What an early denning season and a rare role reversal are revealing about Africa’s most endangered predator.
Painted dogs—also known as African wild dogs—are among the continent’s most endangered and misunderstood carnivores. Known for their strong social bonds and disciplined pack hierarchy, they typically follow a tight seasonal rhythm: hunt, breed, raise young, repeat. But in the heart of Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, one pack is rewriting the rulebook—and conservationists are watching on closely.
Earlier this year, field teams from Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) made a surprising discovery. The Nyamepi Pack in Mana Pools had begun denning two months earlier than expected. Then came another twist: it wasn’t the alpha female raising the pups, but a beta.
Breaking the Rules—Twice
The Nyamepi Pack began denning on 20 March. In Mana Pools, wild dogs typically begin denning in May or June for 10-12 weeks, with the pack remaining close to the den site throughout this time. During May/June the dry season is in full swing, when the bush opens up, and hunting prey becomes easier. Denning early, while the terrain is still very green and wet and prey harder to catch, puts enormous strain on adult dogs who must feed themselves and their pups.
The Nyamepi Pack’s alpha female, known as Whisky, also denned early last year. This second early-season denning has raised questions. Could climate change be prompting the dogs to shift their breeding window? If the dry season (May–October) is starting earlier or becoming too intense, it might be advantageous for pups to be older, more mobile, and more resilient by September/October—typically the most challenging months for survival.
Alternatively, could increased predator pressure be changing the pattern of denning? Lion numbers have been on the increase for the last 15 years in this area and researchers have seen a change in the way wild dog packs are breeding and dispersing.
Or could disturbance from tourism, which peaks in Mana Pools between July and September, be playing a role? Visits to denning sites can be intrusive, particularly if not carefully managed. While official guidance is provided by park authorities—and in our experience, the camps and guides we work with are highly respectful of these guidelines—it’s worth noting that Mana Pools is also open to self-drive visitors, who may not always exercise the same caution. Could this increased and potentially unpredictable human presence be contributing to behavioural shifts in the pack?
Perhaps the biggest surprise to research teams was the identity of the denning female. PDC has observed Candy, a beta female, raising pups. They’ve also seen Whisky, the alpha, regurgitating food for her.
This is highly unusual.
In painted dog society, the alpha female is normally the sole breeder. Whisky was pregnant when she denned in March—so what happened to her litter, and why is Candy now raising pups with the support of the pack?
This rare cooperation hints at a more fluid pack structure than previously understood. While the reasons behind the change remain unclear, PDC is stepping up monitoring efforts in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), aiming to document this unprecedented case of social flexibility while minimising disturbance at the denning site.
Who Are the Nyamepi Dogs?
The Nyamepi Pack has been closely observed by conservationists for several years. Named after the nearby river and campsite, the pack plays a vital role in helping researchers understand painted dog behaviour in one of their last strongholds. Individual dogs are identified by their unique coat patterns—like fingerprints—and their stories have become symbols of resilience in an increasingly pressured ecosystem.
Long-term observation is critical. Without a consistent field presence, complex behavioural developments like this would go unnoticed—and with them, valuable opportunities for learning and protecting this remarkable species.
Mana Pools: A Wild Dog Stronghold
Nestled along the floodplains of the Zambezi River in northern Zimbabwe, Mana Pools National Park is one of Africa’s last great wildernesses. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mana is known for its top-notch guiding and immersive experiences: walking safaris, canoe trips, and intimate bush camps are the norm.
It’s also one of the best places in Africa to see wild dogs. With a relatively low density of human activity and an abundance of prey, Mana has long been a refuge for painted dogs. The dry season stretches from May to October and is the prime time to visit. May can still be quite green, with wildlife dispersed over a large area, while October can be extremely hot, before the rains break in November, so most of our clients prefer travelling between June and September, when conditions are ideal.
If you’re inspired by this story and want to experience the magic of Mana Pools first-hand, Explorers Against Extinction offers tailor-made trips to Zimbabwe through our travel programme—with profits supporting conservation projects on the ground.
Why This Story Matters
What’s unfolding within the Nyamepi Pack is more than an interesting anecdote—it’s a rare opportunity to challenge assumptions, learn from nature, and refine how we protect species that continue to surprise us. Conservation is not just about saving animals from extinction—it’s about understanding them well enough to give them the best possible chance of survival.
The work of Painted Dog Conservation, and organisations like them, is crucial. Behavioural twists like this one only come to light through sustained presence, patient observation, and deep local knowledge.
Image: PDC
