African Wild Dog

Dear Reader,

The African wild dog is endangered. That needs to be changed. Most populations of the wild dogs are found in southern Africa and the southern part of East Africa (mostly Tanzania and Mozambique). Even though it seems like there are plenty of wild dogs in the world, it is not true. There are only about 3,000 to 5,000 thousand of them left and they can travel in packs from ten to forty members in them. Medium-sized animals such as gazelles are hunted by African wild dogs. They are great hunters because at a sprint, one dog can reach speeds up to over 44 miles per hour. A single dog can weigh anywhere from 40 to 70 pounds, grow about 30 inches tall, and be 30 to 35 inches long. Deserts forests, and grasslands are their most commonly inhabited areas. The main threats towards the African wild dog are competition, habitat loss, and disease. Occasionally, there are both targeted and accidental killings of the wild dogs which lower the population. Habitat loss due to humans also has a great impact, along with competition with larger animals such as lions. In addition, disease like rabies and distemper are also a large reason for the population decline. It is important for these wild dogs to remain on this planet as they are a landmark of Africa’s culture.

 

If you want to help out the endangered African wild dog, visit their World Wild Life page for more information.

Well that’s a wrap, so until next time,

SVR