Why
Are African Wild Dogs Endangered?
Wild dogs were
once widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Today, viable
populations may exist in only a handful of countries. Habitat loss
and human persecution are the main causes of decline. Wild dogs
fall victim to snaring, shooting, and speeding vehicles on roadways.
This graphic picture is of a yearling female that died in a snare
set by a poacher for antelope. Disease such as rabies and distemper
may also threaten some wild dog populations.
The increasing
needs of a growing human population place greater demands on natural
resources, inevitably shrinking the living space for wildlife. The
African Wild Dog Conservancy is committed to community-based
research and education to help conserve this unique canid.
Interesting
Facts about Wild Dogs
African
wild dogs are not domestic dogs gone wild, nor are they closely
related to wolves. Learn more about their genetic
relationship to other canids.
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