The sun was beginning to set and I was itching to see if we would have any Hyaena action at the Buffalo kill. There were Hyaena tracks circling the area yesterday morning, but it seemed they were a bit weary to go into the thick bush with the Lions around.
Well, we got to the Buffalo to find a flock of vultures waiting to have a go at the carcass, I don’t know what they were waiting for because there was no sign of the lions – a little odd, and there were no Hyaena.
This morning I inspected Sosigi Dam for any activity, and then I got a message relayed to me about the position of the Wild Dogs. So, from one side of the reserve to the other, I went in search of the dogs. The whole area around Bandama pan and Chibi is still full of little marshlands and the roads haven’t been used there for a few weeks. Circling in like an Eagle on its prey, I narrowed the gap between the dogs and I. When I had a lock on the dogs I took a chance through some dodgy looking ravine and found them chilling under some small Mopane trees. I followed suite and relaxed with them for a good hour before they got a little inquisitive and playful – that’s the dogs for you, they are pure eat, sleep and play.
I left the dogs to take it easy for all those out there who had work to do. Along the eastern fence line I found an Impala with his leg stuck in the fence, so carefully I had to find the wire holding him and give it the chop. I don’t know how long he was there for, but he limped off with his leg unable to bend – that was my Good Samaritan task for the day.
Just curious. When the pups get older will the interbreed? If so, will that cause any deformities?
They don’t do that. Only the alpha female and male mate.. in this case it’s the parents of this litter. Sometimes a few may leave the pack and find a mate elsewhere.
Im reading a book on the dogs at the moment, and I believe normally the subordinate female dogs get tired of being repressed both in social status and ability to mate. They often leave to join other subordinate males suffering the same status from neighbouring packs.
Sometimes if there are 2 breeding females , and the lesser of the 2 gets persecuted and can have their pups killed by the alpha female , or strangley the lesser dogs offspring is reared and tended to by the Alpha female ! Like “B.B” from the Mapanagawa pack (back in early 2007 archives)
I remember Kim saying there were a small number of dogs in the North of the reserve , and hopefully Whiskey is still roaming around !
When I was at Mashatu last year, I was there when a pack was released into the reserve. Immediately, three males disappeared. Probably off to find mates of their own. Interestingly enough, the alpha mated with two females. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the alpha female disappeared shortly before the pups were due. So when the second female gave birth the pack raised them as usual.