Overview
Endangered Icons of the Savanna
African painted dogs are highly social and strikingly patterned carnivores native to sub-Saharan Africa. Their coats feature unique patches of black, brown, white, and yellow, making each individual easily recognizable. These animals live and hunt in packs, relying on teamwork to catch prey such as antelopes and small mammals.
African painted dogs are some of Africa’s most endangered predators, roaming in dwindling packs.
Characteristics
The short fur of African painted dogs is a patchwork of dark brown, yellow, black, and white. Although the color pattern is different for each individual, they all have darker colors on their muzzle and a white tip on the end of their tail. Their ears are large and rounded, and they have a strong musky odor. Unlike other canids, all of their teeth are sharp and shearing rather than a combination of sharp and flattened teeth.
Behaviors
African painted dogs are highly successful hunters and often leave little to no trace of their prey. Their premolars are enlarged, allowing them to crush and consume large quantities of bone. Their slender bodies have a deep chest and long legs with front feet that have 4 toes but no dewclaw — they are the only canids without them.
Diet
African painted dogs are carnivores, with a wild diet including medium to large antelope such as wildebeests, impalas, kudu, and nyala, and also hares and zebras.
Threats
African painted dogs are Africa’s most endangered predator, roaming in dwindling packs — pack sizes that used to number a hundred or more now average at 10. African painted dogs are among the most endangered mammals in the world. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting, and disease, it is estimated that there are now only 6,000 (or 1,400 mature adult) individual free-ranging painted dogs left in Africa.
How We're Helping
Brookfield Zoo Chicago participates in the AZA-SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) African Painted Dog Program to help identify survival threats, support recovery, and offer you opportunities to learn more about at-risk species.
African painted dogs are part of the Species Survival Plan at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Learn more this cooperative population management and conservation program here.
