Despite their relatively small size and cute appearance, African wild dogs are incredibly dangerous animals, and one of the more successful predators roaming the Kruger National Park.
Michael Hargreaves caught this pack hunting on camera, near Skukuza, and sent the footage to Latest Sightings. The hungry dogs were out looking for a meal when they came across the herd of zebra at the side of the road.
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Moving In Convoy
At the beginning of Michael’s footage the pack of wild dogs was loping along the side of the road at an easy pace. There looked to be six individual dogs that were out and about, comfortably keeping up with the vehicles.
It’s this talent for running that makes wild dogs so dangerous when compared to ambush predators. The power of most big cats means that they can leap out from cover over vast distances, but if this first ambush fails, then they don’t always have the stamina to pursue their prey far.
Wild dogs, on the other hand, have adapted specifically to run long distances. This makes it unlikely that their prey will have the required speed or strength to outrun them in a chase.
On The Hunt
As the wild dogs jogged down the side of the road with the two safari vehicles, it became evident what it was that had caught their attention. At the side of the road was a herd of grazing zebra, that looked like they were reacting negatively to the dogs.
Adult zebras can be vicious animals, and their relative size and strength gave them a clear advantage over the hungry dogs. Due to this same ferocity, lions are one of the few animals with enough strength themselves to offer consistent threats to zebras.
A wild dog would still be more than happy to eat a zebra if it could bring one down though, and if the zebra herd had any foals with them then they would be especially vulnerable, so the defending zebras had to take the canine pack seriously.
Harder Than Expected
These zebras were taking the wild dog threat very seriously indeed. There were three zebras that had taken on the responsibility of keeping the dogs at bay, and they were very effective at this.
They surged up to the side of the road as soon as the dogs got close, and they then stood their ground against the pack of barking dogs before trying to chase them away.
The dogs balked at the charging zebras, but were obviously confident that they could outrun them if they really needed to as they didn’t leave the area, doing only what was required to stay out from underneath the zebra’s hooves.
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An Unsuccessful Hunt
The wild dogs were clearly trying to get at something off in the long grass at the side of the road, but whichever way they turned the three zebra were there, blocking their path.
The two settled into an uneasy stalemate, until Michael’s car began to move on, and the dogs too decided that the zebras weren’t worth the effort it would take to bring one down.
The zebras all survived another day, and the wild dogs would likely be able to find a meal somewhere else. For Michael and the other vehicle, the spectacle was something to be enjoyed without having to watch either animal lose out.