Beauty by Any Name

Savute, Botswana, May 2022 - Some call this animal "wild dog", others call it a "painted wolf". Their scientific name is Lycaon pictus – which translates directly as painted wolf and reflects their mottled caramel and brown fur. There is a frequent misconception that painted wolves are feral dogs, so using a more ‘wild’ name is increasingly preferred. The Lycaon genus is more closely related to wolves than domestic dogs.

Regardless, it is a beautiful animal and one of my favorites. With only 6,600 painted wolves left in the world, they are Africa’s second most endangered carnivore (just behind the Ethiopian wolf).

OM System OM-1 and 150-400mm lens at 150mm (300mm equivalent), f/22, 1/20 sec, ISO 200, EV 0 - Many may wonder why 1/20 second and f/22. The reason is simple, I was panning as they ran and suddenly, this animal stopped. The sharpness is a credit to the image stabilization of the OM System equipment.

More from Savute. These are a little messy but, hey, it's the bush and we can't always control where these animals go.

The third image looks SOOO over everything Great shots of these amazing canines

A few painted wolves from Timbavati Private Reserve in South Africa from a few years back. I've been a very luck person having seein wild dogs in Madikwe, Zimanga, Timbavati, Chobe, Savute and Khwai over the years. Of the 6,600 wild dogs running free, I've probably seen at least 10% by my calculation. Again, I'm a luck man!

buddy4344 wrote in post #19396559
Savute, Botswana, May 2022 - Some call this animal "wild dog", others call it a "painted wolf". Their scientific name is Lycaon pictus – which translates directly as painted wolf and reflects their mottled caramel and brown fur. There is a frequent misconception that painted wolves are feral dogs, so using a more ‘wild’ name is increasingly preferred. The Lycaon genus is more closely related to wolves than domestic dogs.

Regardless, it is a beautiful animal and one of my favorites. With only 6,600 painted wolves left in the world, they are Africa’s second most endangered carnivore (just behind the Ethiopian wolf).

OM System OM-1 and 150-400mm lens at 150mm (300mm equivalent), f/22, 1/20 sec, ISO 200, EV 0 - Many may wonder why 1/20 second and f/22. The reason is simple, I was panning as they ran and suddenly, this animal stopped. The sharpness is a credit to the image stabilization of the OM System equipment.

Hosted photo: posted by buddy4344 in
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forum: Wildlife

Hosted photo: posted by buddy4344 in
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forum: Wildlife

Nice captures! They are beautiful!

sogs wrote in post #19396600
Nice captures! They are beautiful!

Thanks

Nice images Buddy.

Wild dogs? Hyenas?

I’m sure you’ll remember this when we were in Timbavati…

i-G12 wrote in post #19397050
Nice images Buddy.

Wild dogs? Hyenas?

I’m sure you’ll remember this when we were in Timbavati…

Yes, I remember that day well. One of my top sightings in memory. With animals left, right, ahead and behind, and everyone asking what settings, all I could advise was the wise camera information of "just shoot!".

On one trip, we were lucky enough to spend time at a den sight. The first image is the alpha male and female. You can probably tell; the female is the one with the radio collar. The pup is one of a litter of about 6 or 8 (I don't recall the number). The shot was a bit messy as the den was located behind some brush and we could only get certain angles to see it. Getting on the ground outside the vehicles to take these shots made me quite nervous; however, there are no known accounts of painted wolves attacking adult humans.

Outside the vehicle? Gulp.

A few more of the pups