Remember that they are born helpless with their ears and eyes closed, they are born black and white, the tan and beige colour comes later. The Alpha female feeds them nothing but milk for the first month of their life. They then begin to eat solid food regurgitated by other pack members at about 4 weeks old when the pups also begin to wander around outside the den.
Below was our first view of the wobbly floppy eared little ones a month ago when they could hardly walk! Proved to be extremely difficult shooting in the shade with lots of grass!! Since then as they have grown and become more bold we have had more light to work with as they venture further from the den.
Wild dog pups are usually weaned by five weeks but I observed them still suckling yesterday at almost 8 weeks!!!
By seven weeks they begin to develop their adult coloration and body shape. When they are 10-12 weeks old, the pack leaves the den area to go into another area of their territory so they will probably remain at this den site for another 2-4 weeks. So we will definitely be maximising this once in a lifetime opportunity!!!
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