Diet choice and capture success of wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa

The small population of wild dog Lycaon pictus (n = 3 to 30) in Hluhluwe-Um folozi Park (HUP) has declined since 1992. The survival of dogs in HUP is d ependent on the reintroduction of more dogs; however, wild dog reintroducti on programmes are fraught with problems and many have failed. In this paper the diet and capture success of the wild dog pack in the Hluhluwe Section, and the influence of dietary considerations on the success of the future r eintroduction of wild dogs in this reserve, are investigated. Diet choice w as determined from seat analysis, personal observation and field staff reco rds. Eight ungulate prey species were identified from seat analysis: nyala Tragelaphus angasi and impala Aepyceros melampus were the most abundant ung ulate species in HUP and accounted for 77% of the diet. On the whole, wild dogs included prey types in the diet consistent with a rate-maximizing fora ging approach, although some prey were dearly taken opportunistically. The dogs preyed mostly on small (<25 kg) to medium-sized (40-90 kg) prey, while the young of large (> 90 kg) prey species or scavenged carcasses supplemen ted the diet during the dry season. Adult nyala were taken more frequently than other age classes, but wild dog preyed on juvenile impala more than ex pected. Female prey were taken more frequently than males but selection did not differ from prey population sex ratios. Prey capture success was simil ar to that of previous studies from both open and densely wooded habitats a nd the wild dogs successfully caught 48% of all prey species pursued. Resul ts suggest that wild dogs are quite capable of adapting both their diet cho ice and foraging technique to the dense vegetation in HUP. We conclude that prey type, prey availability and habitat constraints on prey capture succe ss, will not affect the reintroduction of more wild dogs into HUP.