What it is
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is a lean, long legged wild dog of Africa with large round ears and a coat blotched in black, brown, yellow and white, different on every animal. It has four toes on each foot. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as Endangered.
Range
Savannas, grasslands and open woodlands of Africa south of the Sahara, now in scattered areas, mostly in the east and south.
What happened
Wild dogs live in packs led by one breeding pair, and the whole pack helps to feed the pups. Packs roam over huge areas, so they often leave protected parks and meet people, livestock and roads.
When / status
Endangered now, gone from most of its former range.
Human role
Shrinking and divided habitat, killing by farmers, road deaths and diseases caught from domestic dogs threaten it.