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African Wild Dog Research Paper

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African Wild Dog Endangered Lycaon pictus, most commonly known as the African wild dog, or the African painted dog, is going extinct. Discovered scientifically in the 19th century With about 3,000 to 5,500 still alive, they’re case isn’t critical, but each one of them is important. Native to Africa, mostly southern Africa and southern parts of East Africa, they are under protection, but they are still threatened by killings – both targeted and accidental – by humans and larger predators, diseases and habitat loss. Humans also like to keep them as exotic pets and, although they do have ‘dog’ in their name, they are meant to stay in Tanzania and Mozambique. They are social, traveling in packs of usually 10, but sometimes 40. They form special bonds and stick with family. They are often seen play fighting, especially after a kill, both with young and adults. Because of the way they travel in groups, if one is killed or captured, a few tend to follow. …show more content…

The biggest wild predator is the lion, killing entire packs at a time. Hyenas are enemies as well, tending to follow packs around in stalk-ish behavior, resting near them and also stealing some kill or the remains. They attack when the time is right for them. Hyenas also attack in groups, and, though packs of hyenas are denser than packs of African wild dogs, hyenas’ relative size and high populations make them higher on the food chain than African wild dogs. Humans are also an common predator, as well as the largest and by far the most destructive. As endangered animals, their rarity is cause for being hunted for game. They are respected animals by African hunters, but foreigners have no sense of that. They are killed for their spotted fur, and sometimes their teeth or meat. They are sometimes taken as pets, and are killed in the process of being shipped or living with

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