quarry. Hunting in the Serengeti is less successful, according to behavioral scientist Hugo van Lawick, who studied dogs in that region (Grzimek, 1990, p. 133).
Contrary to what has been generally assumed, panic does not erupt in the herd of the quarry animals when a pack of hunting dogs trot toward them. Those animals that are closest to the dogs usually trot or gallop rather slowly alongside, turn, and then watch the dogs, who continue their course. Only if a pack has had a few fruitless hunts in succession, or if it has been hunting in the same area for a long time are the hunted animals gripped with fear. However, as soon as the dogs run instead of walking or trotting, all quarry animals within a radius of several hundred yards will usually run away as fast as possible (Grzimek, 1990, p. 134).
As soon as the quarry begins to run, the dogs begin their pursuit in earnest. At this point, the hunt can proceed in a number of ways. Sometimes, especially when the dogs approach a small herd, it may look as if the quarry has been selected by the leader of the pack, even before the beginning of the hunt. When the leader starts chasing a particular animal, the other dogs follow his example and will chase after the same animal, until it is either killed or escapes. In other situations, usually when the dogs are pursuing large herds, the pack runs up to a group of animals briefly and either stands still, or proceeds slowly and watches to determine exactly which way the herd is running. Then it may be that they pursue a single animal, or they trot off and repeat the same tactic with another herd. Sometimes, dogs in a given pack split up and undertake several simultaneous hunts once they have set a herd in motion. Occasionally, two such hunts will be successful, particularly at the time the gnus are born, when the dogs strike out after the calves. More often, the various hunts will then become one. It is as if each dog keeps...