Food runs from the wild dog

Wild dogs are amazing animals, very social and real team players. They care for each other when wounded, something not many predators do. Last year in Mombo, we met the famous alpha-female who teamed up with jackals, after her pack was killed by competitors.  They are also fierce hunters. The first time we saw them was fifteen years ago in Savuti, Botswana. A pack of thirteen dogs managed to hunt, kill and eat an impala within ten minutes. When I made the illustrations for Phanhabs, I was reluctant to put wild dogs into the scene. The concept of Phanhabs demands many animals in one picture, but with wild dogs this is not very realistic. When looking for the dogs on a safari, it is often a good sign that they are around, when the area is devoid of other animals. Especially small antelopes do not take chances. With lions they might risk a group-staring-contest, but food runs from the wild dog…