully. It’s wonderful when you become a fly on the wall where they tend to almost forget about your presence and go about their stuff. You can be part of their community close by. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Wild dogs are also highly endangered. We have treated wild dogs, or painted dogs, very poorly for hundreds of years, and taken them to the brink of extinction.”

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My Big 5

Wild Dog
Orangutan
Kinkajou
Leopard
Meerkat