Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Wild Dogs' Record Trek Highlights Connectivity Needs

Three male African wild dogs completed a 2,500-mile journey across Zambia, the longest recorded movement for an African mammal, revealing the species' resilience and threats.

The nine-month trek, detailed in Ecology, involved three brothers who left Kafue National Park in mid-2025. They traveled through unprotected areas, facing predators and traps, tracked by radio collars.

African wild dogs are endangered, with ~6,600 adults remaining. Only the dominant pair breeds, prompting others to disperse to find mates. The study tracked 19 groups.

The brothers briefly reunited with their sisters, who had also dispersed. The females traveled 872 miles, and the males nearly 750 miles. Wild dogs can locate each other by scent.

The female group's journey ended tragically. Researchers believe one was killed by a hunting snare, and the collared female likely suffered a similar fate, possibly due to returning to an injured packmate.

The male dogs continued, traveling over 2,560 miles by April 2026 to reach the Luangwa Valley. They are believed to have established a new territory.

This journey follows a 2021 trek by three females who traveled nearly 1,300 miles. These movements suggest greater connectivity between wild dog populations.

Conservationists emphasize the need for connected landscapes and wildlife corridors for species survival, warning against isolated protected areas and highlighting the need to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

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