News Updates

Painted Dog Conservation 27/04/2022 Painted Dog Conservation 27/04/2022

25 Years and Counting...

It seems incredible to think that I’ve been committed to creating an environment where painted dogs can thrive for 25 years now….and counting. I first came out to Zimbabwe in 1997 to see what Greg Rasmussen and his then Painted (Hunting) Dog Research Project were doing. It was the proverbial one-man-band or put another way one man and his dog(s).

*Peter Blinston - Executive Director, Painted Dog Conservation*

It seems incredible to think that I’ve been committed to creating an environment where painted dogs can thrive for 25 years now….and counting.

I first came out to Zimbabwe in 1997 to see what Greg Rasmussen and his then Painted (Hunting) Dog Research Project were doing. It was the proverbial one-man-band or put another way one man and his dog(s).

I had actually met Greg in Falmouth in January 1997, but the beginning of the journey goes back to June 1996 when I read an article in the Royal Geographical Magazine. The article gave me David Shepherd Foundation as a contact and Mel Shepherd gave me a fax number in Zimbabwe. I guess the rest is history!

Since then I have maintained a single focus to build a robust organisation that is equipped to tackle the multiple challenges of front line conservation.

Key to that has been developing a strong working relationship with our local Chief, Chief Nelukoba, who I first met in 1998. And he has been a resolute spokesperson ever since.

At this stage, I was already talking of the need to create structure and met with lawyer Kevin Arnott in Harare to discuss the options. Soon after that I met Jerry Gotora at a Wildlife Society AGM in Kwekwe and told Greg that Jerry needs to be our Chairman. Happily, Jerry agreed and like Chief Nelukoba he has been a combination of rock and guiding hand on our Board ever since, A Board that has necessarily evolved to also comprise Everisto Marowanyanga as Secretary, Moyra Thain as Treasurer and Chief Nekatambe.

Jealous has been another ever-present and he is also closing in on 25 years and counting…. I remember meeting him for the first time in May 1998, he was cutting the grass at the house we rented. I went into the field with Greg, where we cut or rather attempted to cut a pathway to the den of a painted dog pack. In the evening I was nursing my tattered, blistered, thorn torn hands. In the morning I told Jealous to join us because I knew for sure that he would be better at wielding an axe than me.

*Peter Blinston and Senior Tracker Jealous Mpofu in Mana Pools*

It was the start of a friendship and trust that has also stood the test of time and a day in the field with him, tracking dogs is a privilege.

The threats to the painted dogs are many. Loss of quality habitat sums it up but it is way more complex than that.

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Talk of elephant populations and poaching dominates the landscape. Hwange National Park, where I live, is home to an estimated 40,000 elephants and 200 painted wolves. It is obvious to me which species will win the race to extinction. A race no species wants to be in let alone win.

Immediate action is required as well as a long term strategic approach. I believe that the individual is the key. Changing an individual’s life, be it an individual painted dog or a person can and does make a difference. A life-changing difference. And it’s done, one day at a time, one life at a time. There is no quick fix. There is no simple answer or remedy to saving an endangered species.

I have been challenged physically and emotionally, so many times in the past years. On more occasions than I care to remember I have found myself asking just how much I have to give. Knowing that the answer is always more, more, more.

*Peter Blinston, Tracker Washington Moyo and Sam Blinston collaring a painted dog*

Even after all the literal, sweat blood and tears that have flown in the past 25 years, I know that the future is still no more certain or secure than it was twenty years ago.

I remain as committed as ever, to building a team, equipped physically and mentally to take on the challenges that lie ahead. The team are all local people, literally, the majority of the 66 staff are from the local villages that surround us. Their development is key to creating the capacity and robustness needed so that Painted Dog Conservation endures as an organisation beyond any one individual

*Peter Blinston and Painted Dog Conservation Operations Manager David Kuvawoga*

The hill is steep, some say it’s too steep to climb, but I say climb it in your own way. Above all, be determined to reach the top.

Such is life on the front line of conservation, where the future is so uncertain.

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Painted Dog Conservation 15/02/2019 Painted Dog Conservation 15/02/2019

Painted Dog Conservation Annual Report 2018

We are pleased to present our 2018 Annual Report. 20 years on the front-line of conservation!

We are pleased to present the Painted Dog Conservation Annual Report 2018.

We would like to thank all of our friends and supporters who make the work we do possible. Not just because of your financial contributions but because you care. You work with us as an integral part of our team and we cannot succeed without you.

Please do share with us your feedback, we would love to hear from you.

Read and/or download it here.

Thank you!

Painted Dog Conservation 11/12/2018 Painted Dog Conservation 11/12/2018

We have released the Mpindo pack.

We have released the Mpindo pack back into the wild where they belong. Read full story here.

Our Executive Director, Peter Blinston, being advised by our research team decided we release the Mpindo pack today. The pack of 2 adult painted dogs named Snow-Tail and Jonathan and their 8 pups have been in our Rehabilitation Facility for the past 6 months. We rescued them end of June from a communal land where they had denned.

Peter Blinston briefing the team before the operation began

We all gathered up at the Rehab at around 7am for a briefing from Peter on how the capture operation was going to be carried out. Simple plan, lay out nets, drive the painted dogs to the net, get to them while they are still figuring out how to escape and call a vet to put them to sleep.

Among the team were PDC staff, John Lemon from Painted Dog Conservation Inc in Australia, 2 vets and some friends of PDC came together to carry out this operation.

The team swiftly and efficiently got all 8 pups and the 2 adults. We immobilised them and fitted the adults with collars.

John Lemon holding down a pup before a Vet put it to sleep

Snow-Tail, the alpha female, was fitted with a VHF collar, thanks to Wild Dogs MTB SA for donating one.

Snow-Tail being fitted with a VHF radio collar (thanks to Wild Dogs MTB SA)

Jonathan, the alpha male, was fitted with GPS collar courtesy of Painted Dog Conservation UK.

Jonathan, alpha male, being fitted with a GPS collar, thanks to Painted Dog Conservation UK

Soon enough all the ten dogs were in the trailer and we took off to the place of release, called Jambili, inside Hwange National Park, far from the communal land and hopefully in the safety of the protected area.

Mpindo pack in the trailer before release (NB: some not caught in the camera)

We released the painted dogs at the Jambili pan. We believe the place has reasonable prey base and will help fast track the adaptation of the pack to their life back in the wild.

The team opens the trailer to release the Mpindo pack at Jambili pan

Jonathan was the first to get off the trailer

There goes Snow-Tail, off into the wild where she and her pack belong

This is what Peter had to say about the whole operation of capturing and releasing the Mpindo pack today.

Thank you all for all your efforts, support and kind words through this whole mission from the time we brought in the Mpindo pack to the time we released it. Success that you have helped us achieve and with your continued support we will continue to change lives. Of both people and painted dogs.

Peter checking the signal of the collars on Jonathan and Snow-Tail after the release

To support the work we do for painted dogs kindly donate and help us save the species from extinction. To contact us kindly fill in the contact form on the ‘Contact Us’ page or contact via our social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Painted Dog Conservation 10/12/2018 Painted Dog Conservation 10/12/2018

Meet the Mpindos...

As preparations for the release of the Mpindo pack back into the wild now at an advanced stage here, we thought we take some time and give you some information about the individuals of this pack.

Preparations for the release of the Mpindo pack back into the wild are now at an advanced stage. Meanwhile we thought we give you some information about the individuals in the pack.

The Mpindo pack is comprised of 10 painted dogs, 2 adults and 8 pups. The 2 adults are also the alphas of the pack namely Snow-Tail, the alpha female, and Jonathan the alpha male.

Snow-Tail

This is Snow-Tail. She is the alpha female of Mpindo pack and the mother of the now six-month old 8 Mpindo pups that came into our Rehabilitation Facility barely 2 weeks old.

Snow-Tail dispersed from the then Brokenrifle pack in 2016 and only reappeared in June this year as an alpha of her newly found pack, the Mpindo pack.

She has been a good mother, putting her pups first and taking care of them to become what they are today…ready to take on the wild world.

Jonathan

This is Jonathan, the alpha male of the Mpindo pack and father of the 8 Mpindo pups. Together with Snow-Tail, they founded the Mpindo pack.

We could not locate Jonathan in our extensive id files (20 packs of more than 150 individuals) we have for painted dogs in Hwange National Park. Jonathan might have come a long way from an unknown pack to us, it confirms our belief that they may be other painted dogs deep inside Hwange National Park, which is a good thing.

Jonathan has been a good mate to Snow-Tail and good father to the pups, letting them eat first every mealtime at our Rehabilitation Facility.

The pups

And there are the pups, 8 of them and 6 months old. They are the hope of regeneration of this pack, they should become efficient hunters and survive the hunters. They should carry on the legacy, reproduce and survive into the future.

Stay tuned!

Painted Dog Conservation 18/05/2018 Painted Dog Conservation 18/05/2018

#EndangeredSpeciesDay

Today is #EndangeredSpeciesDay, an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions they can take to help protect them.

Painted dogs are one of the most endangered species in the whole of Africa. They are native to Africa and are not found in the wild anywhere else on the planet. Fewer than 7,000 painted dogs are left across the entire continent. There are roughly 700 painted dogs in Zimbabwe, and we work with local populations of both humans and dogs—via conservation, education, and outreach programs—to help them not only survive here, but thrive.

To learn more and get updates about painted dogs, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To support our work, you can donate via our Wildlife Conservation Network partner:
https://donate.wildnet.org/…
OR
Support our #SponsorAChild #SaveThePaintedDog campaign for the Iganyana Children's Bush Camp here:
https://www.bonfire.com/pdc-bush-camp-15th-anniversary/

📷@Nick Dyer