21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
The Painted Dog

An African wild dog stands away from its pack. Once found across sub-Saharan Africa, populations of this large canine have now declined to the point of endangerment due to habitat fragmentation, contact with humans, and disease. They are incredibly social within their packs and possibly use the unique, beautiful painted patterns of their coats to identify one another. Unlike domesticated dogs, these large, wild canines evolved into fast and stealthy carnivores that are able to chase their prey for long distances. This photograph was taken in September of 2023 in Lower Zambezi National Park.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Lusaka Province, Zambia
Camera: Canon EOS R3
Copyright: © Nathan Myhrvold