Krakatoa, alpha female leader of Marine Pack, waits anxiously for pack members to return from morning hunt to feed 15 hungry newborn pups in the den
(Credit: Alexandra George)
By Alexandra George
Krakatoa stood watch beside the entrance to the den, her ears erect and every sense alert. She appeared anxious and fretful as she had 15 hungry mouths to feed. While the rest of the Marine Pack were on their morning hunt, she remained behind to guard the hidden pups below ground as African wild dog pups remain in the den for their first four to six weeks of life. Her quiet vigilance reflected the extraordinary cooperation that defines African wild dogs, with adults taking turns protecting the next generation while others provide food for the family.
A long time passed. Krakatoa continued her anxious vigil, all the more so as that morning the hunt was unsuccessful and there was no food to regurgitate. She ran to meet members of the pack who emerged from the bush at irregular intervals, some alone, others in pairs or loosely strung out behind one another.
Krakatoa greeted the returning pack members as tails wagged, noses met and the dogs milled around the den, reinforcing the social bonds that are so essential to their survival. Only after the excitement subsided did the pack separate into two groups seeking patches of shade under acacia trees and settling into their customary afternoon rest, conserving energy for the next hunt.
To understand what we had witnessed that morning, we returned to the den the following day with Peter Brack of the Botswana Predator Conservation.
Krakatoa, alpha female, of Marine Pack stands next to the den with what later we know were 15 newborn pups
(Credit: Alexandra George)
Two members of the pack sniff the air
(Credit: Alexandra George)
Marine Pack members enjoy a rest after the hunt
(Credit: Alexandra George)
Seeing the Den Through Peter Brack’s Eyes
Our introduction to the Marine Pack took place over two consecutive visits to the den from Kwando Safaris' Mme Dinare Camp in June 2023. These visits are about far more than memorable wildlife sightings. The den is carefully monitored by Peter Brack and the Botswana Predator Conservation (BPC), together with the Kwando team, allowing guests to witness African wild dogs while learning why their conservation matters.
The evening after our first visit, Peter introduced us to BPC's work. He explained how decades of research into African wild dogs have revealed the complexity of their movements, social structure and territorial behaviour, and described the pioneering BioBoundary project, which uses the dogs' own scent communication to reduce conflict between predators and people.
When we returned to the den the following morning with Peter, everything changed. Behaviour that had seemed ordinary the day before suddenly took on meaning. A dog resting beneath a tree was recovering from the morning hunt. Another stood quietly nearby, ears pricked, scanning the bush for lions or spotted hyenas. Peter explained that African wild dogs are among Africa's most cooperative mammals. Every member of the pack helps feed, protect and raise the pups.
Our photographs captured these quiet moments. Dogs filtered back from the hunt in ones and twos before gradually reassembling. Some rested in the shade, others greeted returning pack members or checked scent marks around the den, while at least one adult remained alert. Individually, these moments seemed unremarkable. Together, they revealed the remarkable teamwork on which the survival of every pup depends.
A Marine Pack wild dog rests in front of a termite mound
(Credit: Jenny Brennan)
With nose to the ground, Krakatoa follows a scent, part of the complex communication system that helps African wild dogs coordinate and defend their territory.
(Credit: Alexandra George)
Krakatoa pauses beside a termite mound, glancing back as she keeps watch over the hidden den.
(Credit: Alexandra George)
An adult male pauses near the den, ears pricked as it scans the surrounding bush
(Credit: Jenny Brennan)
A wild dog of Marine Pack serves as a sentinel while other pack members rest after the hunt
(Credit: Alexandra George)
Walking through the golden grass
(Credit: Jenny Brennan)
A New Generation
Two years after our visit, Peter shared photographs of the Marine Pack’s 2025 litter as the pups began exploring the world beyond the den.
A Marine Pack adult gently watches over one of the 2025 pups as it begins to explore the world beyond the den
(Credit: Wild Entrust/BPC)
A Marine Pack wild dog pauses beside a termite mound
(Credit: Wild Entrust/BPC)
An attentive adult keeps close to the 2025 litter, reflecting the cooperative care that is central to African wild dog family life
(Credit: Wild Entrust/BPC)
African wild dogs playing
(Credit: Wild Entrust/BPC)
Peter Brack recently confirmed that the Marine Pack has once again produced a litter of pups, born around 11 June 2026. The exact number of pups is still unknown as they remain in the den for the first three to four weeks, but the pack currently consists of 13 adults. Following the disappearance of the long-time alpha female, Krakatoa, leadership has passed to Dickens, a closely related female believed to be either Krakatoa's daughter or niece. While Krakatoa's fate remains unknown, the birth of a new litter offers fresh hope for the future of this iconic pack.
The Fragility of Wild Dog Populations
Krakatoa’s disappearance is a poignant reminder of the uncertainty that surrounds the lives of even well-studied wild dogs. Even for animals we come to know and admire, life in the wild offers no guarantees. It also echoed another loss. A year earlier, photographer Jenny Brennan had documented eleven pups from a different BPC study pack. That pack's alpha female, Robinson, Peter said, later disappeared as well, another unexplained absence in the lives of one of Africa's most endangered predators. Lions and hyenas represent the greatest natural threat.
Why Every Pack Matters
Watching the Marine Pack that morning was a privilege, but it was also a reminder that every sighting depends on years of dedicated conservation work. Botswana Predator Conservation researchers monitor and protect these endangered animals in the wild, while accredited zoos, including Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and many others around the world, help safeguard the species through conservation breeding, scientific research, education and public awareness. Together, these efforts offer hope that future generations will continue to experience one of Africa's most remarkable predators.
Today, the Botswana Predator Conservation programme collars and monitors 14 African wild dog packs across its study area, providing one of the world's longest-running datasets on this endangered species and helping guide its conservation.
Play strengthens the social bonds that hold an African wild dog pack together
(Credit: Jenny Brennan)
Every surviving wild dog pack represents decades of dedication by researchers, conservationists, wildlife guides and zoos working together to secure the future of one of Africa's most endangered carnivores. Standing beside the Marine Pack's den in 2023, we could not see the pups hidden safely below ground. Today, knowing that new generations have emerged, I realize we witnessed far more than a memorable wildlife sighting. We witnessed the enduring impact of conservation—and renewed hope for African wild dogs.
To learn more about the remarkable conservation work of Wild Entrust and the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust, I encourage you to explore the 2025 Wild Entrust Impact Report using the link below:
For more stories and photographs from Botswana’s Okavango Delta, please visit Nine Days in Eden – Special Edition, my book celebrating the wildlife and conservation of Botswana, at https://ninedaysineden.com/special-edition/