We spent last night out with the wild dogs.
And what a night it was. Around midnight the winds picked up and howled through the Mopanie trees ripping all the leaves from their now dry limbs. The dust swirled around the vehicle and covered my camera that was set up waiting for action. And around 3 am, action it got.
I was awakened by much squealing to find BB totally submissive on her side with all the pups, big and small, all over her. The Alpha female was there too repeatedly nipping her on the backside. She then left and the alpha pups jostled BB’s pups aside and proceeded to suckle from their mother.
BB could do nothing but let it happen. She was too submissive (and she has to be. That is the way in wild dog society). With all the commotion around her BB was unaware that she was lying, squashing one of her pups. Its head just stuck out from underneath her body and in intermittent gasps it squealed for help when it could. But none was forthcoming. One of the alpha pups was actually trying to dig it out. Only when the whole suckling ‘rape’ was over, BB got up and the pup scrambled away seemingly none the worse for wear.
Shortly before dawn BB’s pups came out to suckle and again had to wrestle the alpha pups for teats.
It had been a long active night for all the pups and adults too, although they didn’t go hunting again, there was much activity with all the pups around the den.
After sunrise, with the alpha pups all passed out lying under bushes nearby, BB’s pups came out on their own accord and suckled in peace. It was only now that I realised BB had 6 pups and not 5.
In the afternoon BB was again tormented with all the pups vying for a teat. She just seems to take it as it comes. Well she doesn’t have an option.
Just before sunset the dogs headed east on the hunt. All the adults except BB and all the alpha pups. They were at least 3 kms from the den when we lost them in some thick bush country.
When we checked out the Nymasikana water hole nearby, Doby was there with her badly injured hindquarters. She has had this injury for the last 2 months and it seems to be getting better. (I’m not sure what caused the injury). But tonight she was on her own drinking at the pan and looking very weak and lean. Whereas in the past she has always been one of the best fed dogs. I’m really concerned she might not survive. These wild dogs have such a high metabolic rate that they can’t go without food for long. We left Doby resting at the water and headed back to the den.The alpha pups arrived shortly after us.
And not long afterwards the adults came tearing in at such a pace, as they always do when returning to the den. They had bloodstains on their necks and faces and were well fed.
With their return the den turned into a chaotic mass of dog bodies and much screaming from BB as she begged for food. The adults had little option but to regurgitate meat for the pups and BB.
And strangely the Alpha female went and regurgitated for BB’s pups. Already at 3 weeks old these little fellows are serious meat eaters. But they had their meal cut short when the alpha pups arrived and pulled the bigger chunks of meat from their mouths.
Well fed, and with that wind last night having brought in some very cold weather the dogs all huddled together for warmth to sit out the night.
And we tucked deep into our sleeping bags too!
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