Pup provisioning and artificial pack formation in African wild dog Lycaon pictus in South Africa

Abstract

Wild dog Lacaon pictus are obligate cooperative breeders with nulliparous helpers contributing to the rearing of a dominant pair's young through pup-provisioning and defence agianst predators. Despite the importance of allo-parental care to the survival of pups and the persistance of packs, few studies have addressed the group or individual level factors that influence helping in wild dogs. In this study we use data collected as part of a long-term project in the Kruger National Park (KNP) to provide the first detailed analysis on the relative contribution to pup rearing of dogs both within and between packs in the KNP.