This curious pack of wild dogs couldn’t resist inspecting a tortoise on a sandy road in the Jock Safari Lodge. Jan Kriel filmed the memorable moment.
Zealous wild dogs congregate around lone tortoise
Wild dogs of are among Africa’s most intelligent and curious predators. Unlike lions, which rely on strength, or leopards, which depend on stealth, wild dogs survive through teamwork, communication and endless energy.
These wild dogs came across the tortoise and weren’t quite sure what they were dealing with. They pressed their noses against the tortoise’s shell. It was a good thing the tortoise had the shell to retreat into!
A display of wild dogs’ inner curiosity
The restless curiosity of wild dogs often leads them to investigate unusual objects and animals they encounter in the bushveld.
In this special moment, what began as simple curiosity quickly turned into an energetic game as the dogs nosed, pawed and even flipped the little reptile onto its back.
One minute the tortoise had been crossing the sandy road, minding its own business. The next thing, it was lying on its back, with its shell resting on the ground; with lots of noses pressed in towards it.
Encounters between wild dogs and tortoises reveal an unusual side of predator behaviour that game viewers rarely expect to see. Most people imagine African carnivores locked in dramatic hunts or territorial fights, yet much of animal behaviour revolves around curiosity and learning.
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This is especially true for young predators. They will investigate anything unfamiliar. A tortoise crossing the road becomes less a prey item and more a moving puzzle for energetic dogs.
Wired for both hunting… and playing…
African wild dogs are among the most efficient hunters in the world. Their hunting success rate can exceed 80 percent, which is far higher than that of lions or leopards.
They achieve this because they hunt cooperatively in packs. Instead of relying on ambush, they chase prey over long distances until the animal becomes exhausted.
In spite of their hunting prowess, they are also extremely social animals. A pack usually contains between six to 20 individuals, although larger packs can occur.
This pack made exploring the tiny phenomenon on the road a ‘team effort’. No dog was left out!
The tortoise must’ve been saying its prayers while the pack members closed in around it.
However, to the game viewers, the pack members were somehow different to the hunters wild dogs usually present themselves as. They were puppy-like and playful!
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Pack members lose interest and move away
Eventually the pack lost interest and members began to walk away. Thankfully the tiny tortoise’s life was spared!
The scene was a reminder that every animal in the African bush, from the fastest cheetah to the slowest tortoise, exists within a constantly shifting web of interactions.
Sometimes those interactions are violent and deadly. Other times they are strangely playful, almost humorous, reminding observers that wild animals possess personalities and behaviours far more complex than simple survival instincts.