African wild dogs set record 4,100 km trek in Zambia

A group of three male African wild dogs has set a record for the longest documented dispersal journey by an African land mammal. The trio, part of the Mayukuyuku pack, traveled over 4,100 kilometers (approximately 2,500 miles) across Zambia in search of new territory and mates.

Originating from Kafue National Park, the brothers navigated a fragmented landscape, including areas near the cities of Kitwe and Ndola, to establish themselves in a new territory. This behavior, known as dispersal, is essential for the species to avoid inbreeding, as they cannot breed within their birth packs.

However, the study, published in the journal Ecology, also highlights the extreme risks associated with these journeys. While the brothers succeeded, four sisters from the same pack who departed shortly before them faced tragedy; at least three were killed by illegal wire snares. Researchers from the Zambian Carnivore Programme and Montana State University noted that while these long-distance movements offer hope for genetic connectivity, human expansion and poaching remain critical threats to the survival of the approximately 6,000 wild dogs remaining in the wild.