I love African Painted Dogs and always have :3 they are just as beautiful, if not more, than wolves. I think their lack of popularity has to do with lack of public exposure. Wolves are (and used to be) all over the Northern Hemisphere. The Egyptian Jackal, through genetic research, shows evidence of being a relative to the Grey Wolf, closer to wolves than jackals. Wolves are in lots of places, while this beautiful animal with giant round ears is not. Even coyotes are in popular media. Same problem with other handsome canids and definitely beautiful felines like the Civic cat and even tigers and leopards.