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As a predator, there is a feeling of dominance as they roam the open plains of Africa. Searching for food wherever they can find it, inciting fear in the hearts of animals just looking to graze and live their lives. Sometimes predators can get a little too arrogant and soon forget that they can also be hunted. Don’t miss this African wild dog being swiped from shore by a crocodile in the video above.
Crocodile Snatches Dog Into Water
The short YouTube video clip can be seen at the top of this blog post. The footage was captured of a hungry Nile crocodile hunting for food along the shore. The Inday Gerald YouTube channel shared this clip and it’s already received almost half a million likes. This page provides various footage of his life from the Philippines. He also shares videos of animals such as chickens, snakes, and lions.
Pack of Wild Dogs Desperate to Help
At the beginning of the video, we see a pack of African wild dogs that have gathered at the shoreline of this watering hole. According to the World Wildlife Fund, most packs contain anywhere from 10 to 40+ members. Some research, such as the African Wildlife Foundation, suggests that packs used to have close to 100 members before their population declined.
This pack is enjoying the water when out of nowhere, a Nile crocodile emerges from the depths of the water and drags one of the dogs into the water. This leaves him vulnerable, as the pack is unable to follow. They all stand on the shoreline, wanting to go in, but they know the danger of these Nile crocdoiles and what they are able to do. By the end of the video, we see a group of crocodiles feasting on the leftover carcass, as the rest of the pack watches in horror.
How Many African Wild Dogs Are Left?
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) of the family Canidae resides solely in Africa. Their population has decreased to about 6,600 members. The Global Conservation Fund shares that they “are the second most endangered carnivore in Africa after the Ethiopian wolf. They are primarily threatened by habitat fragmentation.”
This disruption in where they live also puts them in the direct line of sight of humans. And humans feel threatened by their presence when wild dogs attack livestock. African wild dogs are carnivores that typically prey on animals such as antelope, warthogs, and rodents. However, when food is scarce they are known to go after the next best thing, which is livestock.
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