The influence of pack social structure on oral rabies vaccination coverage in captive African wild dogs ( Lycaon pictus)

Abstract

This paper examines the application of oral immunisation against rabies in African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus), a highly social species that is currently endangered. The influence of pack social structure on consumption of baits was studied in an artificially created captive pack of seven adult wild dogs, which were all habituated to feeding. Observations on spatial relationships and aggressive behaviour revealed a distinct split within the pack into two subgroups: dominants and subordinates. Dominant animals actively defended baits from subordinates, but this behaviour appeared to decrease when the dogs were satiated, and there was no difference in mean bait consumption between the two subgroups when baits were scattered over a wide area. A pack vaccination coverage of 100% was achieved over 2 days, using the scattered method to deliver two chicken head bait/vaccine combinations per dog per day. Pack members ingested between 2 and 8 bait/vaccines over the 2 days. The behavioural responses of captive and free-ranging packs to oral immunisation methods are discussed.