Give a cuddly African hunting dog a forever home while helping to protect one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores. Measuring approximately 18cm in length, this soft hunting dog makes a wonderful gift for animal lovers. Your purchase helps support The Aspinall Foundation’s conservation work around the world. In 2019, the Foundation relocated a pack of seven African hunting dogs to a protected reserve in Gabon, returning the species to the country for the first time in more than 25 years. Scientific name: Lycaon pictus Common name: African hunting dog Also known as: African wild dog or African painted dog IUCN status: Endangered (EN) Main threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation, conflict with people, accidental capture in snares, road accidents and infectious diseases. About African hunting dogs: African hunting dogs are highly social animals that live in close-knit packs. They work together to hunt, care for their pups and protect other members of the group. However, they need large, connected areas in which to roam, making them especially vulnerable when their habitats are divided by roads, farmland and expanding human settlements. Once widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa, hunting dogs have disappeared from large parts of their former range. Protecting connected landscapes and reducing conflict between people and wildlife are essential to securing their future. Did you know? Every African hunting dog has its own unique arrangement of black, brown, white and golden markings. Researchers can use these distinctive coat patterns to recognise and monitor individual animals in the wild.