WILD DOGS –Africa’s painted wolves
“‘Lycaon pictus’ is a good name as these dogs are typically coloured in beautiful, complex patches of black, white and russet shades.”
« Dr Ian John Whyte is an independent environmental consultant who retired from SANParks in 2007. He was previously engaged in full-time wildlife research in Kruger National Park from 1970-2007. At the time of retirement, he was responsible for the coordination of all research projects pertaining to elephant, buffalo and other large herbivores and rare antelope. He is a member of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission’s African Elephant Specialist Group. He has co-authored two field guides to the birds of the Kruger National Park and is in the process of publishing a book about his life and work in KNP.
The African wild dog () has been known by many other names, including the African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, African painted dog, painted hunting dog and painted wolf. The Greek’ means ‘wolf-like’, and ‘’ is Latin for ‘painted’. Wild dogs have also been called a few less than complimentary names by some hunters and stock farmers, who have suffered from their depredations!
