Wild dogs back on Lolldaiga Hills after a five year disappearance

Photo credit: Jack Godwin

We have been delighted to spot wild dogs again on Lolldaiga Hills after a five year disappearance. The pack, which is known as the Phoenix Pack (because of how they have risen from the ashes of a Canine Distemper; a disease that nearly wiped out Kenya's whole population) is now at least 13 strong. Wild dogs are fast and travel during the day so keeping up with the pack is almost impossible. You might have the chance to see them but by the time you try to find them again the next day, they are several conservancies away!

Wild dogs are some of the bush's best hunters - they have a high success rate during hunting by working together to confuse their prey, and they attack as a team. Wild dogs (or ‘painted dogs’ as some conservationists have tried to rebrand them to, as a way of moving away from negative connotations to do with dogs in Africa) are cunning, clever, fast moving and one of the bush’s best hunters. Wild dogs have one of the most successful hunting rates of any carnivore with an average of 80% of hunts resulting in a kill; this is due to their ability to give chase as a team for up to an hour. Whereas, the big cats of Africa lions are much less successful; leopards, and cheetah success rates are only about 20-30%. Puppies are the most important part of the pack - the alpha male and the alpha female will mate and raise one litter together during a year. The rest of the pack will look after this litter as a team.

A rare sighting that we hope will become a more regular occurrence! Want to try your luck with these beautiful animals? Get in touch to book your stay with us.