A pack of three African wild dog brothers has completed a record-breaking 2,485-mile (4000km) journey across the continent. Scientists state this is the furthest recorded distance for any African land mammal undertaking a dispersal in search of a mate.
The journey, which saw the dogs zigzag across Zambia, offers cautious optimism that wildlife can travel vast distances despite increasing human pressures. The animals navigated landscapes shaped by people, avoiding obstacles such as major cities and the capital, Lusaka.
Professor Scott Creel of Montana State University, the lead author of the research, suggests that major wild dog populations in eastern and southern Africa, excluding fenced ones, may be potentially connected. However, the study also highlighted significant dangers, as other wild dogs tracked with GPS collars died in illegal snares.
The research, published in the journal Ecology, supports calls for the creation of natural land strips outside protected areas. These strips would connect separate wildlife areas fragmented by roads, towns, or farms, which conservationists say is crucial for the survival of species that roam over large areas.