Help the African Wild Dog!

Help the African Wild Dog!

The African wild dog. Seems pretty self explanatory to me: a wild dog residing in the regions of Africa. 

Lycoan pictus, or the African wild dog, doesn't completely resemble dogs, even though its name seems to associate it with canines. In fact, the differences among regular, ordinary dogs and the African wild dog even span across physical appearances. One of the most important physical differences is that while normal dogs have five toes on each foot, the African wild dog only has four on each. Strange, but true.

In a way, somebody might argue that the African wild dog is more similar to the wolf rather than the dog. These reasons would most likely be based on the African wild dog's social structure. Just like wolves, African wild dogs travel in packs led by a pair of "leaders" from among the tight knit group. The pack will hunt antelope and other wild beasts, even sometimes livestock, together. To be successful in keeping away from danger and gaining food in order to survive, these wild dogs will communicate through touching, their movements, and sound.

The African wild dogs use to hunt in larger groups, but because much of their species has been slipping away off the face of Earth, they are decreasing in pack size. Much of this is due to habitat loss. Yet, they are also killed by farmers, who are scared that the dogs will feed on their livestock. One other factor to their disappearance is their chance of receiving diseases from domestic animals. 

Instead of just standing there and allowing the last of the African wild dogs to dwindle down into nothing, we can all participate in the preservation of these unique creatures. You can donate to the African Wildlife Foundation. Your donation will spread awareness of the African wild dog's status in the wild and promote the solving of conflicts between humans and African wild dogs. With your aid, we can all benefit the African wild dog and allow it to strive for many forthcoming generations!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL