The African Dog

The African wild dog, also called Cape hunting dog or painted dog, typically roams the open plains and sparse woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa.These long-legged canines have only four toes per foot, unlike other dogs, which have five toes on their forefeet.

The dog's Latin name means "painted wolf," referring to the animal's irregular, mottled coat, which features patches of red, black, brown, white, and yellow fur. Each animal has its own unique coat pattern, and all have big, rounded ears.

African wild dogs live in packs that are usually dominated by a monogamous breeding pair. The female has a litter of 2 to 20 pups, which are cared for by the entire pack. These dogs are very social, and packs have been known to share food and to assist weak or ill members. Social interactions are common, and the dogs communicate by touch, actions, and vocalizations.African wild dogs hunt in formidable, cooperative packs of 6 to 20 (or more) animals. Larger packs were more common before the dogs became endangered. Packs hunt antelopes and will also tackle much larger prey, such as wildebeests, particularly if their quarry is ill or injured. The dogs supplement their diet with rodents and birds.

As human settlements expand, the dogs have sometimes developed a taste for livestock, though significant damage is rare. Unfortunately, they are often hunted and killed by farmers who fear for their domestic animals.

African hunting dogs are endangered. They are faced with shrinking room to roam in their African home. They are also quite susceptible to diseases spread by domestic animals.

Click here to find out more about the African Dog.

To find out the latest news from Zoos Victoria, please visit http://www.zoo.org.au/

The Pygmy Hippopotamus

The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa.

The evolution of the pygmy hippopotamus is most often studied in the context of its larger cousin. Both species were long believed to be most closely related to the family Suidae (pigs and hogs) or Tayassuidae (peccaries), but research within the last 10 years has determined that pygmy hippos and hippos are most closely related to cetaceans (whales and dolphins).The pygmy hippopotamus displays many terrestrial adaptations, but like its larger cousin, it is semi-aquatic and relies on proximity to water to keep its skin moisturized and its body temperature cool. Behaviours such as mating and giving birth may occur in water or on land. The pygmy hippo is herbivorous, feeding on whatever ferns, broad-leaved plants, grasses and fruits it finds in the forests.

A rare nocturnal forest creature, the pygmy hippopotamus is a difficult animal to study in the wild. Pygmy hippos were unknown outside of West Africa until the 19th century. Introduced to zoos in the early 20th century, they breed well in captivity and the vast majority of research is derived from zoo specimens. The survival of the species in captivity is more assured than in the wild: the World Conservation Union estimates that there are fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos remaining in the wild. Pygmy hippos are primarily threatened by loss of habitat, as forests are logged and converted to farm land, and are also vulnerable to poaching, hunting, natural predators and war.

The breeding success is Australia is imperative as pygmy hippos from other countries can not be brought to Australia due to the risks of Foot and Mouth disease. Thus, it is a great cause for celebration when, at Taronga Zoo, a youngster named ‘Monifa'(pictured), meaning ‘I am lucky' in Nigerian weighed just 3.8 kilograms when it was born in the early hours of October 15 to first-time mother, ‘Petre' and father ‘Timmy'. However after a difficult breach birth, the Zoo's dedicated keepers made the decision to intervene and hand-raise the precious female calf.

Click here to hear me chat with Renae Zammit, one of the keepers who literally moved into the Zoo to care for Monifa in alternate 24 hour shifts, sleeping at the Taronga Wildlife Hospital in order to feed and tend to the youngster's every need.

For more information, please visit www.taronga.org.au

Your Mobile Phone may be destroying the Habitat of the Great Apes in Africa

Did you know that your mobile phone may be responsible for the destruction of the Great Apes Habitat in Africa?

Renowned primatologist Dr Jane Goodall (pictured) has visited Melbourne Zoo to launch a new mobile phone recycling campaign aimed at protecting primates in the wild.

Dr Goodall’s lifelong study of the chimpanzees of Gombe, Nigeria has made her not only the world’s most recognised expert on the species but also their most effective advocate.

Old mobile phones donated to the Zoo’s ‘They’re Calling on You’ campaign will benefit primate conservation in two ways: financially, but even more directly by reducing demand for coltan, a mineral used in mobile phones.

Eighty percent of the world’s coltan is found in Africa. Illegal mining in areas where chimpanzees, gorillas, and other primates live has had devastating consequences.

There is loss of habitat through deforestation, and primates and other wildlife in the areas are hunted so their meat can be sold in the growing bushmeat trade. In one national park alone, more than 10,000 people are mining illegally, and the once-protected gorilla population has fallen by more than 50% in the past five years.

With about 15 million new mobile phones sold in Australia every year, there are a great many old or outmoded models available for recycling. These phones can all be put to good use if they’re donated to the ‘They’re Calling on You’ campaign.

Postage-free mailing satchels are available at Melbourne Zoo, or a post-free mailing label can be printed http://www.zoo.org.au/

Click here to hear the interview with Melbourne Zoo's, Jessica Lawry, Community Conservation Manager.