Wild dog pups are born in dens. These dens provide safety for the pups, protecting them from the elements and predators. The litter will remain hidden in the den for up to three months before they join the pack, ready to learn skills that will make them valuable members of the pack.
This breathtaking moment of the pups’ moment in the sunlight was witnessed by Morkel on safari at the Ngala Game Reserve.
Watch The Sighting:
Morkel described the awe of observing the stunning animals in an intimate moment.
New Pups Emerge Into The Light Of Day
When Morkel arrived at the scene of this particular sighting, the adult pack members were scattered around the entrance to the den. He had no idea what treat awaited him and his wife.
The den entrance near where the wild dogs had congregated soon stole Morkel and his wife’s attention when some little wild dog pups began to emerge from it.
They strutted playfully out in full view of the spectators, walking with the cute awkwardness of baby animals.
Like regular puppies, they were playful and curious. This outside world must’ve seemed far more exciting to them than the darkness of the den, which they were familiar with.
For the most part, they stuck together, and Mom walked behind them, nosing them at intervals to keep them in line.
The world appeared new to them as they inspected stones, sand, and plants. The rest of the pack were giants next to their diminutive forms.
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Everything about them was miniature but perfectly formed, each move filled with wide-eyed innocence. It’s almost hard to believe these same pups will one day be the most successful hunters in the bush.
However, at this moment, they were still just babies and adapting to the world around them.
As evidenced, wild dogs are incredibly social animals. These little ones had no doubt already learned the value of the pack.
A breeding pair will lead the pack, and the rest of the members will pitch in to take care of the pups.
Packs can grow to up to 60 members!
Life is full of “firsts”. Morkel, who is a part-time wildlife photographer and industrial engineer, explained the thrill of being able to photograph the litter’s first time out of the den.
What a time they had… and they had lots of adult supervision to make sure each one would return to the den later.
There were also many poignant moments, with nose-kisses, and with Mom doing some cleaning of little faces with her tongue.
A Look Around And Then It’s Back Into The Den
He said he could’ve watched the pups forever. As quickly as the pups emerged from the den, they soon went back inside. “Eventually, the alpha of the pack just called and sort of forced the pups back into the den, and it was all over,” said Morkel.
“The sighting couldn’t last forever, unfortunately,” he said.
He said he would never forget the little pups, and that from what he had heard, every member of the litter made it past the critical stage to survive into adulthood.