It is with heavy hearts that we have to report the sad death of one of our Wild Dogs, an adult male named Dalerwa. We thought we had lost him earlier in the month when the dogs came across a group of Lions in thick bush. The pack, minus Dalerwa appeared unscathed and we assumed the worst had happened, but he happily reappeared with the pack in perfect health a couple of days later. As he does not wear a radio-collar, his whereabouts during this period is unknown. The conflict between Lions and Wild Dogs is well known, and having been born on Venetia which has a very healthy Lion population, Dalerwa would not have been naïve of the dangers. It is always sad to lose an animal, particularly one that has been well-studied, but we try to remember that it part of the natural process. As a subordinate dog, Dalerwa did not play a part in the reproduction of the pack, but was a notably good hunter and provided generously for the pack’s puppies. As we go into the season where the Wild Dogs will den and produce another litter of puppies to feed, it may be that his absence is felt by the adults of the pack, who have now dwindled to just 4 in number. Wild Dogs are extremely resilient and we will keep you posted on their progress.
5 Comments posted on "The demise of Dalerwa"
Christine C. on April 8th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Ah, Rox, I am so sorry to hear about poor Dalerwa. But as you say, at least this is nature taking it’s course and not the result of man. Do you know why he would run toward the lions and not away?
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on April 8th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Sorry Rox, sounds like Dalerwa was kinda special, maybe he chose to run the other way, to save his pack. And he did. Keeping my fingers crossed, for this little pack. Do you think they will try to recruit another male or female? Don’t know much about this process.
limpopocarnivores on April 8th, 2008 at 11:40 am
It is unlikely that they will recruit new members, as Wild Dogs tend to disperse in related single sex groups to form new packs. They will, however, most likely bounce back from within. Wild Dogs can produce an extraordinary number of puppies, with 10-12 being quite normal. This year they will only have 1 yearling helper due to both low birth and survival rates, but the chances are good that they will raise more puppies this year. Only the dominant or alpha pair will typically breed, and so inbreeding is avoided. When youngsters feel the urge to breed, they will leave in a same-sex group of their brothers or sisters, and go looking for a wandering group of the opposite sex with which to form a new pack. Even though only one male and one female breed, by supporting their full brother or sisters pups to adulthood, the other subordinate adults still ensure that “their” genes are passed on to the next generation.
F. J. Pechir on April 8th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Very sorry to hear about the fate of Dalerwa…
enuctuastup on May 7th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
omg.. good work, bro Post a comment
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Rox Brummer of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and her dogs Snoopy and Barclay report on carnivore research that is helping to conserve one of Africa's greatest cross border protected areas the great Limpopo-Shase Transfrontier conservation area, a peace park linking South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe
