Location:

Africa Trail - next to Cheetahs

Pepper has four black spots on left side of chest. She is the smallest of the group.
Tex has a light colored splotch on his right back flank in the shape of Texas.
Slash has a light colored strip or 'slash' on his right back flank (very obvious from the back). He is also the biggest of the three and has the most white on his tail.

After the girls passed away, it was critical that companionship be found for Pepper. African Painted Dogs are pack animals and have a complex social structure. Individuals do not do well alone. The SSP was contacted and Tex & Slash were bought to the zoo within less than a week of Ginger's passing.
Tex & Slash are actually litter mates of the Spice Girls. They had been at an AZA accredited institution in Oregon.
Nutmeg (F) 11/17/2016 passaway away April 2026 due to heart failure.
Ginger (F) 11/17/2016 humanely euthanized April 2026 due to numerous masses in her abdomen.
Born at Oklahoma Zoo and brought to Phoenix in October 2017
CONSERVATION: Through the AZA's SAFE African Painted Dog program, the Phoenix Zoo supports the Cheetah Conservation Initiative's efforts to track and census West Africa's last population of African painted dogs in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park. We also support a range-wide conservation planning process for African painted dogs.
Learn more here: https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2332/african_painted_dog_safe_program_plan_2022-2024_v_2.pdf

Food/enrichment: chunk meat, bones and rabbits. Occasionally, they will also get to do a carcass feed which is a group feed done out on exhibit with a portion of goat or horse carcass.
Group feedings work to enhance their bond and mitigate aggression if they are squabbling over pack hierarchy.
They are pretty easy to provide enrichment to because they are very energetic and will interact with almost anything you give them.
They are very scent-oriented so we use a variety of different herbs and spices, perfumes, lures, and even condiments (ketchup, mustard), which they love to roll around in.
They are typical siblings in that they can have three identical things and still prefer to fight over the same one, but again this enhances their bond and helps them work out their pack dynamic.
Painted dogs have light brown, dark brown and white patches of fur.

IUCN: Endangered
Also known as Cape Hunting Dogs or African Wild Dogs. Sometimes called Painted Wolf, although they are NOT wolves.
Pack size averages 6-30 individuals
Pack includes monogamous breeding pair, their young, and subordinate individuals
They cooperate in caring for young, as well as wounded or sick pack members
They feed regurgitated food to the young, wounded, and sick.
Disruptive coloration makes it hard for predators or prey to know how large the pack is when they're running.
Large ears give them excellent hearing and 'ear-conditioning'
Best cooperative hunters on land (70-90% success rate)
Unique feature is the general lack of aggression between pack members
Comunicate with high pitched squeeks
Will set up a chase with leader sending prey to area where others are hiding
Will eat gazelle, impala, wildebeest, small antelope
Can run up to 3 miles at more than 35 mph