After yesterday’s scare with the male dog going out the fence, I was keen to get there and close up every little hole I could find.
But the dogs got there before me killing an adult female impala right close to the fence. Of course the pups took over the carcass and all but finished it. They’re growing so fast now that a female impala is only just enough for the whole pack.
When the adults did get back to feed there was little left and Puzzles left her male to crunch on the bones. Then I noticed the pups had been gone a while and moved towards the fence. Following up I found 3 pups and Puzzles other side the fence and the other 6 pups on this side trying to get to the others. All the pups were running up and down the fence on both sides. They just weren’t finding the hole the other pups had used to get through.
It was tough watching them run into the fence hoping it would give way like grass, but they bounced back and were getting hurt. In desperation I cut several holes in the fence. But for some reason they wouldn’t use them. They’d see them, stop and then run past.
I think they were so traumatised from running into the fence they weren’t prepared to brave it again.
By now the male had also joined the others outside the fence. He obviously knows about the holes and comes and goes as he pleases.
As a total last resort I cut away about 10m of the fence. Still the pups were reluctant to go through but eventually braved it and all crossed. Puzzles and the male joined them and they all headed south. Relief!
Not only did I fear for their safety on the other side, but that could have been the end of my film too!
While the exhausted dogs all rested up for the day I spent hours chopping thorn branches and blocking every little hole I could find. Hopefully that will work till the fencing gang get to repairing the fence tomorrow.
I wonder if the male has been hunting outside the fence ?….
Remember a while ago when he was bringing food back but not leading the pups to the kill, which Kim thought was most unusual.
It sounds like the male is quite familiar with that old hole in the fence !
Phew. So glad there are still people like you left in the world Kim. Thanx for making a plan to fix up the fence. Even if it’s only temporarily. Not only do we have to worry about rabies, but sometimes the dogs get shot. I remember watching a doco on tv about a male wild dog’s tale. It was so sad. First his whole pack died one after the other from rabies. He managed to stay alive but was alone for a good few weeks. Then by some miracle he was accepted by another pack after another few weeks of trying. He finally became the alpha male and had a few litters with the alpha female. Then disaster struck as he got through the fence too and to my horror got shot by a native. I cried my eyes out while he was lying on the ground dying. It was the sadest thing I’ve ever seen. After everything he had to go through. He deserved a better ending.
Kim,
Your are amazing. I could feel your despair as I was reading. I am glad you were able to fix itemporarily and that it will be fixed tomorrow. I think Ronan might be up to something. Maybe dad has been using it for a lon time. Do you think poachers who want bush meat made the hole? I am so happy you found the hole before the whole family starts venturing out.
Ivanova
What a relief the others didn’t go out as well! Will you be able to vaccinate the whole litter against rabies soon?
What will happen to the litter as they grow older, will they all remain as a pack or will they have to split up? I saw a documentary about wild dogs where the pack was quite large and only the alpha male and female bred. How did Puzzles and her mate come to be on their own?
This is all wonderful stuff and lovely to watch - especially seeing how similar their behaviour is to domesticated dogs.
Alison
I don’t think the male has been hunting outside the fence as the scouts found quite a few kills that were only partly eaten. And there’s a lot more game on this side of the fence. I think the adults have been going out as the dry Chimpimbi river is right there and a great place to spend the day chilling out. Hopefully I’ve now put a stop to all that.
The holes are made by mainly by warthog and maybe porcupines. And they use them regularly to get in and out. No these aren’t made by poachers, not these ones. Thankfully.
Just waiting for drugs and will be inoculating the whole pack in the next couple of weeks. I’m happy they’re now habituated to my presence that we can do this. They’ve come a long way in the last few weeks.
They’ll remain as a pack. only when packs get really big do they split. but these guys will probably all be together for several years to come. In just about all cases it is only the alpha male and alpha female that breed. Very unusual to get more females breeding.
We don’t know where Puzzles and her mate came from. They just arrived on the reserve one day. there were 3 of them. don’t know what happened to the other female.