by Yesenia Quispe Scientific name: Speothos venaticus Spanish names: Perro de monte, zorro o perro vinagre, perro venadero Distribution and Habitat: The bush dog belongs to the dog family and lives in rainforests below 1.500 metres above sea level, from Panama to Paraguay and the northern parts of Argentina. It is widely distributed in Central and South America. However, encounters with bush dogs are rare as they are very sensitive to disturbance and not found in populated areas and areas of deforestation. Identification: The bush dog belongs to a monotypic genus and differs notably from other canines with an almost weasel-like appearance. The body height is 23 to 30 cm, and it is 60 to 75 cm long; its tail is 12 to 14 cm long. Bush dogs weigh 5 to 7 kg. The back and sides are a chestnut to reddish colour, the head and neck usually lighter, the legs and tail darker to black. Natural History: Bush dogs are one of the rarest animals in Peru and although diurnal and gregarious they are rarely seen. They live in groups of 4 to12 individuals, making them one of the most social of the small dogs. They hunt various animals, especially agoutis, capybaras, deer and birds. They are excellent swimmers and can capture prey in water; they like to take a bath during the hot hours of the day. They are good excavators. In Venezuela, bush dog populations north of the Orinoco river have declined and their distribution today is limited, so much so that in that area they might be close to extinction. South of the Orinoco river the bush dog populations seem to have remained relatively stable during the last decades, because extensive forests with little human disturbance remain. Internationally, the bush dog has been declared “vulnerable” by the IUCN. There are regional differences, however, and it is considered “endangered” in Argentina while in Peru it is “rare”. Reproduction: Bush dogs have 2 to 6 cubs per litter, generally in October, after a gestation period of 76 days. The cubs lactate for 8 weeks. At the age of 1 they are sexually mature. Bush dogs can live up to 10 years. The relative of the bush dog - the Short-eared dog - has been seen frequently at Refugio Amazonas. Refugio Amazonas may be the best place in the world to see this species, it is by far the best site in Madre-de-Dios. We wish you luck in catching a glimpse of this rare, solitary and elusive canine shadow of the jungle.
