Reduce

Actively take steps to Reduce known causes of mortality and prevent those that may be looming

Every effort is made to reduce deaths with new innovative ideas being pursued to improve pack survival. For example, road signs have been erected alerting motorists to the problem and packs that utilise the main roads are fitted with retro-reflective collars providing additional safety. These measures have reduced the mortalities by half. Currently also being used are anti-snare plates in the collars of vulnerable packs and this has already saved a number of lives as well as maintained the integrity and stability of a number of packs.

We work closely with ranchers who have dog packs in their farmland. These dogs have colour coded collars which enable the farmers to understand for themselves the nomadic nature of the dogs and thus realise that their numbers are in fact very low. This work has secured a cease-fire in a number of areas and dialogue has ensued in a number of regions. This has resulted in the dogs not only utilising farmlands, but also breeding there. The work with the ranchers has allowed packs to re-colonise areas where the species has not been seen for ±50 years.

Consequently the National Pack has been seen expanding over the last few years.

The Project's community outreach and school programme (described below) helps the project to identify current as well as historic perceptions, traditional values and medicinal uses of dogs. Traditionally poachers capable of wiping out whole packs would sell the parts to the traditional healers. These same poachers as well as non-poaching members of the community are now employed to help locate the dens and assist with the collaring. Schools in these villages are given priority treatment so that the whole community rather than one poacher gains benefit from the dogs being alive.

The data generated is providing essential information regarding the impacts on this very endangered species both inside and outside protected areas as well as an insight into overall public perception. The data obtained on the local gene pool will enable a healthier national gene pool to be maintained. Capture techniques have been refined and this has made translocation a reality. These dogs not only survived but subsequently bred. This ability to move threatened packs was a hallmark for the species and dog conservation now has a powerful tool for the benefit of this endangered carnivore. This has paved the way for translocation of new blood lines into existing depauperate gene pools as well as presenting the ability to move whole family units should they establish themselves in sensitive farming areas.

Updated: 09 September 2007

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