Mongabay · Climate & nature

Longest African Mammal Movement Recorded

Three male African wild dogs in Zambia have completed a journey of over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) in search of new territory and mates, marking the longest recorded movement for an African mammal and a wild dog dispersal.

This nine-month journey highlights how endangered animals connect distant populations and ecosystems across Southern Africa. The trio left Kafue National Park in mid-2025, traveling through various landscapes before reaching a game management area between South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Parks by April 2026.

Researchers tracked 19 wild dog groups using GPS collars. While the Mayukuyuku males established a new range, other journeys ended tragically. One female traveled over 2,300 km (1,400 mi) before being killed by a hunter's snare in southern Zambia.

Snares pose a significant threat, as wild dogs are reluctant to abandon injured pack mates, potentially leading to multiple captures and deaths.

All tracked groups moved within or near seven Zambian national parks, with four groups approaching the borders of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

Previous studies in Botswana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe suggest that most wild dog populations in Southern and Eastern Africa remain interconnected.

Conservationists emphasize maintaining these landscape connections for species like wild dogs. They also advocate for conservation models that offer economic benefits through tourism or sustainable game ranching, promoting coexistence between people and wildlife.

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