Groundbreaking research from the Honours project of Bridget O’Connor which was supervised by Carel Oosthuizen, Andre Ganswindt, Grant Hall, and Bruce Crossey revealed surprising new insights into the diet of the endangered African wild dog. Using DNA metabarcoding to analyse faeces collected across the Kruger National Park, the team confirmed that wild dogs primarily eat impala and other medium-sized antelope—but they also found evidence of smaller prey, including Cape hares, vlei rats, and francolins.

This suggests that wild dogs may not always hunt in packs, as traditionally believed. Instead, individual dogs may supplement their diet by hunting smaller animals alone—highlighting their adaptability in changing environments.

🔬 Read the full article in The Conversation here.

The MRI continues to lead the way in innovative wildlife research, using science to secure the future of Africa’s iconic species.

*Bioinformatics analysis was supported by Clarity, a DIPLOMICS initiative.