scholarly journals A case of inbreeding in the African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Reich

An observed case of inbreeding in a pack ot wild dogs Lycaon pictus in the Kruger National Park, Republic of South Africa, provides evidence for the phenomenon of dominance reversal in this species. This is believed to be the first recorded instance of inbreeding in Lycaon. Emigration of subordinate females from established packs of wild dogs has been documented in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania, as well as in the Kruger National Park. However, the newly subordinate (ex-dominant) female in the pack in which inbreeding has occurred has not emigrated in the 16 months since the change in her status. A possible explanation for this behaviour is given. As a result of this reversal, the pack contains at least two females capable of breeding, the subordinate of which is at least two years older than the dominant. This is considered the first record of such a breeding structure in Lycaon.

Koedoe ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.G.L. Mills

Wild dog Lycaon pictus and lion Panthera leo populations in the Kruger National Park appeared to undergo an increase during a drought period in the early 1990s. Newly established packs, high adult survival and pup productivity contributed to an increase in the wild dog population and evidence for high predation success during the height of the drought is presented. An increase in the lion density between 1989 and 1993 on the northern basalt plains, as well as changes in the structure of the population, seem to be related to changes in prey populations, particularly to a decline in numbers and condition of buffalo Syncerus cafer.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard D Lyamuya ◽  
Emmanuel H Masenga ◽  
Robert D Fyumagwa ◽  
Machoke N Mwita ◽  
Craig R Jackson ◽  
...  

<p class="1Body">This study discusses the conflict between Maasai pastoralists and African wild dogs (<em>Lycaon pictus) </em>over livestock before and after the Maasai were evicted from the Serengeti National Park (SNP) in 1959. We surveyed 181 randomly selected households from six villages in the eastern Serengeti ecosystem. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to acquire the required information from the respondents. We found that males had a greater awareness of local wild dog presence and livestock-derived conflict than females, and reported more frequently to have chased and killed wild dogs that attacked their livestock. Moreover, the conflict existed before 1959, decreased during the 1990s, but increased from 2000 onwards. This increase is attributed to the growth in human, livestock and wild dog populations in the area. This study recommends that to foster their coexistence, the continued escalation in livestock numbers needs to cease while simultaneously protecting the region’s wild prey populations.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Creel ◽  
Johnathan Merkle ◽  
Thandiwe Mweetwa ◽  
Matthew S. Becker ◽  
Henry Mwape ◽  
...  

Abstract Large carnivores have experienced considerable range contraction, increasing the importance of movement across human-altered landscapes between small, isolated populations. African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are exceptionally wide-ranging, and recolonization is an important element of their persistence at broad scales. The competition-movement-connection hypothesis suggests that adaptations to move through areas that are unfavorable due to dominant competitors might promote the ability of subordinate competitors (like wild dogs) to move through areas that are unfavorable due to humans. Here, we used hidden Markov models to test how wild dog movements were affected by the Human Footprint Index in areas inside and outside of South Luangwa National Park. Movements were faster and more directed when outside the National Park, but slowed where the human footprint was stronger. Our results can be directly and quantitatively applied to connectivity planning, and we use them to identify ways to better understand differences between species in recent loss of connectivity.


Behaviour ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-58
Author(s):  
Esther van der Meer ◽  
Nick Lyon ◽  
Thomas Mutonhori ◽  
Roseline Mandisodza-Chikerema ◽  
Peter Blinston

Abstract When selecting prey, carnivores optimise energy gained when consuming prey against energy spent when pursuing and subduing prey. Additionally, predators seem to preferentially predate on prey which presents a low risk of injury. When defending itself against predators, baboons (Papio spp.) can inflict serious injury and cause mortality. Although part of Africa’s large carnivores’ diet, predation on baboons is usually avoided. We investigated prey selection patterns of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. Based on direct and indirect observations and analyses of faecal samples, we show that baboons form a substantial part of the African wild dog diet and were more frequently predated on than would be expected based on availability. Predation on baboons did not vary over baboon sex or age classes but was affected by seasonality. This is the first study to describe a preference for predation on this unusual prey species.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249860
Author(s):  
Paola Bouley ◽  
Antonio Paulo ◽  
Mercia Angela ◽  
Cole Du Plessis ◽  
David G. Marneweck

Large carnivores have experienced widespread extirpation and species are now threatened globally. The ecological impact of the loss of large carnivores has been prominent in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, after most were extirpated during the 1977–92 civil war. To remedy this, reintroductions are now being implemented in Gorongosa, initiating with endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), hereafter ‘wild dogs’. We describe the first transboundary translocation and reintroduction of founding packs of wild dogs to Gorongosa over a 28-month study period and evaluate the success of the reintroduction based on five key indicator categories. We also assess how wild dog space use and diet influenced their success. We found that pre-release, artificial pack formation in holding enclosures aided group cohesion and alpha pair establishment. Post-release, we also observed natural pack formations as a result of multiple dispersal events. Founder and naturally formed packs produced pups in two of the three breeding seasons and packs successfully recruited pups. Survival rate for all wild dogs was 73% and all mortality events were from natural causes. Consequently, the population grew significantly over the study period. All indicators of success were fully achieved and this study documents the first successful reintroduction of wild dogs into a large, unfenced landscape in Mozambique and only the second on the continent. Potential mechanisms underlying these early successes were the avoidance of habitats intensively used by lions, dietary partitioning with lion, avoidance of human settlements, and Gorongosa’s management strategy. We predict further population expansion in Gorongosa given that 68% of the park is still unused by wild dogs. This expansion could be stimulated by continued reintroductions over the short- to medium-term. Recovery of wild dogs in Gorongosa could aid in the re-establishment of a larger, connected population across the greater Gorongosa-Marromeu landscape.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e86265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Marnewick ◽  
Sam M. Ferreira ◽  
Sophie Grange ◽  
Jessica Watermeyer ◽  
Nakedi Maputla ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Burgoyne ◽  
Kevin Mearns

This manuscript investigates the complexities and challenges in the management of the Ololosokwan community conservation area in Northern Tanzania. The conservation area is adjacent to the Serengeti National Park, just south of the Tanzanian-Kenyan Border where nomadic Maasai Pastoralists are free to cross international borders in search of grazing for their cattle. The Ololosokwan community is faced with the difficulties of managing a number of conflicting land-uses and community aspirations while striving toward the maintenance of a successful and sustainable community conservation area in collaboration with a private tourism operation. Benefit sharing was found to be an effective way in which to heal negative stakeholder engagements of the past, and active participation in the development of community livelihoods was found to be a more meaningful pursuit in this cause than merely sharing money. Despite opportunities for stakeholders to show that they are willing to work together, existing conflict is likely to continue as stakeholders still mistrust each other and often align themselves with groups that share common interests.


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