It is with great excitement that the Selinda Reserve shares this wonderful news.

About 5 weeks ago now the alpha female of the Selinda Wild Dog pack denned in an area we call Fish Eagles nest which is about 25 minutes from Selinda Camp. At that point we closed off all the roads leading into the area as part of our conservation efforts to allow the Wild Dogs some time to relax and settle in at the den. Yesterday we began with our visitations to the den, which involves only limited time spent by a single vehicle at a time near the den in the hope that guests will see the puppies. This is a very sensitive time for the Wild Dogs and we respect their space. We have a strict protocol for viewing the den in order to minimise any possible disturbance as we do not want the Wild Dogs to become spooked and try and move the puppies as this may have disastrous consequences.

We were lucky to have seen the puppies when the alpha Female brought them out of the den into the soft morning light to allow them to suckle!

Here are a few pictures of the Wild Dogs and puppies! We haven’t been able to determine the total number of puppies as its difficult to count them as they frolic around, but we estimate between 9 and 11 puppies. We continue to monitor this site and minimise our impact through the strict protocol, watch this space for the development of these little gems!

Mom and the baby-sitter.

Puppy at the entrance to the den.

Puppies doing what they do best; playing.

Text and photographs by John Hilton.