26/08/2026
It's World Painted Dog Day!
At Howletts and Port Lympne Reserve, we're proud to play a leading role in protecting this incredible species:
- Port Lympne Reserve holds the European studbook for painted dogs, meaning our team oversees the breeding and transfer of the species across every zoo and park in Europe
- The UK's first-ever mother-raised litter of painted dog puppies was born right here at Port Lympne Reserve, back in 1997
- We've since sent a pack of painted dogs 4,400 miles from Kent to Gabon, part of our mission to explore reintroducing this species back into its native range
- Painted dogs are famously social, packs are led by an alpha pair, and every member helps raise the pups, sharing food, protection, and play
Also known as African wild dogs, painted dogs are one of Africa's most endangered carnivores, with fewer than 7,000 left in the wild, but they're also one of the continent's most successful hunters, with a 90% kill rate.
