Earlier this month I was privileged to have a close encounter with a wild pack of these rare and beautiful animals while on 'safari' in a reserve outside Kruger, South Africa.
The scientific name for an African Wild Dog, "Lycaon pictus" is derived from the Greek for "wolf" and the Latin for "painted". They are South Africa's wolves.
African Wild Dogs are also known as Cape hunting dogs or painted dogs.

They are one of Africa’s most endangered species. It is estimated that there are only around 3,000 to 5,000 dogs left in the wild. In the past they have been treated like vermin and shot to near extinction. Yet despite their reputation of being cruel killers they are the only African predators that will bring food to sick or injured pack mates. They are also very curious and intelligent animals.

BTW I have a page on facebook where I post photos -http://www.facebook.com/WildlifeGalleryByLaurenHaupt