The African wild dog Lycaon pictus is Africa’s second most endangered carnivore. Only 14 out of 39 countries in Africa still have wild dogs present. This makes the populations of wild dogs in South Africa very valuable with respect to the entire species. Kruger National Park (Kruger) has the only self-sustaining and viable population of wild dogs in South Africa, making Kruger the core area of conservation for South African wild dogs. It is of vital importance to know the numbers of wild dogs present in Kruger. In chapter 2 of this dissertation I monitored and gathered demographic information from as many southern Kruger wild dog packs and individuals as possible over a three month period. I used real time text messaging to collect the information. A wild dog hotline number was used for tourists to contact immediately after they sighted a pack, noting location, time and number of wild dogs sighted. This new technique resulted in more than 300 reported wild dog sightings in three months enabling a count of individuals and packs. This also created an opportunity to take identification photographs and to collect DNA samples. In 1997 it was decided to establish and manage several small wild dog populations in various geographically isolated reserves in South Africa as one large managed metapopulation. In order to simulate the natural dispersal patterns of wild dogs, individuals are translocated between the managed metapopulation reserves, imitating natural gene flow and hopefully preventing inbreeding. To date, all decisions have been made using demographic data only. This in time is likely to result in a loss of genetic diversity and subsequent inbreeding. The aim of chapter 3 was to obtain genetic information from wild dogs in the managed metapopulation and Kruger (chapter 2) to provide a basis for sound population management including monitoring of inbreeding and maintaining levels of genetic diversity similar to those found in large self-sustaining populations (such as Kruger). This study included both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear microsatellite loci to determine the genetic structure of South Africa’s wild dogs specifically with regards to genetic diversity, population structure and relatedness. The results showed a difference in historical and recent diversity between the managed metapopulation and Kruger. Two genetic clusters were evident in South Africa, however one was due to wild dogs from Botswana being translocated into the managed metapopulation. After the Botswana influence was removed from the analysis, three genetic clusters were observed in the South African wild dogs. These three genetic clusters comprise too few wild dogs to manage them as separate units. Relatedness between and within populations, reserves and packs were estimated and can in future be used to guide translocations of wild dogs to maximise their genetic variability. It is suggested that due to the low numbers, and historical and recent trends in genetic structure of South Africa’s wild dogs, they should be managed as one unit, allowing movements to and from neighbouring countries. All translocations should follow an isolation-by-distance pattern. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is the second most endangered carnivore in Africa. Although several high-profile endangered species are imperiled due to poor fertility, inadequate genetic diversity, and a reliance on specific niches, the wild dog is threatened by decreasing land space and human hunting practices. Wild dogs are highly fertile with an average litter size of nine at De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre. Wild dog males have 3 million to 900 million sperm per ejaculate and 45-75% progressive motility during the breeding season. Wild dogs released into small nature reserves in South Africa experience increased survival rates due to sizeable litters, abundant prey, and increased hunting success along fence lines. Furthermore, the current demand for captive-bred wild dogs is low due to lack of demand by overseas zoos and the inability of nature reserves to accommodate more dogs. Long-acting GnRH analogues have been used for fertility control in many wildlife species. However, dosing and efficacy differ among species and individual animals. This study assessed the efficacy of the GnRH analogue, deslorelin, on reproductive parameters of male African wild dogs. Seasonal effects on reproduction were also evaluated. Captive male African wild dogs housed at the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre were administered either a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant (Suprelorin,® Peptech Animal Health (Pty) Ltd, Sydney, Australia; n = 10), an experimental 9.4 mg deslorelin injection (n = 11) or a placebo injection (n = 6). Treatment was administered during the non-breeding season (Month 0), and dogs were assessed at Months 3, 5, 6, and 7. Reproductive parameters evaluated before and after treatment included: serum testosterone, testicular and prostatic volume, and semen quality. Serum testosterone was assessed with a previously validated double antibody DSL testosterone radioimmunoassay kit (Diagnostic Systems Laboratories, Inc, Webster, TX). Testicular volume was calculated from testicular dimensions measured with a calliper and prostatic volume from dimensions obtained by trans-cutaneous ultrasound. Data were analyzed with ANOVA. Although the 4.7 mg deslorelin implant was safe for use in male wild dogs, there was wide variation in efficacy among dogs. The serum testosterone of implant dogs did not decrease to baseline after treatment and only half the dogs administered an implant became azoospermic post-treatment. The experimental long-acting deslorelin injection was ineffective for contraception of male African wild dogs. All three groups of dogs experienced an improvement in reproductive parameters during the months of February through May, the rainy season in northern South Africa and the period during which female African wild dogs enter oestrus, suggesting that a breeding season not only exists in the female African dog but also in the male. Testis and prostatic volume increased, serum testosterone concentrations and semen quality improved during that time of year. Further studies of deslorelin in male wild dogs are warranted to determine the appropriate dose, pay-out pattern, delivery method, and season of delivery necessary for adequate contraception in this species. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Production Animal Studies / unrestricted

The African wild dog, second most endangered carnivore in Africa, has a well-developed, highly cooperative pack system. The usual structure of a pack consists of a dominant breeding pair, the alpha male and female, several subordinates, non-breeding adults and dependent offspring. Domestic dog microsatellites were used to study the parentage in three packs and confirm that more than one dog, including the subordinate males, can sire pups within a litter as previously suggested. The study was performed on two isolated populations of wild dogs in the North West Province of South Africa. In Madikwe Game Reserve, skin samples from 47 dogs were obtained by means of biopsy darts (adults) and skin slivers taken from the ear (subadults) and stored in absolute ethanol. In Pilanesberg National Park, blood samples from 18 captured dogs were collected in EDTA blood tubes. The wild dogs were photographed and individually identified according to coat patterns. Behavioural data to determine ranking were collected from all three packs. DNA was extracted from collected samples using proteinase-K digestion followed by isolation of DNA with phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol. A total of 16 microsatellite loci that consistently amplified and appeared to be polymorphic in wild dogs, were used. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed using two panels of microsatellite loci in multiplex reactions. An amount of 1 µl of PCR product was loaded on to the 3130 XL Genetic Analyser with Genescan 500 LIZ (Applied Biosystems) size standard and analysed using STRand (Board of Regents, University of California) software program. CERVUS 2.0 software was used to calculate allele frequencies, expected and observed heterozygosity, frequency of null alleles, polymorphic information content and exclusion probabilities for parentage assignment. Parentage verification was also performed manually. The parentage analysis revealed that at least one pup was not sired by the alpha male in each of the five litters studied. Although previous studies suggested that the alpha male sires the majority of offspring in the pack, our results confirm that subordinate males commonly sire pups with the alpha female if and when the opportunity arises. This is possibly a mechanism to decrease the effects of inbreeding. / Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Production Animal Studies / unrestricted