Forest dog puppies have already passed their first critical period, and visitors to the Prague Zoo can now observe their antics in the enclosure near the polar bear exhibit. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo
Forest dog puppies were born at the Prague Zoo.
Visitors can now observe the pair of cubs in the outdoor enclosure. These South American beasts managed to breed here after five years. This is the first litter of a newly assembled pair of these difficult to breed wild dogs.
“The new breeding female came from France last November based on the recommendation of the coordinator of the European Breeding Program (EEP) and we are already looking forward to the first puppies, which we consider a great success,” says the curator of mammals Pavel Brandl, also with regard to the genetic value of the individuals. The father of the male – the grandfather of this year’s cubs – came to the Prague Zoo all the way from Japan, while the mother of the female comes from French Guiana.
: Young forest dogs are significantly darker than adults. This helps them to hide better in the vegetation. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo
The pair of puppies were born on April 8, and until now their exhibit at the Small American Carnivores area has been covered in hibernation. When raising young, forest dogs are very sensitive to any disturbance. That is why they are rarely kept in zoos today.
“These days, people can see puppies mainly in the outdoor enclosure. We do not yet know their gender, as they are still awaiting a thorough veterinary examination. But they are starting to color beautifully and acquire a lighter color than the adults,” explains Denisa Zběhlíková, head breeder of small mammals. According to her, they don’t lack appetite and these days they are completely switching from mother’s milk to a meat diet. “The best thing for visitors is to go see them in the morning after the zoo opens,” advises Zbehlíková. “They’re resting in one of the cool burrows under the strong midday sun, which they can’t blame anyway.”
The parents of this year’s cubs are a young couple and this is their first litter. A five-year-old dog and a two-year-old female form a harmonious couple from day one. Visitors can recognize males by their larger heads and lighter fur. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo
The forest dog is a medium-sized canine animal inhabiting the territory of Central and South America from Panama to Paraguay. Despite their size, their pack can take down even a tapir, although the majority of their diet consists of armadillos and agoutis. Today, forest dogs are threatened mainly by the expansion of agricultural land, less prey due to illegal hunting, and also the increased risk of contracting deadly diseases from domestic dogs. For these reasons, the species is listed on the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened.