Survival in the wild is a game that comes with many challenges. At any moment hungry predators might come searching for their next meal, or maybe, just maybe, there might be a little bit of water to cross.
This pack of wild dogs found themselves facing this latter conundrum when Shayne Hodges began recording them. Shayne sent the footage to Latest Sightings.
The Dangers Of Water
Given the reputation of wild dogs for their own ferocity and hunting success rate, it is amusing to see them so troubled by only a small strip of water which they managed to cross easily enough, but there could be a good reason for their concern.
There are animals that are particularly dangerous and territorial when it comes to water. Most notably those like hippos or crocodiles which had potentially already encoutnered the dogs.
The strip of water didn’t look big enough to support anything as large as a hippo, but these dogs wouldn’t be the first animals to let their guard down only for a croc to surge out of the water and turn one of them into its next meal.
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The African bush is full of animals living their lives like these wild dogs, some of them more successfully than the unlucky dog that took the plunge. Make sure you never miss out on these sightings by joining our WhatsApp group below!
Running The Gauntlet
Despite their obvious concern, and the considerable risks involved, this pack of wild dogs needed to cross the river and move on. Presumably they were heading towards new hunting grounds on the other side of the water.
This need must have been great, for two of the dogs stood at the water’s edge slowly building up the courage to make the leap, each of them waiting for the other to go first and prove that the way was safe.
It took several long moments, but eventually one brave dog took the risk. A running leap carried it clear over to the other side of the water with no ill consequences, and the rest of the pack must have wondered what they were ever so worried about.
Proof Of Concept Achieved
Once the first wild dog proved that it was possible to make the jump, the others were more than game to have a go themselves. They started coming thick and fast as the rest of the pack hurriedly tried to follow the first.
Almost all of the dogs handled the leap so easily that the potential for enemy predators must have been the only source for their concern. Physically, despite their relatively small stature, the dogs were more than capable of making the jump.
That is, all except one were more than capable of making the jump. The soft, wet mud along the edges of the water must have been more treacherous than it seemed, because one of the dogs didn’t make it.
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Worse Things Than Crocodiles
While the rest of the pack were worried about being attacked, one unlucky dog wasn’t paying enough attention to its footing. Instead of leaping gracefully though the air like the others, it launched itself straight into the water.
Looking behind it, embarrassed, the dog pulled itself out of the water and continued on its way with the rest of the very dry pack. It still made it out alive, so it was a successful river crossing for the dog, but it had to work on its jumping.