Canid Biology & Conservation Journal · vol. 28 issue 4 · 2025 [PDF]
Field Report

Frugivory in African wild dogs in northern Botswana

Megan J Claase, John W McNutt

Abstract

African wild dogs are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They have been observed to be exclusively carnivorous, preying mostly on small to medium sized antelopes. Direct observations over a period of 27 days of a single pack in the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana reported wild dogs opportunistically consuming fruit from the jackalberry tree Diospyros mespiliformis. This is the first record of wild dogs foraging for and consuming fruit.

Keywords: Diospyros mespiliformis, frugivory, Lycaon pictus