SEATTLE - They are the wolves of Africa. They live and hunt in packs. They hold pre-hunt pep rallies and warm-up hunting rounds. They take care of their old, young and sick. They are fierce cooperative hunters, not scavengers. Discover these rare and fascinating carnivores as they debut this summer, June 28, in Woodland Park Zoo’s new African wild dog exhibit.

African wild dogs are very rare in the wild and in zoos. Currently, less than two percent of the nation’s zoos exhibit this canid. The naturalistic exhibit, which will introduce the species for the first time in the zoo’s 103-year history, will transport you to a corner of the world where the dogs live. The nearly 5,000-square-foot habitat will evoke an East African streambed bordered by high riverbanks. You’ll view the pack of dogs from vantage points situated across the streambed, which may sometimes be dry to mimic the dry season in Africa, or through a window to a heated, underground den.

African wild dogs are one of earth’s most endangered predators. Less than 6,000 dogs remain in the wild. Once widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, their range has been reduced to just a few isolated populations in protected enclaves in east and southern Africa. These pack-living canids, sometimes called painted dogs, painted wolves, African hunting dogs and Cape hunting dogs, live in a highly developed social structure. The pack functions as a “family” where reproduction and nurturing of young take place.

Woodland Park Zoo is nationally acclaimed for its award-winning exhibits. The African wild dog exhibit represents an expansion of the zoo’s award-winning African Savanna. The 4.5-acre savanna offers sweeping views dotted with lions, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, patas monkeys and hippos.

For more more information on the African wild dog, please view our wild dog web site at http://zoo.org//wild_dog/index.htm.

The zoo opens 9:30 a.m. daily throughout the year and closes 6:00 p.m. during the summer. Admission ranges from free for toddlers to $9.50 for adults. For general information, call 206.684.4800.