Some conservationists are helping to restore Africa’s wild dog populations

lolpython

Casualty of HN title mangling again. Original title: Africa’s Wild Dogs Are the Most Hated Carnivores on the Continent. Here’s Why Some Conservationists Are Saving Them Anyway

everyday7732

They look so similar to hyenas. Maybe they fit the same evolutionary niche. While the article claims that wild dogs are the most successful predator in Africa, I found a national geographic article which claims the same for hyenas: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/hyenas-my...

nozzlegear

There's a group of these dogs at the zoo in Sioux Falls, SD. Like all dogs, I think my wife and I were predispositioned to like them. It didn't help that they all started howling when a police car drove by with its sirens on, which was cute.

bryanlarsen

For those who didn't know, to save you the search I just performed: the African Wild Dog is not literally a wild dog. It's not even a Canid, it's a separate genus (Lycaon) from dogs, wolves & coyotes.

ptsneves

It is amazing the failure rate and how people working in these endeavours keep on working and do not step in to intervene deeper. The statistics are what matters even if whole days are wasted because some leopard or lion ate the work done. These are not cute animal lovers, they are the real deal. Much luck!

UI_at_80x24

This information may have been supplanted but newer studies, but one study determined that African Wild Dogs were the most successful pack hunters on the planet with a ~92% success rate. (success being defined as 'eating' after a hunt. Edit: Opening line from the article - Wild dogs are the most successful hunters in Africa, with a kill rate of 80 percent. And my favorite story about these animals is that they vote! https://www.science.org/content/article/wild-dogs-vote-initi...

Nykon

I've spent the last 2 years in East Africa and the last thing this place needs is another predator gaining back ground. This sounds like a great idea until you find yourself after sunset in an area where electric is scare - which means basically everywhere. I got hunted by street dogs in Bulgaria, multiple times, that shit will make you go to a gun shop and I'd rather get assaulted by another boda robber than facing those things.

opinion-is-bad

I find the ethics of these kind of predator reintroduction programs to be extremely dubious. I feel this story could be reframed easily as ‘American activists unleash genetically modified hunters upon the world’s poorest.’ Does anyone know of any material benefit that is expected to be gained by those who live with the dogs?