Protecting Painted Dogs

The dedicated work of our field partners working with painted dogs continues to deliver outstanding results, highlighting the vital importance of your generous support. This quarter, we have witnessed remarkable developments within Hwange National Park’s buffer zone, where painted dog populations are now at their highest levels in over 25 years. The flourishing Umkhonto pack, now 15-strong with an additional nine healthy pups, stands as a testament to the success of our conservation initiatives. Ensuring the safety and stability of packs like Umkhonto remains a top priority. 

A cornerstone of our success is the relentless commitment of our Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), the largest in the region, supported since its inception by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. In the past six months, the team conducted 1,115 foot patrols, covering 16,093 kilometres and dedicating over 6,000 hours to safeguarding painted dogs and their habitat. These efforts resulted in the apprehension of 12 poachers and the removal of countless snares, preventing the death of wildlife. Working in challenging conditions, including extreme temperatures, rugged terrain, and with the persistent threat of armed poachers, the APU remains steadfast in its mission. 

Our partner’s Bush Camp programme continues to shape the future of conservation through education. Since its establishment in 2003, this immersive initiative has reached over 16,861 children, providing a free four-day experience to 22 local primary schools annually. The programme covers topics such as extinction, climate change, and ecological adaptations, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for wildlife. Importantly, several former Bush Camp graduates now contribute to our operations as staff, embodying the transformative impact of this initiative. 

Rehabilitation also remains a critical component of our work. Injured, orphaned, or displaced painted dogs and packs are cared for and reintroduced into the wild whenever possible. This process not only contributes to the survival of individual animals but also supports the long-term health of the species as a whole. 

Despite these successes, the socio-economic environment in Zimbabwe presents ongoing challenges. High inflation has significantly increased operational costs, particularly for fuel, food, and essential supplies. These economic pressures, compounded by the lingering effects of a poor rainy season, underscore the critical need for continued support to sustain our programmes. 

The dedication of our staff and the resilience of the painted dogs we protect inspire hope for the future. With your unwavering support, we will continue to expand our efforts and safeguard this endangered species for generations to come. 

Thank you for standing with us as we work to ensure a secure and thriving future for painted dogs in Zimbabwe. 

As the end of summer approaches, our partner’s rescue facility in Zimbabwe is buzzing with activity. A young pup named Comfort, whose pack was tragically killed, has been in the research facility for a little while now after farmers discovered her and contacted our partners to rescue her. She is recovering well, and there are hopes to release her back into the wild once she’s ready and strong enough. Another resident at the outreach facility, Lucky, however may not have the same good fortune as Comfort. Due to spinal abnormalities, her head is tilted; this can affect the balance and coordination of a painted dog, making it unsafe for her to be released back into the wild. For the time being, both pups are enjoying their stay in the rehabilitation facility and are being well looked after and growing in strength and confidence every day.

On a more positive note, the Umkhonto pack continues to thrive in the buffer zone outside Hwange National Park, thanks to our partner’s vigilant monitoring and collaboration with the Anti-Poaching Unit. Their ability to maintain pack size and ensure habitat safety is a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of our conservation efforts in this zone.

With mating season beginning , our partners are turning their focus to monitoring and observing the Nyamepi pack who are already denning. It is thought that early denning may be due to the dogs trying to avoid disturbances from safari operators who, on occasion, get too close to a pack and cause distress to pregnant females and young pups. Fortunately, there have been no disturbance incidents reported so far, and we hope this continues, at least until the pups are older.

Education remains a cornerstone of our conservation efforts, and our partner’s Children’s Bush Camp continues to provide exemplary conservation education to young people. So far, this year they have welcomed seven local schools, including a primary school dedicated to serving children with special educational needs. In 2024, the wonderful Mr. Nsimango will have led these bush camps for 20 years, having started in 2004. Both DSWF and our partners are immensely grateful for Mr. Nsimango’s exceptional dedication to conservation education. Since 2004, he has educated over 13,000 children about conservation and the importance of coexisting with nature, transforming the Children’s Bush Camp into a flagship programme.

As always, thank you for your generous support in providing a more sustainable future for the painted dogs of Zimbabwe, and the communities that live alongside them.

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