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In the park last week we came across a rather disturbing sight on the Mahonie Loop out of Punda Maria.
1700 Sunday 26FEB12, proceeding anti-clockwise around the loop at approximately 10 kms from Punda camp we came across a large pack of feral dogs chasing one or more baboons. We stopped to observe and at one point saw nine dogs in the road with more thought to be unseen in the bush.
The dogs varied in colour but looked similar in size and shape, they looked fit and hunted as a pack, suggesting that they have been living wild for some time.
We reported the sighting at the Punda reception that night but believe the report needs a greater audience. Has anyone else seen these (or other) feral dogs?
And, just to pre-empt the inevitable question "No, they were not wild dogs"

Very disturbing, but reading other reports of Peeps inside Kruger, the Dogs were probably with an owner that is hunting in Kruger.

We drove the Mahonie loop on last Wednesday afternoon and saw men dressed in blue and red with dogs who were chasing some antelope. We stopped and shortly thereafter the Sanparks sunset drive vehicle came along and the guide saw them as well. He got out the truck and prepared to shoot the dogs but they quickly pulled the dogs down out of sight. A short distance later we saw another person dressed in white walking through the thick bush but also ducked out if sight when he realised he had been seen. the guide told us poaching is a big problem in that area as it is very close to the border fence. we did see a helicopter in the area on the Friday morning, not sure if it was connected to the incident. Worrying for sure especially if there are feral or domestic dogs involved.

I'm not quite up to date as what a feral dog
will be. Please enlighten me 'cause I believe
we have them in this area where we live!

A X-Men brak HE.

Thanks for the info Loonytoone! And Welcome to the forum

Good heavens, what a strange sighting ? "Feral" meaning non-domesticated ? (Can't find the word in my Oxford dictionary !)

Do you have photographs of this sighting ?

I will be there in June and will surely be on the look out, however, there have been recent (real) wild dog sightings in the Punda area.

Len

Len these are trained hunting dogs used to illegally hunt in the park
Very frustrating news loony and elsa

And in the process of hunting in Kruger, they carry desease to the Wild Dog population, in such a way that the Wild Dog population might be non existent in a few days. Time is short SANParks, get rid of this scourge.

Ok Scips!!, do take note of the language you utter!!,
well understood however!!

My neighbour was the master of a bunch of, "deur
mekaar gen...des and he maintains he be a well
respected jakkals hunter with his pack"!!!

Apparently the farming community in the states
hire this idiot to erradicate jackals and successfully.

We have this poaching thread going yet I doubt if
people realize the true impact of reaping the land.

My use of the term feral is to describe previously domesticated animals that have turned to living in the wild.
However, it could well be that these dogs are being used by poachers as hunting dogs, I never saw any humans and so dd not consider the possibility at the time. But if true how could they get away with it so close to a restcamp?
I will check for a reasonable photo...

A lot of poaching activities and Park transgression happen very close to the Punda Maria restcamp unfortunately The Power Lines are the 'highway' so people do not get lost from Mozambeque. And they lead to Punda camp. Various Mites have spotted people near the camp who flee when they see a car.

The thought of organised poaching gangs with dogs is worse than my first thoughts of feral dogs.
Maybe we need an electrified fence along the border...
Here is one of the dogs:

Looking in good condition this dog is Will wait to hear from the wise mites tomorrow.
A good topic

All of the dogs looked in similar condition and of similar breeding but colours varied, brown and white, black and brown and tan.
Stangely, although totally unrelated except for the canine connection:
The following day en-route to Shingwedzi on the main road, we saw a Labrador (or similar) riding in a car driven by a woman (at around 50kph) who did not appear to be game viewing but just travelling from A to B.
Are any domestic dogs allowed in the park? Ranger's dogs possibly?