Wild dogs complete epic journey across Zambia
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Three African wild dogs traveled 4,126 kilometers across Zambia, setting a new record for the longest dispersal route ever recorded for an African mammal.
Researchers tracked the animals for months as they left the Mayukuyuku pack in Kafue National Park in 2025, seeking new territories and breeding opportunities. Four females and three males initially departed, with researchers attaching radio collars to one member of each group to monitor their movements.
The dogs navigated through areas with varying levels of protection, even approaching cities like Kabwe, Kitwe, and Ndola. Though the male and female groups briefly reunited after traveling over 1,000 kilometers, they soon continued on separate paths. The males ultimately settled near the Rift Valley Escarpment, while the fate of the females remains uncertain after one appeared caught in a wire snare and their tracking collars were disabled.
This journey revealed that seemingly isolated populations of African wild dogs may be more connected than previously thought, and even indicated recolonization of areas where the species had disappeared, such as Kasungu National Park in Malawi. Researchers emphasize the importance of preserving ecological corridors to allow these animals to move between protected areas, as the African wild dog is among the most endangered mammals in Africa.
