African Painted Dog or African Wild Dog behinds to most endangered beast of prey in the world. He (IT) occures subsaharian Africa only. Now the occurance is restricted to 14 contries only in comparation to 39 original countries. The current area of life has shrinked by more then 93 % of original surface. The are divided to 39 subpopulations only. In most of countries was exterminated and this species survives in reality in large reserves and national parks only because of his nomadic life and necessity of large tracs of nature environment. A very large-size but lightly built Canid ( weigh to 30 kg, shoulder high to 85 cm). We identify 5 differend subspecies, The southern subspecies has the most robust built. African Wild dog is living in complicated social groups with high abillity and high efficiency to hunt prey. His population decreased long time ( expecialy last quarter of centuary). Main reasons? Illegal poaching, metalic vires, ilegal poisoning, depletation of natural environment and disease of transmission from domestic dogs.
Thanks to longterm systematic efforts of nature conservationists (foccused on better protection against poaching in protected areas, support of reproduction in different project and stations, reintrodutions etc.) seems that in some areas the population is more stabile and exist some protected areas where the population increased. The total current african population is estimated approx.6000 animals . We may explaine that generally of population is still decreasing but probably by a little smaller tendency . This species is still endangered according UICN. The places where is good chance to watch this predator for example are this national parks like Nyere and Ruaha ( Tanzania), South Luangwa ,North Luangw and Kafue (Zambia), Kruger, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi and iSanmangaliso in part Mkhuze( South Africa), Moremi and Chobe (Botswana).
It is unrare ( common) that status of population is changing due to different reasons. For example in kenyan Reserve Ol Pejeta ( Laikipia) the african wild dog was relatively abundant around 2010. I could see there on female wiht 18 cubs (!) in this time. Later this species practicly dissapered from this place. Promising reinroduction painted wolf in Liwonde National Park in Framework of African Parks projects crashed ( finished) by illegal poissoning of whole pack. The new project of repatriation is under preparation now.
Despite of high efforts of nature conservation stays the future of this clever beast of prey unsure. We could expext the extinction of some smaller subpopulation of this species especially in West and Central Africa with certain probability
Kruger NP 2025
Nyere NP 2021
South Luangwa NP 2015
