Last summer, not long after releasing a pioneer pack of 14 African wild dogs into Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park;

Beira, the alpha female of the pack, had been pregnant when the dogs were set free.

She knew that the closely bonded and highly endangered apex predators had dug a maternity den for their queen, and that Beira had spent a lot of time down there.

Finally, this year, Beira give birth in late April to 11 pups, who emerged from their den in early June.