A hog for the dogs

The sanctuary is also home to 14 wild dogs that came there together as a litter of pups. Wild dogs are an endangered species, with an estimated population of less than 5,000 worldwide. Increasing urbanization has reduced the amount of territory available to them and they have also been widely hunted. They live in large packs and operate in a highly co-operative way, particularly when it comes to hunting.

Wild dogs have a fearsome reputation, largely because they start to eat their prey while it is still alive, typically by disembowling it - unlike the big cats who first kill their prey by breaking its neck or biting its throat to suffocate it.

The wild dogs at the sanctuary were given a special treat that week in the form of a whole warthog to devour. The dead animal was loaded onto the pick-up truck and a number of volunteers, including myself, had to squeeze in alongside it as we drove to the wild dog enclosure.

The dogs seemed to anticipate the feast that was awaiting them, as they were all together only metres from the gate. We then lifted the warthog off the pick-up truck and carried it in the enclosure, while some of the staff kept the pack at bay with sticks. Once they were allowed to attack, they collectively tugged on the carcass to rip its flesh, causing its legs to wave around as if it were still alive. It didn't take long to reduce a full-size carcass to just skin and bones.