February 2008
Background
Four adult Wild Dogs (2 females from Venetia and two males from Imfolozi) were released on Thanda on 4 April 2006 after bonding period in a boma at Thanda for a few months. After being released the Beta male left the pack to join the two Imfolozi females on the area next to Thanda. They were darted and moved back to Imfolozi. The other three Dogs remained on Thanda as the Thanda Pack.
In June 2006 both females had puppies, but only the Beta female's pups survived. There were 7 Puppies. The Beta female (Lia) then became the Alpha bitch. In December 2006 the (only) adult male dog was killed by 3 Lions. On the 16th February 2007 a new Male (Skye) was brought onto Thanda from Madikwe and was placed into the boma on the property. He was kept in the boma until the 30th of March and when the other dogs showed up at the boma he was released.
In 2007 both the Adult females (Lia & Shane) died in June/July, one of the yearlings, Stitch, started bonding with the adult male, Skye.
General Pack Status and Ranging
On the morning of the 1st the signal was between the Villa and the Intibane fence. On the afternoon of the 5th the signal was on the hill next to Mfhlweni rd the whole afternoon. On the morning of the 6th the signal was close to Mfeni lookout and moved over the hill towards Mfhlweni rd. They moved onto Loop rd and passed Mpafha rd. I found all 5 of them resting at the Villa. Later they moved over the hill behind the Villa and went back onto Loop rd. They rested on Loop rd between the junction with Sambane and junction Mfhlweni pan.
On the afternoon of the 7th 5 Dogs were seen at South Pan. On the morning of the 8th they were all at Base Camp. It was raining hard and I found them resting next to the P450 fence between Meyer's Gate and the Concrete pipe. On the afternoon of the 18th I had signal for them close to the Tented Camp. On the morning of the 20th 5 Dogs were seen along the P450 fence passing Meyer's gate heading towards the Bayethi gate.
On the morning of the 21st the Dogs were seen going from Old North Gate towards Vula Zulu. They rested in the block between North Gate and Vula Zulu. On the morning of the 22nd they killed a Female Impala at the Lodge at Room # 4. They drank water at the water feature and rested in the bushes below the Lodge. On the morning of the 23rd they were seen at Khohliwe/Main South and later in the morning they were still hunting in the same area. In the afternoon they moved from there onto Main South towards Ndlovu Highway and into the bushes. I found them again at Phakama/Main South from where they headed up to the Lodge and was hunting around the Lodge.
On the morning of the 24th they were between Base Camp and North Gate and moved from North Gate towards Meyer's Gate. They rested close to Meyer's Gate and in the afternoon I had signal for them close to Vula Zulu.
On the morning of the 25th I found them between Meyer's gate and the Concrete pipe. They ran passed North gate and Vula Zulu. From there they passed Mgankla pan and behind the bomas passed the Off-loading ramp. They headed up Phakama chasing after Warthogs towards Ndlovu Highway and later caught a young Female Impala at the Lodge at room #3. They rested in the bushes below the Lodge.
On the morning of the 26th they were all seen on Phakama heading towards the Off-loading Ramp and their bellies were full. On the morning of the 27th all 5 Dogs were seen on Phakama and later again at Base Camp heading towards North Gate. On the morning of the 29th they were seen resting on Loop rd close to Fire pit.
Map
Population Structure
1 Adult Male, 1 Male Yearling (born 2006), 3 Female Yearlings (born 2006)
Total Thanda population 1 Adult + 4 Yearlings = 5 Wild Dogs
Hunting/Feeding Records
On the morning of the 22nd the Dogs caught an Adult Female Impala at the Lodge at room #4. On the morning of the 25th they were chasing Warthogs and caught a young Female Impala at the Lodge.
Noteworthy Activities and Behavioral Highlights
On the afternoon of the 23rd Skye (Alpha Male) was head-lifting Stitch (Alpha Female). On the 25th and the 29th Skye was seen head-lifting Stitch again.
Interaction with Other Carnivores
None this month.
Planned Activities for Next Month
Collect fecal samples.
Four adult Wild Dogs (2 females from Venetia and two males from Imfolozi) were released on Thanda on 4 April 2006 after bonding period in a boma at Thanda for a few months. After being released the Beta male left the pack to join the two Imfolozi females on the area next to Thanda. They were darted and moved back to Imfolozi. The other three Dogs remained on Thanda as the Thanda Pack.
In June 2006 both females had puppies, but only the Beta female's pups survived. There were 7 Puppies. The Beta female (Lia) then became the Alpha bitch. In December 2006 the (only) adult male dog was killed by 3 Lions. On the 16th February 2007 a new Male (Skye) was brought onto Thanda from Madikwe and was placed into the boma on the property. He was kept in the boma until the 30th of March and when the other dogs showed up at the boma he was released.
In 2007 both the Adult females (Lia & Shane) died in June/July, one of the yearlings, Stitch, started bonding with the adult male, Skye.
General Pack Status and Ranging
On the morning of the 1st the signal was between the Villa and the Intibane fence. On the afternoon of the 5th the signal was on the hill next to Mfhlweni rd the whole afternoon. On the morning of the 6th the signal was close to Mfeni lookout and moved over the hill towards Mfhlweni rd. They moved onto Loop rd and passed Mpafha rd. I found all 5 of them resting at the Villa. Later they moved over the hill behind the Villa and went back onto Loop rd. They rested on Loop rd between the junction with Sambane and junction Mfhlweni pan.
On the afternoon of the 7th 5 Dogs were seen at South Pan. On the morning of the 8th they were all at Base Camp. It was raining hard and I found them resting next to the P450 fence between Meyer's Gate and the Concrete pipe. On the afternoon of the 18th I had signal for them close to the Tented Camp. On the morning of the 20th 5 Dogs were seen along the P450 fence passing Meyer's gate heading towards the Bayethi gate.
On the morning of the 21st the Dogs were seen going from Old North Gate towards Vula Zulu. They rested in the block between North Gate and Vula Zulu. On the morning of the 22nd they killed a Female Impala at the Lodge at Room # 4. They drank water at the water feature and rested in the bushes below the Lodge. On the morning of the 23rd they were seen at Khohliwe/Main South and later in the morning they were still hunting in the same area. In the afternoon they moved from there onto Main South towards Ndlovu Highway and into the bushes. I found them again at Phakama/Main South from where they headed up to the Lodge and was hunting around the Lodge.
On the morning of the 24th they were between Base Camp and North Gate and moved from North Gate towards Meyer's Gate. They rested close to Meyer's Gate and in the afternoon I had signal for them close to Vula Zulu.
On the morning of the 25th I found them between Meyer's gate and the Concrete pipe. They ran passed North gate and Vula Zulu. From there they passed Mgankla pan and behind the bomas passed the Off-loading ramp. They headed up Phakama chasing after Warthogs towards Ndlovu Highway and later caught a young Female Impala at the Lodge at room #3. They rested in the bushes below the Lodge.
On the morning of the 26th they were all seen on Phakama heading towards the Off-loading Ramp and their bellies were full. On the morning of the 27th all 5 Dogs were seen on Phakama and later again at Base Camp heading towards North Gate. On the morning of the 29th they were seen resting on Loop rd close to Fire pit.
Map
Population Structure
1 Adult Male, 1 Male Yearling (born 2006), 3 Female Yearlings (born 2006)
Total Thanda population 1 Adult + 4 Yearlings = 5 Wild Dogs
Hunting/Feeding Records
On the morning of the 22nd the Dogs caught an Adult Female Impala at the Lodge at room #4. On the morning of the 25th they were chasing Warthogs and caught a young Female Impala at the Lodge.
Noteworthy Activities and Behavioral Highlights
On the afternoon of the 23rd Skye (Alpha Male) was head-lifting Stitch (Alpha Female). On the 25th and the 29th Skye was seen head-lifting Stitch again.
Interaction with Other Carnivores
None this month.
Planned Activities for Next Month
Collect fecal samples.
Mariana Venter - Wildlife Monitor/Back-up guide