Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit

Category: Dogs | Date: Sep 19 2007 | By: admin

I have mentioned in the past entry about the reproductive state for the bitch (female dog off course!) here in the Trans Mara. I said that most of the bitches are in chronic malnutritional state due to constant breeding. Most of the Maasai dog owners have no idea how old their dog is and initially it was hard for me to gather data during my vaccination. ‘Why do you always ask for dog’s age? No one knows how old the dog is, just ask them how many times it has given birth!’ My dog owner looks at my face like I was dumb. Since all the bitch in Trans Mara is breed every year, it is easier for me to ask how many times it has given birth. If the bitch has given birth twice, it is most likely in the range of 2 year old and then if it gives birth 3 times it is 3 years old, etc.

During my vaccination we got the sex ratio and age ratio of the dog population. After looking at the record, I am not so sure if reproductive control of dog is a necessity anymore. Majority of dogs are in age group between 1-5 years old, followed by dog population less than one year old and very few are over 5 years of age. There is definite element of population control for dogs. The wild predators! Leopards are No.1 dog killer and they are responsible for most of the dog deaths. Maasai guys tell me that dogs of boma next to the wildlife reserve and Dupoto forest do not sleep at night. If they sleep, they become leopard snack. Leopards have a bizarre fondness for dog meat. They are notorious for taking dog lives and usually there are several leopard victims per year in each boma. Dogs over 5 years old gets preyed upon by this vicious cat, reason being ‘uzee’(old age) and lack of strength to fight off the leopard (not so sure if dogs have any chance against leopard).

Another one of leopard’s favorite.

Maasai dogs seems to pass their prime after age 4. You will not believe how the dog looks after age 5 and to find a dog over age 7 is almost impossible. Five year old Maasai dog basically looks like 10 year old pet dog. Yes, there is no pet treat and fluffy beds for these dogs. Life is tough and dogs age fast.

Five year old Maasai dog, eyes torn out by baboon.

Then there is baboon, the No.2 killer of dogs. Dogs in age group 1-5 often fall victim to baboon attack, mainly because younger dogs tend to chase baboons and get hurt/killed in return. Dogs are almost like wildlife in this area, I am not sure anymore if human intervention (birth control) is necessary since the natural element is already keeping the population in control here in the Maasai land… I fear that combo of spay, castration, leopard and baboon can possibly wipe out the dog population.

P.S. I DO NOT currently do birth control for dogs (only spay/castration of feral cats inside the wildlife reserve).