If you’ve ever witnessed a pack of wild dogs in pursuit of prey, you understand why these mottled canids are considered some of Africa’s most successful predators. Their hunting skills were recently on full display when a pack targeted a young wildebeest in South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve.
Rodney Steyn, the owner of a nearby guest lodge, had been observing the pack from a watchtower when he noticed that they had separated a young wildebeest from its mother.
“The young animal instinctively made a run for the waterhole in hopes of finding safety. It leaped into the deepest point of the waterhole, and the dogs immediately surrounded it,” he recounts. Steyn’s elevated vantage point allowed him to witness the entire hunt as it unfolded below, providing a rare bird’s-eye view of the pack’s dynamics.
Wild dog hunts have a remarkable success rate, thanks in large part to the coordinated efforts of the pack. With a complex vocal communication system and strong social bonds, these carnivores achieve a level of hunting cooperation that even larger predators like lions can’t match.
Each member of the pack is well-suited for the endurance hunt, with keen senses, a lean, muscular build, and powerful jaws and teeth specialized for shearing and crushing bone.
Trapped by water and the encircling pack, the young wildebeest had no chance of escape. “A few of the dogs ventured into the water, and the young wildebeest spun around repeatedly in an attempt to face its attackers. Eventually, the dogs began swimming from all sides, ultimately pulling it out to meet its inevitable fate,” Steyn observes.
Wild dog hunts are notorious for their ferocity and can be difficult to watch. However, this successful kill is a positive indicator of the well-being of the resident packs in Madikwe. After a challenging start in the park in 1994, marked by lion attacks and rabies outbreaks, the founding pack of six pioneers gradually increased in number. Today, three hunting packs roam the area.
Once prevalent throughout the continent, the species has experienced a distressing decline, with only about 5,000 critically endangered carnivores remaining in the wild, including a mere 450 in South Africa. This underscores the critical importance of Madikwe’s healthy wild dog population.
“What made this event noteworthy was the ability to witness the entire episode unfold and the sheer determination of the wild dogs,” Steyn reflects. “It was intensely emotional and tense because you feel sympathy for the victim while recognizing the necessity of the meal for the predator.”