Today, we set off on the greatest adventure of our lives! We have set up camp out in Faerie Glen Nature reserve, in the capital city of South Africa, one of the few remaining natural areas where we might find the South African wild-pug. Pugs are by no measure endangered locally, but most are domesticated lap warmers and bed-pugs, bearing little resemblance to their wild cousins. Or so I've heard! I cannot wait to see one.
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Day 14
A hair! We think we've found a pug hair. Just one, though, which is suspicious. We've sent it off to the lab for confirmation. Oh, how I hope!
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Day 35
With it's wild ranges increasingly threatened by rapid urbanisation that is so characteristic of developing countries, our odds of spotting the South African wild-pug was bleak from the start. The lure of warm houses with ready food supplies has decimated wild-pug numbers. But it's been more than a month, and so far, not even a hair has been found. Yes, the lab results are back... it was a cat hair. This is so disheartening. The wild-pug sheds profusely, using this abundance of hair to mark their territory. This is unique among wild domestic canids. Surely there should be some sign by now?
We will persevere, even though I am demotivated. At least our pug-sniffing hound, chosen for her curly tail, which should be a sign of solidarity to the wild pug, seems content.
These hills are made for the delight of small dogs, that much is obvious.
Day 36
We have changed tactics. We have decided, against our better moral judgement, that we shall use food to lure a wild pug to us. Yes, we are risking further reducing the wild population, but what choice do we have? We must study them somehow.
Day 36 - mid day
What a success! It had barely warmed up from the frosty winter morning when suddenly, we spotted it!
Approaching from the tall grass, cautiously. The majestic African Wild-Pug.
After scenting the food, it came running along the beaten down grass path where we set up camp.
It ate, and ate, and ate! You would not believe it! We got so close to it too! Close enough to see it's a female. We've decided to call it 'Specimen Alpha'.
When Specimen Alpha had eaten all the food, she took one look at us, peed on the boots of our expedition leader, and disappeared into the grass from where she came.
We will leave out food again tomorrow.
Day 37
Before we got a chance to set out food this morning, our pug-sniffing hound found her scent. Is it a risk to follow this trail? Will the wild-pug disappear if we come near its lair?
We followed, carrying food (the banana was eaten first yesterday, so we're taking extra of that). Hopefully, bearing gifts will put Specimen Alpha at ease.
Day 38
The trail is much longer than we anticipated. The wild-pug's speed and agility are noteworthy. We're still heading into the hills, pug-sniffing hound leading us as quickly as we can follow.
We are not small, agile dogs. We stomp along the rocky outcrop, we stumble on the loose rocks. We have none of the grace and poise of a wild pug.
Day 39
Just as we thought our pug-sniffing hound was leading us on a wild-goose chase, because yet another day what coming to an end, what appeared between the rocks but Specimen Alpha?!
She seems perfectly adapted to her environment. Even the light seems to converge to accentuate her best features.
Her legs are lean and long, her tail curled just like our pug-sniffer. Her teeth are white, her under-bite noticeable, and her eyes dark, like molten chocolate. Her ears are black, and seem to change form from moment to moment. She ate the bananas with great enthusiasm. She seems smaller and more timid than domesticated specimens.
The sun was setting, though, so we had to turn back much sooner than we would have liked. Our pug-sniffing hound seemed to know something before we did. She kept smiling at us.
We tried to say goodbye to Specimen Alpha, truly we did.
But she simply followed us.
So, we gave up. What can we learn from wild pug behaviour, other than a very large preference for human foods over what they can find in nature? Off we went into the sunset, now with one more member in our expedition. Was this the last wild pug? As she sleeps on my lap, I almost find myself hoping so. Truly, these dogs should be around humans. We are simply happier with them around.
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