Rolling Hills Zoo announced on its Facebook page a new addition to their African painted dog family. JP is a four-year-old male African painted dog. Though he’s younger than the two females in the pack, he’s noticeably larger weighing in at 73 pounds compared to Lala and Raina, who are 62 pounds and 56 pounds respectively.
“He is quite a bit larger than the girls, and his coloring is very distinctive,” shared Devney Bowen, Head Keeper at Rolling Hills Zoo. “The girls’ coloration is more muted, and his coloration is quite vibrant.”
JP came to the zoo from ABQ BioPark Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the zoo said after his 30-day quarantine, his integration has been seamless. He has assumed the alpha male role, while Lala has taken on the alpha female role.
According to the zoo’s post, African painted dogs, known for their complex social structure, live in packs of 10 to 40, where only the alpha male and female breed. Their strong bonds and advanced communication are key to their high hunting success rate of 60-90%, surpassing lions and hyenas. However, they face threats from habitat loss, diseases, and competition with larger predators. With about 6,600 individuals left, mainly in southern and East Africa, conservation efforts are crucial.
JP’s arrival highlights the zoo’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare, conservation, and education.
