THE AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS

THE AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS

WHY I CHOSE AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS AS MY SUBJECT

• I genuinely like the animals
• I was inspired by Mrs Beasley’s speech on the psychology of dogs
• Dogs have always fascinated me
• These dogs are beautiful and I felt especially touched by the family

AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS…

• Are an endangered species. There are less than 6,000 left in a handful of countries.
• Have individual patterns on their coats
• Are excellent hunters
• Have large round ears which they use to communicate, signal and listen to other dogs.

MORE FACTS

• African painted dogs live in family packs on the grasslands, savannahs, woodlands and semi deserts.
• Their main threats are habitat loss, persecution from humans and infectious diseases from domestic dogs.
• They can weigh up to 35kg and adults are 75cm tall (shoulder height)

THE DOGS

Meet the Family…

THE DYNAMICS

• Mum, K’mana
• Dad, Ville
• Pups Kendi, Mosi, Nuru, Bakuru, Eyasi, Hasani and Bahati.

But K’mana wasn’t initially the alfa female. Her sister, Kite was. Kite attacked her sister to prove her dominance leaving K’mana in need of life saving surgery from the zoo’s vets. When K’mana rejoined the pack, she excepted her position as subordinate female. However soon after, Kite died, leaving K’mana as the dominant female. Keepers didn’t think Ville and K’mana would mate, but they did.

In January 2018, parents K’mana and Ville had their first litter of puppies. The keepers were initially worried about how young dad Ville would shape up but all fears were uncaused for as Ville was an ideal husband and father to Chesters first African Painted Dog litter.

7 weeks after K’mana gave birth she and Ville started patrolling not just the entrance to the den but also the whole habitat. Painted dog puppies need longer to develop than other mammals. Their eyes don’t open for the first couple of weeks and K’mana was being an ideal mother and trainer for the world outside of the den.

Then, the pups ventured outside! However they didn’t all come out at once and some dogs were braver than others. The bravest pups could be the protectors of their litter, their father’s wingmen. The more dominant puppies could be the future alpha dogs. Ville goes back in and encourages the rest of the pack and all the family are out at once for the first time.

At two months old, not all six can be seen having breakfast. Mosi, the smallest female of the litter, hangs back. Play is very important for their development, they learn how rough they need to be and some basic hunting skills. The longer Mosi stays in the den on her own, the harder to fit in it will be when she eventually leaves. The other pups are eating from the carcus and Mosi will soon become weak with hunger if she doesn’t venture outside soon.

Its lunchtime but Mosi, the runt of the litter, is still indoors surviving only on her mother’s regurgitated meat. Kendi, a more caring dog, takes Mosi under his wing. He starts checking on her and attempts to encourage her outside. However Mosi stays inside and begins to look slightly wobbly and disoriented. Keepers start to suspect her eyesight might have problems.

The day the vets give the pups their first health check, the keepers hope to find out why Mosi is so shy. After the vet check, it is confirmed that there is nothing physically wrong with Mosi.

They are nearly 3 months old and Mosi now leaves the den every day with her family and her confidence is growing day by day. She is very dominant with the feeding and is very feisty. Her brother, Kendi, has helped her grow in confidence and his caring nature is responsible for her courage, Mosi is now one of the bravest pups of the pack.

THANKS FOR WATCHING