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African Wild Dog Behaviour

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Course Info

A certificate for anyone in the Field Guiding Industry or individuals who are interested in learning more about the fascinating African Wild Dog. As well as students of zoology, wildlife conservation and other professionals who want to understand more about African Wild Dog conservation and behaviour.

This course will enable you to understand the subtler aspects of African Wild Dog behaviour and understand some of the reasons why this incredibly social carnivore has been so heavily persecuted over the last century. The knowledge gained can greatly enhance your understanding and pleasure when viewing this species in the wild.

What the student will learn

  • The African Wild Dog Behaviour Course is an excellent interest course for any BSc student or any student who is going into the guiding industry.

Course Content

  • Unit 1
  • In this first unit we develop an understanding of the evolution of carnivores as well as the morphology of canids and the wild dog. The student will be able to explain the scientific classification of wild dog, gray wolf and domestic dog and compare and contrast the individual differences. We will look at differences within the family of Canidae and understand, with examples, the morphological differences of canids and the wild dog in: Body structure Skull and dentition Appearance
  • Unit 2
  • We look closely at the pack structure of the Wild Dog, gaining an understanding of their social behaviour as well as breeding and reproductive behaviour. The student will compare differences within the social structure of a large canid pack and a small canid pack. Examples of the organisation of the pack will consider: Care of a litter Dispersal of the litter Pack bonding Conflict resolution Life span Effects of range and habitat
  • Unit 3
  • This unit looks at the hunting behaviour and methods of the Wild Dog. Long considered by many people as a brutal style of hunting, research has shown the adaptability of co-operative hunting, the prey preferences of the Wild Dog, as well the communication systems used in co-operative hunting.
  • Unit 4
  • Here we reveal to the student a deeper understanding of the fragile status of the Wild Dog in Africa and the need for its conservation. Conservation policies and methods of conservation with be discussed, as well as the distribution of the Wild Dog throughout Africa. We will examine the reasons for the decline of the Wild Dog population through human persecution and natural predation, as well as some of the methods to aid Wild Dog conservation. The student will be introduced to the Wild Dog Metapopulation Plan and evaluate the geographical and ecological features of a metapopulation reserve.
  • Unit 5
  • The student will go ‘behind the scenes’ of Wild Dog research and gain an understanding of how to plan a study of Wild Dogs. We will examine current methods of monitoring Wild Dogs with examples of surveying and assessing their distribution. There are limiting factors on the numbers of Wild Dogs in terms of distribution, ecology and predation and that is why it is important to track and monitor them. We will explore the current technology available for tracking them as well as monitoring disease within a pack of Wild Dogs
  • Unit 6
  • This final unit goes into finer detail and looks at the life of one Wild Dog pack and a ten-year research study conducted on them. The students will be able to explain in detail the essential aspects of a management programme as well as the key factors for consideration when planning a metapopulation and Wild Dog conservation policies.
Clear


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Course tutored by

Picture of Wendy Collinson-Jonker

Wendy Collinson-Jonker

  • Speciality Course
  • Online
  • English speaking and access to a computer with stable internet.

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