The Wildlife ACT conservation volunteers at the Hluhluwe camp (in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa) recently monitored for over 12 hours and it was worth every minute! For the last eight days Toni Rose, Alex Johnson, Adrian Meyer and Nicholas Magnolfi have been monitoring a signal from a hilltop on the other side of the river to where the Crossroads Pack are currently denning. There is no road access anywhere near the den site, which has led to very few visuals of the five African Wild Dogs (Painted Dogs) during the five weeks since we think Fossey (the alpha female) had her pups.However, all that just changed - Cathy Hue and the conservation volunteers had three separate sightings of the five adults, who have found a place to cross the river and came to hunt on our side! They all looked healthy, and Fossey is heavy with milk. They managed to kill an nyala bull and gorged themselves before heading back to the den (with absolutely enormous stomachs).Although Bala (the alpha male) was hurt during the kill (he was limping afterwards), we got a signal from his collar back at the den site about an hour after he left the carcass and he was the last of the dogs to leave. Should these puppies survive, they will be the first new additions to the pack since 2010 - when Fossey was born!SPONSOR A COLLARWith the monitoring of African Wild Dogs (also known as the African Painted Dog) forming the basis of Wildlife ACT’s wildlife monitoring work, we’re often asked by our conservation volunteers about the necessities and purposes of monitoring the most endangered large carnivore in southern Africa. You can help Wildlife ACT fund these initiatives by adopting a Wild Dog and sponsoring its collar.Read more >>>[caption id="attachment_3304" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
The alpha pair relaxing next to the road.[/caption][caption id="attachment_3305" align="aligncenter" width="492"]
Fossey is heavy with milk![/caption][caption id="attachment_3306" align="aligncenter" width="480"]
A radiant-looking mother![/caption]
