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  • African Painted Dog

African painted dog

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Wild Africa
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Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan

Up to 11 years

Diet

Diet

Antelope, wildebeest,

rodents and birds

Habitat

Habitat

Grasslands, savannahs

and open woodlands

Range

Range

Largest populations

remain in Southeastern Africa

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The African painted dogs

Body ‘paintings’

Body ‘paintings’

Named for their colourful coat, the African painted dogs sport mottled patches of red, black, brown, white, and yellow fur all over their bodies. Each dog has its own unique ‘painted’ pattern.
Highly successful hunters

Highly successful hunters

African painted dogs hunt in cooperative packs of 6-20 animals. Their preferred prey are usually about twice their weight, like the impala.. Packs will also take on much larger prey like wildebeests, particularly ill or injured ones. They can keep up a hunt over a distance of 5km at a steady pace of 48km/hr, till their prey drop dead from exhaustion. With such incredible stamina, it’s no wonder they have the highest kill rate among carnivores.
Pack behaviour

Pack behaviour

Pack members that take part in a hunt eat together before returning to their den to regurgitate food for the young, old or sick. These dogs are very social, often communicating through touch, actions and calls. They use their large ears to listen out for calls of their pack members. Each pack is dominated by a monogamous breeding pair. The female gives birth to a litter of 2-20 pups, which are later cared for by the whole pack.

Together, we protect wildlife

 Going to the dogs

Going to the dogs

Once widely distributed across Africa, with packs of 100 not uncommon, these dogs are now threatened by human encroachment on their habitat. Besides persecution by farmers who fear for their livestock, these dogs are also susceptible to infectious diseases transmitted by domestic animals.

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

Special Experiences

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African Painted Dog Keeper Talk

Daily Wild Africa 1:40pm

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Every visit to our parks comes with
Find out how, together, we're creating a better future for wildlife and the planet.

Opening hours

8.30am - 6.00pm (Last entry at 5.00pm)

We're open every day of the year.

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80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore 729826

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