Ten new wild pups have made their debut at Port Lympne Reserve.

They are the latest litter of African painted dogs successfully born at the wild animal park, which specialises in breeding rare and endangered species.

Three groups had been born there in November 2014 and previous successful births have been in November 2012, when eight came into the world, and 2007.

Animal director Adrian Harland said: “Now the weather is getting better these pups have ventured out and about and are exploring their new home.

“They are all developing well and love nothing more than playing and tumbling around, whilst their parents Chobe and Nadifa try and keep them in line.”

Visitors to the reserve, near Hythe, will be able to see the pups at the Discovery Zone, when the board a safari truck to journey out to areas such as the reserve’s African Experience Zone.

The animals, also known as the African wild dogs and African hunting dogs, are among the most effective hunters in the world and usually form packs of 20 to 40.

They are now estimated to be about 3,000 of them in the wild and they are now more commonly found in southern Africa.

Their decline in numbers has been caused by loss of habitat, hunting by humans and disease.
Mr Harland said: “These impressive and beautiful dogs are endangered in the wild. Our breeding programmes with these unique animals will help to ensure that the species survives into the future.”