Field update: Rabies scare

Following an alarming report of a wounded painted dog yesterday, our Executive Director, Peter Blinston and Senior Tracker Jealous Mpofu headed out to the location. They assessed the situation and identified the painted dog as Francie, the alpha female of the Ngweshla pack. Acting out of sense of purpose to help save a dog in need, Peter darted the painted dog, approximately 40m from the waterhole.

As often with being on the frontline of conservation and dealing with wildlife, every situation is unpredictable, Francie walked into the waterhole leaving Peter with no choice but to follow her. He went into the water to be near her and watched her until she showed signs the drugs were working and then grabbed her. Thus making sure her mouth and nose didn’t go underwater at any time.

The late Francie, alpha female of the Ngweshla pack ID file.

She was full of bite marks, a trait consistent with rabies. They took her to our Rehabilitation Facility where she was quarantined and later died. We have so far sent samples to a veterinary lab to confirm the disease.

While the biggest threats to painted dogs come from humans in form of poaching and expanding human settlement that reduces suitable habitat for them and their prey, they are also susceptible to diseases such as rabies and distemper from domestic dogs.

Given their social nature, a disease such as rabies can permeate an entire group through just one dog, and wipe out a whole pack. Mindful of this, identifying and containing the disease is an integral part of our work.

Peter’s Landrover overheated while was searching for the rest of members of Ngweshla pack.

This morning, Peter headed out into Hwange National Park in search of the rest of the Ngweshla pack to see if they need to be brought in as well. Unfortunately, his Landrover engine overheated. Jealous and the other team are still on the job.

Your support makes it possible for us to act when it matters to save the endangered painted dog.

#conservationonthefrontline #savethepainteddog #rabiesisakiller #francie #ngweshla #pdc