African wild dogs are not generally aggressive to man, very unassuming in fact…
I call them ‘gentle killers’ in homage to one of the first amazing books written about them by Jane Goodall and Hugo Van Lawick, so many years ago…..called “Innocent Killers”.
What an amazing book it was to read, documenting years of research, and personalizing three fascinating predators: African wild dogs, Spotted Hyenas and Golden Jackals.
These photos, taken by friend Melanie Anderson Gardener on a game drive near to Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, with guide Thomas Mutombeni, really capture their mood, relaxed yet very inquisitive…..
Half grown pups are nurtured and protected within the pack…this is a pup on the left….
Gorgeous coats , a painter’s dream in gold, black and white!
The glowing late afternoon light of Gonarezhou National Park echoes the gold in the dogs coats,
I am thrilled to note that each of these photos shows a different pup…plenty of new blood to carry the fortunes of the pack! …here is another pup…
And another…note the differences in coat markings which make these spectacular animals so easily identifiable in the field…
This pup is eagerly following an adult, anticipating the late afternoon hunt…..
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About wineandwilddogs
Lin Barrie
The Save Valley Conservancy stretches along the upper reaches of the great Save River in the south east of Zimbabwe. The Gonarezhou National Park laps against the southern banks of the Save River and between these two nestles the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve. These three celebrated wildlife areas form part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, (GLTFCA)- a unique wilderness jewel which is home to the “Big Five” (endangered Black and White rhinos, elephants, buffalo, lion, leopard) and the ”Little Six” (Klipspringer, Suni, Duiker, Steenbok, Sharpe's Grysbok and Oribi). Endangered African wild dogs, Cheetah, Brown hyena, Bat-eared foxes and a host of special birds and plants contribute to the immense variety of this ecosystem. Communities around the GLTFCA contribute to innovative partnerships with National Parks and the private sector, forming a sound base on which to manage social, economic and environmental issues.
This is home to artist and writer Lin Barrie and her life partner, conservationist Clive Stockil.
Expressing her hopes, fears and love for this special ecosystem with oil paints on canvas, Lin Barrie believes that the essence of a landscape, person or animal, can only truly be captured by direct observation.
Lin Barrie states: “Through my art, and my writing, I feel an intimate connection with the natural world, and from my extensive field sketches of wild animals, people and landscapes, I create larger works on canvas.
Lin's work is in various public and private collections in South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Australia, England, Canada, Sweden and the United States of America. She is represented by galleries in South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, Kenya and Florida, USA.
wine and wild dogs 