Rare African wild dog behaviour caught on camera

African wild dogs are apex predators that help regulate prey populations and maintain biodiversity, contributing to the overall health and balance of their ecosystem.

They are cooperative hunters that prefer medium-sized mammals, relying on their speed and endurance to chase down prey. Unlike some carnivores, however, they seldom scavenge…

In September 2023, the team at Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness discovered a sable antelope bull that was freshly caught in a cable snare left by a poacher. Poaching with cable snares is a major threat to wildlife in the area and Shinganda’s scouts regularly find and remove snares.

Sadly, they can’t get to them all in time. Most of the carcass had been consumed by vultures, however, the team turned this negative situation into an opportunity to discover which species may scavenge in the area. With one of their trail cameras, donated by NatureSpy, they recorded vultures, a honey badger, and a group of four African wild dogs scavenging the carcass.

This is the first time this behaviour has been witnessed by the team at Shinganda. Scavenging behaviour by African wild dogs is only seen rarely, in habitats with a low prey-base and lower lion densities, making the risk of potential lion attacks at carcasses worth the potential benefit of obtaining some meat scraps. Capturing evidence of this behaviour on a trail camera hints at the pressure this ecosystem is under and is a stark reminder of the vital importance of Shinganda’s anti-poaching efforts. Learn more about the vital conservation work of Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness here.

How to monitor African wild dogs with trail cameras

African wild dogs can be a challenging species to monitor! They are curious and have powerful jaws, so the housing of a trail camera may be a little too tempting to nibble on. One option is to install a trail camera out of their reach, however they live alongside species that can reach much higher and love to wreck trail cameras (we’re looking at you, elephants and lions!). Another option is to install the camera in metal security housing, as this tends to provide a good layer of defence against the various species in sub-Saharan Africa that have big hooves or powerful jaws and an inclination towards prodding and nibbling camera traps.