Four African painted dog pups were born on Dec. 26, 2025, at the Saint Louis Zoo. These are the first births for this species at the Zoo, marking an important contribution to the endangered African painted dog population.
Six-year-old mom Chewie and the pups are doing well and bonding in their private, indoor maternity den. It will be several weeks before the family makes their public debut at the age when pups would naturally leave the den with their mother.
Seven-year-old father Anubis (pronounced uh-new-bis) can be seen by Zoo guests in the African painted dog habitat in River’s Edge. Anubis arrived at the Zoo in October 2025.
“This is an incredible moment for our Zoo,” said Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Saint Louis Zoo Kevin Beckmann Curator of Carnivores. “We are thrilled to see Chewie and the pups doing so well, and eager to celebrate the Zoo’s first-time breeding and births with the St. Louis community."
The first few months of life are critical for newborn pups. The Animal Care Team is closely monitoring the family via a closed-circuit camera. In the coming weeks, the pups will receive their first well-baby check by the Zoo’s Animal Health Team. At that time, Zoo staff will be able to determine the sex of each pup, and the pups will be named once their sexes are identified.
Species Survival Plan
Chewie and Anubis moved to the Saint Louis Zoo in 2024 and 2025, respectively, from other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) zoos. The two were paired on a breeding recommendation by the AZA African Painted Dog Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative program responsible for maintaining a genetically healthy population of endangered African painted dogs in North American zoos. The Zoo has been a proud partner of the AZA African Painted Dog SSP since 2014 and the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Program since 2025. The SSP works closely with global conservation partners to safeguard this species from extinction, making each successful birth a step forward for the future of the African painted dog.
“Fewer than ten surviving pups have been born in North American AZA zoos since 2023,” said Hartell-DeNardo. “We joined the breeding effort for this important species to support African painted dog conservation in a whole new way. These pups are a wonderful success story and a milestone for our team and the entire species.”
Fewer Than 2,000 Left in the Wild
Once common throughout sub-Saharan Africa, there are now fewer than 3,000 African painted dogs in the wild today. The species has lost approximately 90% of their habitat due to human activity. In addition, diseases such as rabies and canine distemper from domestic dogs have had a significant negative impact.
Since partnering with the AZA African Painted Dog SSP in 2014 and The AZA SAFE Program in 2025, Zoo scientists have conducted behavior observation studies, an extensive echocardiogram study and a hormone assessment to further knowledge about this species to assist conservation efforts.