Image from Ken Hermer
Post by Ken Hermer, Journey in Style
On the morning of Saturday March 20th, guides and staff alike were treated to an incredible and – for Kenya – a very rare wildlife spectacle, when a pack of 30-35 wild dogs crashed through the woodland surrounding the lodge hunting a herd of impala.
Image from Ken Hermer
Several of the dogs, in pursuit of a pregnant female, followed her through the lodge’s electric fence eventually stopping just short at a group of bewildered lodge staff going about their early morning chores. The dogs made a retreat leaving the impala, which died shortly afterwards from wounds inflicted in the chase. One dog however, refused to brave the electric fence for a second time and remained inside until the power was switched off.
In total 3-4 impala were taken and the dogs remained in the vicinity of the lodge waterhole for the next couple of days before moving on. Most of the dogs looked lean but in good condition, and is a good indicator that Kenya’s wild dog population is coming back from near extinction through epidemics of canine distemper and rabies through the 80’s and 90’s.
Image from Ken Hermer
Please contact me at ken@kenhermer.com if you’d like more information on Olarro and if you are interested in the conservation efforts in Africa, please click here to visit my website and see a list of causes that can always use your support.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
That is an awesome sighting. I lived in Kenya for about 10 years going on many safari’s and I think I saw only a few of the African wild dogs at a time, never a large pack.
Yes isn’t that incredible! I wasn’t aware that you lived in Kenya–any interesting food tastings while you lived there?
{ 1 trackback }