African wild dogs are not related to domestic dogs or wolves as closely as you might think — they belong to their very own genus, Lycaon. They have large, rounded ears like satellite dishes and long legs built for running. A pack usually has between 6 and 30 members, and every single one has a different coat pattern so the others can recognise them.
Wild dogs are remarkable hunters, with a success rate of around 80% — much higher than lions (about 25%) or leopards (about 38%). They hunt by working perfectly together, surrounding prey and taking turns to chase when one dog gets tired. They share food with the whole pack, including pups too young to hunt and adults that stayed behind to guard the den.
The pups are looked after by the whole pack, not just their parents. Adults that went on the hunt come back to the den and regurgitate food for the pups and the babysitters who stayed behind. This cooperative behaviour — everyone sharing and helping — is one of the things that makes wild dogs so fascinating to scientists.
Botswana is one of the best places in Africa to spot African wild dogs. The Okavango Delta and surrounding areas have healthy populations. Before setting off on a hunt, a wild dog pack often has a 'rally' — they sneeze, jump on each other, and get excited together. It looks a lot like a team warming up before a big game.