Tiny Painted Dog Pups Explore Outside at Monarto

Tiny Painted Dog Pups Explore Outside at Monarto Safari Park

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: June 7, 2021 4:40 pm

The African painted dog puppies explore outside at Monarto Safari Park

Photo Credit: Geoff Brooks/ Zoos SA

Six tiny painted dog puppies born at Monarto Safari Park in late April 2021 have taken their first steps outside. Each day has seen them adventuring further away from the den entrance.

They are now able to explore the massive 4ha (10 acre) enclosure at the Safari Park in Australia.

Currently the pups are splitting their time between the den and outside so it is not currently guaranteed that visitors at the park will see the pups. They are getting bolder each day and keepers expect they will soo be visible full-time.

The African painted dog puppies explore outside at Monarto Safari Park

Photo Credit: Geoff Brooks/ Zoos SA

Monarto Safari Park carnivore keeper Kat Ferres says the puppies have been a delight to watch grow so far.

“It’s been amazing to see these dogs grow into the curious puppies they are now,” says Kat.

“This species grows incredibly quickly with the dogs weaned at three months. Our puppies have already had their first taste of meat and are loving it.”

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African painted dogs live in a cooperative pack and are highly social animals. Each pack is led by a dominant pair who bred.

The cubs are not feed by keepers or sharing a carcass with the rest of the pack. Instead other members of the pack regurgitate meat for them to feed on.

Other pack members including four-year-old brothers Onika, Baraka and Kamali have been observed playing with the newest additions.

The African painted dog puppies explore outside at Monarto Safari Park

Photo Credit: Geoff Brooks/ Zoos SA

Mother Bulu originally gave birth to a litter of eight pups with seven of these surviving until recently.

Unfortunately keepers had been monitoring one of the pups as it had been observed to be uncoordinated in its movements and was not keeping up in development with the other puppies.

An assessment by the veterinarians at the park found that the pup was suffering from hydrocephaly, this conditions leads to an abnormal buildup of fluid in the brain which unfortunately was deemed incompatible with life. This led vets to humanely euthanize the puppy.

Currently the six remaining puppies are strong, healthy and curious with mother Bulu diligently attending to them.