A pack of approximately 19 African wild dogs and 15 puppies denned just 3,5km from 4 Rivers Camp.
We waited patiently at the den site to watch adults returning from the hunt to regurgitate and feed the alpha female and pups. During one such visit late in June, the tiny pups emerged, and the Kwando guides identified a rare, highly leucistic puppy!
Rare highly leucistic African wild dog puppy born at 4 Rivers
Local researchers confirmed this is extremely rare and virtually unheard of in Botswana in the past 30 years or so.
In the 1990s, guides first spotted leucistic pups in the Kwando region. Males from the Kwando pack dispersed. Those males, identified by photos, established a group dubbed the Golden Pack in the Vumbura area. Some female descendants from this Golden Pack started another family in Kwara, where the leucism was still evident but somewhat diluted.
Leucism tends to be a lack of melanin in skin, feathers or hair. Melanin is the natural pigment responsible for most brown and black colouration. It is primarily genetic and varies in degree, going as far as pure white in rare cases (like this one at 4 Rivers) or as with the Vumbura “golden” dogs, which are a pale tan tone.
The puppy interacted normally with its siblings and adult Painted wolves (as African wild dogs are also known). Although this little one is anything but painted! If anything, it’s dominant in the hierarchy regarding receiving food from the adults! This pup might darken as it ages, and there is an outside chance that its whole body is one big white patch, which sometimes happens with domestic dogs and cats. We will keep a close eye to see how its colour develops.
On the northeastern side of the Kwara Private Concession, sightings of wild dog tracks darting through the Mopane woodland revealed their massive territory, which sometimes crossed through camp.
What is the game like at 4 Rivers Camp?
4 Rivers Camp teemed with incredible herds of elephants. These magnificent animals were spotted in large numbers, creating awe-inspiring scenes and breeding herds often crossed through the Tsum Tsum Channel in front of the camp, especially favouring the pathways past tent nine. Hippos likewise loved this water and we heard their harrumphs on almost every winter night. Buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and other antelope species, including impala and roan, were seen during drives through the diverse landscapes of 4 Rivers. The animals were also relaxed and not skittish.
While the exact pride structure is unclear at 4 Rivers, lion tracks have been sighted, particularly in the beautiful Paradise region to the east, and five lions have been sighted so far. Two male lions patrolled nightly in early June, roaring very loudly right beneath the tents. This hints at the presence of more lions in the area, and further exploration during July will provide us with a detailed depiction. The lush landscape of 4 Rivers holds promise for exciting lion sightings in the future!
Leopards are known for their elusive nature, but there have been notable sightings of a female leopard on the eastern side of the camp and leopard sawing heard from the tents at night. Spotted hyenas also whooped, hippos grunted and elephants sloshed through the water in front of camp. The new beds are incredibly comfortable, but guests might have interrupted sleep due to the noisy animal residents!
Another day, a big male leopard was spotted on a small treed termite mound island in the marshes during an afternoon game drive. We kept our distance and watched as it stretched for its evening hunt from afar. Additional leopard tracks around the 4 Rivers area have been observed, indicating a healthy leopard population.
A single sighting of a stunning cheetah was reported on the eastern side of the camp. This sleek and graceful predator finds a welcoming habitat within this concession, adding a touch of elegance to the wildlife sightings.
While no brown hyenas have been spotted yet, the cunning and opportunistic spotted hyenas are prevalent in the area, often following in the wake of lions and other predators.
The 4 Rivers family happily ticked the box of having good sightings of all major predators within the first week! Still, while the focus is often on larger mammals, the 4 Rivers area was also home to smaller creatures. Comical tree squirrels are among the tiny inhabitants that add to the ecological balance of the camp and, as is common in the Okavango area, sightings of crocodiles, lizards, and snakes were prevalent. At the same time, bird enthusiasts loved the sightings of storks, herons, eagles, colourful bee-eaters and enormous pelicans flocked to the drying pans in dense numbers.
Thanks to Botswana’s expert researchers for their insight! Dr Peter Apps, Dr John Tico McNutt, Dr Gabriele Cozzi and Botswana Predator Conservation.
(Please note: For the safety of the animals, we do not disclose the precise location of either rhino or pangolin sightings. Accompanying pictures are from our Kwando Photo Library which consists of all your great photo submissions over the years, it may not be the most up to date, but we felt it was worthy of a feature alongside this month’s Sightings Report!)
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