wild dog and spoor | watercolour & ink

Tracking spoor — the footprints and subtle signs animals leave behind — is one of Africa’s oldest and most valuable skills. For thousands of years, people survived by reading the land, interpreting tracks to understand an animal’s direction, behaviour, and intentions long before they ever saw it. Today, this ancient knowledge remains essential. Rangers, guides, and conservationists use spoor to monitor wildlife, protect endangered species, and stay safe in the bush. This artwork pairing an African wild dog with its spoor honours that tradition — a quiet, instinctive way of understanding the wild that continues to guide and protect Africa’s animals.