African wild dogs are not related to domestic dogs in the way wolves are — they belong to their own unique branch of the dog family. One easy way to spot them is their ears, which are very large and round, like satellite dishes. These big ears help them hear sounds from far away and also help their bodies cool down in the heat by letting warmth escape through the skin.
Wild dogs hunt by chasing their prey at a steady speed for long distances rather than sprinting all-out like a cheetah. A pack can run at around 50 km/h for several kilometres without stopping. Different pack members take turns leading the chase so that no single dog gets too tired. This teamwork means they catch more than 80% of the animals they chase — a much higher success rate than lions.
Wild dog packs are very caring families. The whole pack looks after the pups together, not just the parents. When the hunters return from a chase, they cough up food to share with the pups and with any adults that stayed behind to babysit. Wild dogs are found in Dinder National Park in Sudan and other wild areas across east and southern Africa.