10 African painted dog pups, an endangered predator, debut at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

A litter of 10 African painted dog pups made their public debut at Brookfield Zoo Chicago recently. Born Nov. 25, the five females and five males now race through their outdoor habitat in Habitat Africa! The Savannah, according to a press release by the zoo. Guests can now watch them chase each other and tumble in playful piles.

These pups show the spirit of African painted dogs (Lycaon pictus), one of Africa's most endangered predators, Brookfield Zoo Chicago says. According to the zoo, their coats brighten from dark newborn fur into unique patterns of black, brown, gold and white. No two look alike, adding charm to their antics.

Building pack bonds early

Parents Roanne and Kellan keep close watch as the pups explore. Their roughhousing is said to build the teamwork that defines painted dog packs. "The African painted dog puppies experienced a lot of new scents, sights and sounds for the first time, like seeing a giraffe and experiencing their first rainfall," said Racquel Ardisana, associate director of carnivore care and conservation at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, as reported in the press release. "You could hear their twitters—the name for some of the 20 plus distinct vocalizations they make—while exploring their habitat today."

Before going public, staff cared for the pups behind the scenes. Viewers saw their first exam, vaccines and measurements in an episode of “Wild Rounds with Dr. Mike.” In these scenes, Dr. Mike Adkesson, zoo president and CEO, noted his history with mom Roanne from her 2020 birth exam.

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African painted dogs face big threats in the wild. Fewer than 7,000 remain due to habitat loss, human conflicts and disease, as reported by Brookfield Zoo Chicago. This litter boosts conservation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SAFE program.

The zoo connects visitors to these animals to spark action. Spring hours run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Donations to the Wildlife Conservation Fund aid Roanne, her pups and global efforts.

Seeing the pups play drives home the need to protect endangered species. Brookfield Zoo Chicago leads by example in saving African painted dogs from the brink.