Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, disease transmission from domestic animals, snaring, persecution, and road mortality.
Scientific name:Lycaon pictus
Common name: African Wild Dog or Painted Wolf
Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species)
Estimated population: Approximately 6 600 individuals remaining in the wild
Population trend: Decreasing across Africa
Range: Fragmented populations across southern and eastern Africa
Habitat: Open plains, savannahs, and lightly wooded areas
Diet: Carnivorous, hunting primarily medium-sized antelope such as Impala and Nyala
Average lifespan: 10–12 years in the wild
Social structure: Highly social packs led by an alpha pair, with strong cooperation in hunting and pup rearing
Hunting success rate: Up to 80 percent, one of the highest among large African predators
The African Wild Dog (also known as the African Hunting Dog or Painted Dog) is the second most endangered carnivore in Africa. They are a canid that lives throughout Africa from heavily forested areas to open plains. In South Africa, there are fewer than 650 remaining in the wild. Although their population is increasing in South Africa, they continue to decline across the rest of their range. They are characterised by a black, white and brown coat pattern, with each individual having a unique pattern from which they can be identified, much like a human fingerprint. They are co-operative pack animals containing an alpha pair which are normally the only individuals responsible for breeding, with the rest of the pack assisting in the rearing and protection of the young.
African Wild Dogs typically breed only once a year, with mating usually taking place in March/April. They have a gestation period of approximately 75 days, after which the alpha female will give birth in a den. The den sites used vary from permanent structures such as rocky outcrops to semi-permanent structures such as abandoned burrows and between the roots of trees. The litter will remain at the den for approximately two months before they start to move short distances with the pack. African Wild Dogs hunt a variety of prey depending on the size of their pack but will generally hunt medium sized antelope such as nyala and impala. Larger packs have been known to hunt blue wildebeest, zebra and eland.
Due to their endangered status, African Wild Dogs are our focal species which the majority of our conservation efforts are based around. Our intensive monitoring of African Wild Dogs is done 365 days a year. Our ultimate goal is to reintroduce painted dogs successfully back into their historical ranges and ensure the protection of the population into the future.
Wildlife ACT has been at the forefront of African Wild Dog conservation in South Africa for more than a decade. As an active member of both the Wild Dog Advisory Group – South Africa (WAG-SA) and the KwaZulu-Natal Wild Dog Management Group, Wildlife ACT contributes directly to the national metapopulation strategy, which works to increase Wild Dog numbers, strengthen genetic diversity, and restore ecological connectivity across protected areas.
Working in close collaboration with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and other conservation partners, Wildlife ACT provides professional, science-led support for Wild Dog monitoring, management, and recovery. The organisation’s work spans key protected areas across KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on support of Protected Area with African Wild Dog populations.
Field-Based Monitoring and Data Collection
Dedicated Wildlife ACT monitoring teams track Wild Dogs daily using VHF and GPS telemetry, camera traps, and photographic identification. This long-term data collection provides vital insight into pack dynamics, reproductive success, dispersal movements, and survival. The data feed into provincial and national databases managed through WAG-SA and the KwaZulu-Natal Wild Dog Management Group to guide translocation decisions and management planning.
Range Expansion and Species Recovery
Wildlife ACT supports the reintroduction and post-release monitoring of African Wild Dogs into suitable, secure habitats where they had previously disappeared. These operations form part of South Africa’s coordinated range expansion strategy and are carried out in partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the Endangered Wildlife Trust. This work has contributed to the establishment of new populations, the strengthening of existing packs, and the improvement of genetic diversity within the species
Snare Response and Emergency Support
Wildlife ACT’s field teams respond to snaring incidents, dispersal events, and other wildlife emergencies in collaboration with conservation authorities and veterinary partners. These interventions ensure the safety and wellbeing of Wild Dogs within and beyond protected area boundaries, supporting the ongoing stability of regional populations.
Conservation Technology and Innovation
Wildlife ACT collaborates with Wildlife ACT Innovations to test and apply advanced wildlife tracking technologies. These include GPS, VHF, and satellite-enabled collars that provide real-time location and movement data. This technology enables early detection of potential risks such as fence crossings, disease outbreaks, and human-wildlife conflict, informing both immediate field response and long-term conservation planning.
Collaborative Conservation Leadership
Wildlife ACT plays an active role in multiple advisory and working groups that coordinate African Wild Dog management across landscapes. By sharing data, expertise, and field capacity, Wildlife ACT helps ensure that conservation efforts remain ethical, effective, and aligned with national biodiversity objectives.
Through its consistent, science-led fieldwork and collaborative partnerships, Wildlife ACT continues to secure a future for the African Wild Dog across South Africa’s protected landscapes.
The African Wild Dog faces a complex combination of threats that continue to drive its decline across Africa. These challenges stem largely from human activity and habitat loss, compounded by natural pressures such as disease and genetic isolation. Together, they make the African Wild Dog one of the most threatened carnivores on the continent.
Habitat loss and fragmentation
The conversion of natural landscapes into agricultural and urban areas has reduced and divided suitable habitat for African Wild Dogs. These fragmented spaces limit pack movement, isolate populations, and restrict the dispersal of young adults seeking new territories. Reduced connectivity leads to inbreeding and weakens population resilience.
Human-wildlife conflict and persecution
When Wild Dogs move beyond protected areas, they often encounter livestock farms and rural settlements. Misunderstandings about their hunting behaviour have led to persecution, including retaliatory killings. Despite limited verified cases of livestock predation, African Wild Dogs are still widely viewed as a threat to farmers’ livelihoods.
Snaring and poaching
Wire snares set for bushmeat pose one of the most immediate and devastating threats. Wild Dogs are frequently caught unintentionally, often resulting in severe injuries or death. Even a single snaring incident can have catastrophic consequences for an entire pack, given their social structure and reliance on teamwork for survival.
Disease
Contact with domestic dogs exposes Wild Dogs to infectious diseases such as rabies and canine distemper. These diseases can rapidly spread through entire packs, with high mortality rates. Vaccination programmes in surrounding communities are therefore a vital component of regional conservation efforts.
Low genetic diversity
Because most populations are small and isolated, African Wild Dogs face reduced genetic variation. This limits their ability to adapt to environmental changes and disease pressures. Maintaining genetic diversity through managed translocations and range expansion is essential for long-term survival.
The African Wild Dog population has declined dramatically over the past century, with fewer than 7 000 individuals remaining in the wild across Africa. Once found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the species is now confined to small, isolated populations in a handful of countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
In South Africa, African Wild Dogs occur mainly within formally protected areas and managed landscapes that form part of the national metapopulation system. The country’s population is estimated at around 550 individuals, with KwaZulu-Natal providing one of the most important strongholds through protected areas such as Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, uMkhuze Section of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Somkhanda Community Game Reserve, and Manyoni Private Game Reserve.
Wildlife ACT’s monitoring teams in these areas contribute to regional and national population management by collecting vital data on pack dynamics, reproduction, dispersal, and survival. This information supports the broader Wild Dog Advisory Group – South Africa (WAG-SA) strategy, which aims to maintain genetic diversity and strengthen population connectivity through coordinated reintroductions and translocations.
While numbers remain low, conservation partnerships and landscape-scale collaboration are helping to stabilise some populations. Continued monitoring, habitat protection, and community engagement are essential for long-term African Wild Dog conservation in South Africa and beyond.
The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), also known as the Painted Wolf, is one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the African Wild Dog is classified as Endangered, with fewer than 7 000 individuals remaining across the continent. Once widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the species has suffered a dramatic reduction in range and now exists in small, fragmented populations that continue to decline due to habitat loss, disease, and human-wildlife conflict.
African Wild Dogs live in closely bonded packs led by an alpha pair whose cooperation ensures the survival of the group. They are exceptional hunters, achieving success rates of up to 80 percent by working together to pursue and exhaust their prey. Their strong social bonds and coordinated behaviour make them one of the most fascinating and effective predators in Africa.
The species plays a vital ecological role as an apex predator, maintaining the health and balance of ecosystems by regulating herbivore populations and removing weak or sick individuals. Because they require vast, connected landscapes to survive, African Wild Dogs are important indicators of ecosystem health. Their presence signals a functioning and resilient environment.
Today, the African Wild Dog’s survival depends on targeted conservation strategies focused on habitat protection, population connectivity, and disease management. Collaborative efforts led by organisations such as Wildlife ACT, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, and the Endangered Wildlife Trust have helped stabilise regional populations in South Africa. Through intensive monitoring, GPS tracking, and carefully coordinated relocations guided by the Wild Dog Advisory Group – South Africa (WAG-SA), these conservation initiatives are giving this Endangered species a real chance to recover and persist
Learn more about African Wild Dog Behaviour, Monitoring & Conservation.