Wild Dogs have been released into the Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
Monday the 23rd February 2009 dawned like most mornings in the Pilanesberg. But for seven highly endangered Wild Dogs it was going to be rather different. It was time for them to be released from the holding boma and to take their place as arguably the most efficient predator in the African Bush.
After their extended stay in the boma we were not sure how eager the Wild Dogs would be to leave their place of safety. The plan was to use an Impala carcass to lure them out of the boma and then shut the gates behind them. Their last meal was on the previous Friday so we banked on their hunger to outweigh their natural distrust of anything out of the ordinary.
They spent the rest of the day lying up in a thicket about 1.5km from the boma escaping the heat of the day. Later on that afternoon they made a very welcome appearance on Tshukudu E Ntsu drive, and provided the first sighting of Wild Dogs in Pilanesberg for over a year.
Game Lodge in the Pilansberg National Park
Bakubung Bush Lodge
Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge
Tshukudu Bush Lodge
Ivory Tree Game Lodge