So it carries on. But I am hopeful.
Patches and one of BB’s pups (I didn’t even get to name him) had to be put down today.
The Mupanigawa pack is now just 5 wild dogs, from 20 only 6 weeks ago. But I have to say they are all looking really well. I know they can fall victim to the dreaded rabies any time but it’s been about 2 weeks since we inoculated them and here’s to hoping we do get to save some.
The pack might have killed something in the night, as a couple of dogs looked fed.
This afternoon they had their greeting ceremony but just didn’t seem to want to get out hunting. It is possible they were leaving it till later to hunt with the moon, which is now half.
I’m finding it hard now to keep documenting their demise and left them for most of the day.
Always one of the most peaceful places on the reserve is down at Malilangwe dam. Although I have a view of it from camp, it has a very different feeling when walking along its banks. There is always something new to be seen and the atmosphere is tranquil.
The herds of hippo lie out on the banks in this cool weather but are quick to duck into the water when a vehicle or man approaches. They never used to be like this, but when the anthrax epidemic swept through here a few years ago they were all vaccinated and the trauma of that experience still sits with them. I’m sure if I put in time with them they would soon relax.
But my time at the dam was great and I do just love walking that shoreline.
Kim, Im wondering if the pack dwindles down to even less if there are a few that survive because of so few memebers would they try and join one of the other packs that come through? Will another pack accepct them or will they have to deal with just being a smaller pack? Also if they have to deal with being smaller in number how many can remain and still do a good enough job at bringing down prey for them to survive? You’ve said that a lone dog has brought down prey before, is it likely that if only a couple survive they will produce to form a new pack?
The surviving dogs joining up with another pack all depends on the sex ratios of the both sides. The other pack would generally be reluctant on taking on new members unless their numbers too were right down.
but they can live in small packs. Even a single dog can survive. They can easily singularly bring down an impala, but it’s the ratio of success that becomes critical.
if only a couple survive I’m pretty sure they would form their own pack. But that we would only know in a year’s time.