Sighting of the Quarter

11/24/2010

Wild dogs have a distinct social hierarchy, relying on group cooperation to survive. This is why the lone wild dog denning near Mombo Camp on Chief's Island in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, is so unusual. She has been surviving on her own for over one year now in an area of very high lion density and, despite the odds against her, she has been thriving. In her search for company she has become "friends" with a family of five jackals and two hyenas, with all three species often feeding on the same kill, normally made by the wild dog. The wild dog has also been known to carry food to the jackal's pups and regurgitate it for them. A case of mistaken identity? One cannot be sure, but the anomaly provides a memorable sighting for Mombo's guests.

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