Because female African wild dogs usually leave their natal packs, while up to half of males stay, packs tend to average more males than females.
Female African wild dogs have a much higher rate of emigration from their natal group than do males. Females usually leave the pack at 2.5 years or older to join other packs that have no adult females.
Approximately half of young males will stay with their father’s pack, the rest will leave to form a new pack together.
As such, African wild dog packs tend to average more males than females.
• Image | © Tambako The Jaguar, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY-ND 2.0)
• Sources | (Canadian Museum of Nature, 2016; Estes, 1991; Kingdon, 1997; Mulheisen, Allen, Allen, 2002; Nowak, 1999; Wildlife Africa CC, 2004)
