Dogs in the Land of Lions

Wild dogs are an endangered species across Africa. The dogs, who were nearly wiped out in Zimbabwe due to a recent rabies epidemic, can't survive without the support of their pack, relying on the group to feed and protect the pups. Filmmaker Robyn Keene-Young’s PBS-aired Nature documentary examines the lives of the remaining wild dogs in a Zimbabwe national park, focusing on a couple named "Puzzles" (female) and "Jigsaw" (male). Only one mother dominates the pack, and "Puzzles" is the alpha female. Wild dogs often deliver as many as 12 pups, which are helpless at birth and voracious eaters, capable of consuming several pounds of food in a sitting. While the pups are in the den, one of the parents must bring food back. A constant danger is lions, who will eagerly kill the dogs to eliminate them as competition for food sources. Another threat is automobiles, and many dogs end up as road kill. Impalas are the prey of choice, but when they are desperate, dogs will take on bigger, more formidable opponents, like wildebeests. Jigsaw is eventually killed by a lion, leaving Puzzles as a single mother, responsible for the safety of her growing brood. She must teach the pups how to hunt while avoiding trouble, and as they mature they must work together and run fast (the dogs can achieve speeds clocking up to 40 mph). Although the mortality rate is high, Puzzles is an unusually successful mother, bringing most of her pack to adulthood, and an eventual life on their own. Survival is important for the long-term viability of the species, as only about 7,000 dogs remain in the wild. Offering a close-up view of African wild dogs, this nature documentary is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)