Wildlife Conservation Zimbabwe Project #25601

Protecting Painted Dogs

by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

Project Report | Aug 9, 2019
Protecting Painted Dogs - August update 2019

By Theo Bromfield | Project Leader

Thank you for donating to our Protecting Painted Dogs project. Your support helps to fund The Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), the ground-based conservation partners that David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation supports and who work to protect painted dogs in Zimbabwe.

Poaching remains one of the single biggest threats to not only painted dogs but also to all wildlife in the area surrounding Hwange National Park, which is where the PDC operates. Due to the socio-economic situation in Zimbabwe, alongside high unemployment levels, many are turning to illegal hunting practices for subsistence.

PDC provides anti-poaching units which carry out daily patrols to protect the park. They provide a blanket of protection which covers a region of approximately 10,000 km², and since 2001 the anti-poaching units have collected over 30,000 snares form the area, each having posed a deadly threat to painted dogs and many other wildlife.

A big factor in working to protect painted dogs in Zimbabwe is about changing attitudes and cultures – previously, painted dogs were seen as a threat to livestock, as a predator who might put livelihoods at risk. After the incredible work that PDC has carried out in the local community over many decades, painted dogs are now seen more as a bringer of luck, an essential part of the landscape and worth protecting for the future.

One of the main drivers in this change of attitude has been the educational Bush Camps which PDC holds – 24 of them in the last year alone, reaching nearly 800 children. This DSWF-sponsored, free of charge program provides educational resources and activities for children, teaching them not just about painted dogs, but about the value of conservation, the importance of wildlife and how we all should work to respect and protect nature.

We couldn’t continue to fund this essential work without your support.

Links:

View painted dogs on our site

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May 14, 2019
2017-2018 Conservation Update

By Theo Bromfield | Programmes & Policy Executive

Feb 6, 2019
Rescued painted dog pack returns to the wild!

By Jayne Horswill | David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

Credit: Vuk Valcic | Painted Dog Conservation

Thanks to your help, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) is able to support the protection of painted dogs in Zimbabwe.

A much-overlooked species, painted dogs are one of the most persecuted animals in their habitats. Their existence isn't globally known, let alone the threats they face as one of our planet's most highly endangered hunters.

Specifically, DSWF supports Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) in Zimbabwe, working to protect these fascinating creatures and educate local communities about their plight.

Back in July, we reported that a pack of eight pups and two adults was rescued and taken into PDC's rehabilitation facility.

We're now delighted to report that the pack has been successfully released back into the wild, where they belong.

In December, when the family was deemed ready for release, the dogs were safely caught, anaesthetised by a specialist vet, and the adults were fitted with tracking collars.

All ten dogs were transported in a trailer for release safely inside the protected area of Hwange National Park, far away from the communal land where they were originally found.

Peter Blinston, PDC's Executive Director, said: "We released the painted dogs at the Jambili pan. We believe this place has reasonable prey base and will help fast-track the adaptation of the pack to their life back in the wild."

Painted dogs have a large home range and it's very likely that they will move on from the release site to establish their own territories. The tracking collars fitted on the adult dogs will allow the PDC team to follow the pack's progress.

DSWF funds PDC’s work with communities in Zimbabwe to conserve the species in one of its last strongholds. DSWF funds vital anti-poaching work and education programmes to encourage tolerance for the dogs from local communities and land owners.

Look out for our future updates on how YOUR donations are helping to save this endangered species.

Click here to find out more about our work protecting painted dogs.

Image credit: Painted Dog Conservation.

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