- 'A DOG'S LIFE' (1 x 52') combines classic wildlife cinematography with an intimate approach to deliver a comprehensive portrait of this endangered and largely misunderstood species. The film looks at the African wild dogs' intricate family ties, their skill and stamina in pursuit of prey and their unusual parenting techniques. Cameraman Kim Wolhuter's persistence in gaining the pack's acceptance eventually pays off, enabling him to capture compelling sequences of rarely filmed behaviour. He watches as the dogs are ravaged by rabies, the disease eventually bringing the pack to its knees. But hope appears when a new pair of Wild dogs arrive in the area. Could this be the beginning of a new pack?
- A Dogs's Life combines classic wildlife cinematography with an intimate approach to deliver a comprehensive portrait of this endangered and largely misunderstood species. The film looks at the dogs intricate family ties, their skill and stamina in pursuit of prey and their unusual parenting techniques. Wolhuters persistence in gaining the packs acceptance eventually pays off, enabling him to capture compelling sequences of rarely filmed behaviour. The military-style tactics employed by pack adults on the hunt and the extraordinary lengths they go to in feeding and caring for their young are revealed. We also see footage of day-old pups being dragged from the den and enduring a ferocious assault from rival pups. But the little ones not only survive this violent and rarely seen initiation ceremony, they thrive, eventually expanding the Wild dog clan into a formidable hunting unit.
The film goes on to portray the packs hazardous confrontations with lions mortal enemies determined to kill every wild dog they can - and with the reserves hyenas. Surprisingly, the far more powerful hyena has a rivalry with the smaller but combative Wild dog that borders on the absurd. The two species dart and jab one another in the bush, an exercise in futility which appears to have no reason except for amusement there is rarely any serious aggression between the two species. The dogs just seem to enjoy making mischief.
But then tragedy strikes. Rabies besides humans, one of the wild dogs most virulent enemies - begins to ravage the pack. Over a period of a few weeks, the dogs Wolhuter had watched grow from pups to healthy adults suddenly weaken to the point of death. He sees no alternative but to try to save them by personally euthanizing the sickest members, but to no avail.
In the end, only the alpha male survives out of a pack that had grown to 21 individuals. But after a 12 month gap there is new hope. A male and female arrive on the scene and give birth to a litter of 9 healthy pups. The resulting success of the new family, as the pups develop to reach adulthood, is a cause for great optimism. But without a radical change in attitudes, the future of Africas Wild dogs will remain in the balance.
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