The African Wild Dog is one of the world’s most endangered mammals. The largest populations are found in southern Africa and the southern part of East Africa, namely Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
The wild dogs are social and gather in packs of roughly 10, though numbers can often be greater. Known by a variety of names, including Cape hunting dog or painted dog, its scientific name, Lycaon pictus, meaning “painted wolf,” seems most fitting, referring to the animal’s irregular coat, which features patches of red, black, brown, white, and yellow fur. Each animal has its own unique coat pattern, and all have big, rounded ears.
The largest threats to the African wild dog population are people, often hunted and killed by farmers who fear for their livestock. They also have increasingly less space to roam in their natural habitats and are susceptible to diseases like rabies and canine distemper. It is thought that their population is in an irreversible decline, which is why they are considered to be endangered. (sources: WWF & National Geographic)
Aurifil’s African Wild Dog thread set was created in tribute to this long-legged beauty. It features 3 large spools of our 40wt thread in 3 hues of yellow— a warm, a medium, and a dark— 2105, 2115, & 1135.