Protecting Painted Dogs

The last six months have been extremely challenging for our ground-based conservation partners in Zimbabwe due to the escalating costs of operations. Largely due to increases in fuel prices and the prices of commodities, including rations for the rangers. This is forcing our partners to ration fuel, which negatively impacts operations. Increased costs are also impacting upon the education program and although this has managed to continue as normal for now, it is unlikely that the full program can be sustained unless costs begin to decrease soon.

The painted dog population in Hwange National Park remains stable at around 200 individuals. Poaching trends have remained about constant in this area for the past six months. 16 rangers have been supported by DSWF in that period and they patrolled for a total of 5,464 hours covering a total of 15,446 kilometres. However, the dog population is slowly declining in the Zambezi valley and the Mana Pools National Park where our partners are seeing fewer dogs than ten years ago, potentially due to the combined pressure from lions, hyena and high levels of tourism in those areas.

Unfortunately, the greatest threat to painted dogs is humans. Because of this, we are prioritising support of work with local communities to improve awareness of the threats facing painted dogs. In the past six months our conservation partners saw an increase in painted dogs approaching nearby villages to predate on livestock. However, we were all thrilled that although the dogs did approach the village, the community were very proactive in chasing the dogs away non-violently. The village even established a WhatsApp group to alert each other of the dogs’ presence. Our partners rapid response unit were also on hand alongside a tracking team to help chase the dogs away and thus minimise losses to livestock.

Poaching remains a constant threat to the dogs. DSWF support anti-poaching units who conduct a minimum of 40 patrols per month looking for all signs of poaching activities, snares, spoor, fires, carcasses, vehicle tracks and gunshots. The presence is deterrence to would be poachers, as they know, the chances of being spotted are real.

The work of the anti-poaching units has been bolstered by a beneficial and successful collaboration with several community anti-poaching units most notably the Mabale community. The relationship with this community group arose out of the need for increased anti-poaching support during the worst of the pandemic but it has continued since. The stipend the Mabale community rangers receive significantly boosts the local economy at a time when opportunities are still scarce because of the impacts of the pandemic. Having seen their success, many communities in the area are replicating the efforts of the Mabale Community and making their villages safe for livestock and wildlife, and some are also showing interest in setting up further voluntary community anti-poaching units which will continue to bolster anti-poaching efforts within the region.

Our partners flagship education programme, the Children's Bush Camp, has run smoothly in the past six months. It continues to provide local children with educational opportunities and the chance to experience nature which they normally would never have. The program has been very successful in improving literacy amongst participating children, which has presented further opportunities to engage with them in a more sophisticated way in terms of developing their appreciation for the environment and wildlife. In addition the conservation clubs also continue to engage the kids with conservation education even after they have left the Bush Camp including through a new series of wildlife and environment quizzes and competitions that our partners have set up to further maintain the children’s interest.

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Reports from ground-based conservation partners in Zimbabwe, Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) show a stable, viable population of painted dogs remains in and around Hwange National Park, with 176 adult dogs in 26 packs with an average pack size of 6.6. Four breeding packs were also recorded with a total of 31 pups.

Currently the PDC anti-poaching units (APU) patrol in and around the national park. The APU teams look for all signs of poaching activities including snares, spoor, fires, carcasses, vehicle tracks and gunshots. Their increased presence is a deterrence to would be poachers. The patrols are supplemented by the strategic deployment of the Community Anti-Poaching Units, which now represents 40 individuals. This increase in units has led to the establishment of five bases for an extended period of April to November 2022, which typically sees the highest levels of poaching activity. The performances of both the APU and the Community APU patrols exceeded expectations in the past year. The APU managed 53 patrols a month, against a target of 40 with 3,500 snares removed from the bush, effectively saving the lives of more than 350 animals. The Community APU averaged 23 patrols a month, doubling their target. 3,176 kilometres were patrolled and resulted in 28 poachers being arrested and prosecuted and 1,857 snares removed from the bush, effectively saving the lives of more than 180 animals. These figures are based on conservative estimates that approximately 10% of snares placed in the bush result in the killing of wildlife.

To further prevent poaching, in recent years PDC have also increased its emphasis on recruiting informants from the local community. Currently they have four reliable informants, and their assistance has now resulted in the arrest of more than 20 poachers. PDC have also strengthened their partnership with the local authorities to try and ensure that poachers are convicted according to the letter of the law.

It is vital to encourage local communities to engage in conservation for the wider protection of painted dogs and the entire ecosystem. By conducting education and providing incentives to the local communities who previously impact negatively on the wildlife (not just painted dogs but their prey species) can lead to the desired behavioural change where people take positive action to protect the dogs, their prey, and the habitat. This vital work also involves the younger generation through engaging with them via bush camps which teach local children conservation concepts, an understanding of ecological relationships, the value of biodiversity, an appreciation of painted dogs and the role they play in ecosystems, and to inspire an emotional attachment to the beauty and complexity of nature.

DSWF relies entirely on donations and support from generous individuals like you to continue to fight wildlife crime, protect species and engage individuals and communities to ensure a brighter future for wildlife. So, thank you for your support in helping to give Painted Dog’s a chance of survival. 

Find out more about our work with Painted Dogs