Three Surprising facts about Wild Dogs

1) Every individual has a unique coat pattern. The name "painted wolf" comes from their striking coats, mottled in black, brown, white and yellow. Each wild dog has a unique pattern, servicing as a natural signature – just like a fingerprint.

2) They vote to make decisions. Preceding a hunt, wild dogs perform a curious behavior – sneezing! Research suggests these sneezes may act as votes, and once enough pack members sneeze, the group sets off together.

3) They are incredibly social and cooperative animals. Wild dogs live in tight-knit packs led by a dominant pair. All members help raise the pups and often regurgitate food for the young or injured, showing a rare level of cooperation among predators.

Wild dogs are a very rare and endangered species that traverse huge home ranges. They occur in small pockets across Sub-Saharan Africa, but the best chance of seeing them is in Botswana, at camps like Chitabe Camp, Selinda Camp, Kwando Lagoon and Lebala Camps (amongst others).