Wild dogs are experts at using a team strategy to ʜᴜɴᴛ.
At dawn or dusk, the dogs engage in a lengthy welcome ritual that includes sniffing and licking, tail-wagging, and vocal twittering. Aside from a variety of chattering noises, they are known for their long-distance greeting call, a sharp Hoo, which can be heard up to four kilometers away. However, they remain silent throughout the actual ʜᴜɴᴛ. They occasionally ʜᴜɴᴛ during full moons.
Wild dogs will search the bush for an antelope herd. This will most likely be an impala. Once they have discovered a herd, they target the weakest individual, who is typically a female or a juvenile antelope.
Typically, a subordinate male wild dog will attempt to separate the prey item from the rest of the herd before beginning the ʜᴜɴᴛ. The alpha male assumes control of the ʜᴜɴᴛ after the target has been located and separated, and the lethal endurance race starts.
ʜᴜɴᴛers with tremendous stamina, wild dogs can run at speeds of more than 60 km/h for brief stretches and can maintain a 40 km/h pace for five kilometers. During the ʜᴜɴᴛ, the pack fragments, with some dogs attempting to chase the fleeing prey in a circle toward the others.
A group of wild dogs tried to ʜᴜɴᴛ a kudu in the water and had a surprising end. Let’s watch the video below to see what happened:
