Project Update Third Quarter 2019: Changing Lives

By Peter Blinston, Painted Dog Conservation Executive Director

This is a constant theme of ours. We know it can and does make a difference. Be it a painted dog's life saved by the removal of a snare or a person inspired to change their life.

A once in a lifetime for many children is enough for them to go on and change the world. Certainly, our Iganyana Children's Bush Camp plays a vital role in this regard.

More than 800 children have attended our camp so far this year.

Project Update Third Quarter 2019: A War Against Poaching

By Peter Blinston, Painted Dog Conservation Executive Director

Bring in the troops is an expression I have used before. It is literally the case as we continue to face the challenge of mitigating the threat of illegal hunting activities.

Lephias, on the left, has been recognised for his dedication and is the recipient of The Paradise Found African Ranger Award.

We have collected more than 2000 snares this year. Taking the total to well over 30,000 since we began this life-saving work in 2001.

Project Update Third Quarter 2019: The Threat of Rabies

By Peter Blinston, Painted Dog Conservation Executive Director

Rabies is an ever present threat to the painted dogs in our region. We suffered the loss of the Mabuyamabhema pack in 2017 and to help combat this we have stepped up our efforts to vaccinate as many domestic dogs against rabies (and distemper) in the surrounding villages.

We are supported in this vital work by Wildlife Vets International

Most importantly is the collaboration with our local Veterinary Department, who we also assisted recently with the donation of a solar system and refrigeration at their offices in near Dete.

During the campaign, we vaccinated more than 1500 domestic dogs.

The Legendary Browny has joined Socks

©Will Burrard Lucas: Browny and Socks’ (his alpha female) pups in 2013 at the den.

It is with deep sorrow that we inform you about the death of Browny, a member of the Destiny pack and Sock's alpha male of the then Nyamandlovu pack. He was found dead on Sunday by our Executive Director, Peter Blinston. Browny was more than nine years old.

Below, Peter gives a detailed account of how he found Browny and the alpha's contribution to his kind over the years...

 “He was seen the morning of Sept 14th by PDC staff and they reported to me that he looked weak and struggling to keep up with Lucy and Lily, who stopped to wait for him. When I heard this I suspected that his time was nearly up. Nine is old for a painted dog.

©PDC: Browny at 9 years old.

I drove out on Sunday afternoon to look for Browny, basing my search on 20 years of acquired knowledge and gut feelings. I started my search where he had been seen on Saturday morning and drove north towards Elephant Eye Safari Camp. As the road forked left towards Elephant Eye itself, instinct told me to go right. Right was right. I picked up the signal from Browny’s collar after approximately two kilometres. I drove towards the signal, knowing he was near the road or maybe on the road itself. The signal from his collar changed from resting (30bpm) to moving (45bpm). But his actual location did not change. Maybe he was lying down, irritated by mopane bees?

I drove as close as I could get to him and estimated he was still 500m off the road. I checked for the signals from Lucy and Lily, but there was none. Browny was on his own. 

Without hesitation I drove in, manoeuvring my way around trees until I was really close. I knew Browny would not get up until I was right next to him because he has become so accustomed to our vehicles and dare I say he got to know us.

As I stepped out of my Land Rover I saw a hyena running away, approximately 150m in front of me, the same distance I estimated Browny to be “resting”. As I walked forward I could care less about the hyena, I knew, deep down, that Browny was dead. In my head, I kept repeating, “please, don’t let it be snare.” I’m sure I said it out loud as well.

©Will Burrard Lucas: Browny and his Nyamandlovu family

I walked up to what remained of Browny; the hyena must have been hungry. I estimated that he had died on Saturday morning, not long after our guys had seen him. It was fitting that PDC staff were the last people to see him alive and that I had found him. I loaded his remains into my car and drove him back to our Rehab, where he was buried alongside Socks. He had been her mate, father of 36 pups and grandfather to many more painted dogs that still roam Hwange NP and beyond. He had certainly played his sole in maintaining his kind and we already miss him.”

The Mpindo pack: Translocation to Chikwenya at Mana Pools

Together with Capmount Lodges, Wilderness Safaris Zimbabwe and Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) have joined forces to translocate a pack of painted dogs, aka wild dogs, named the Mpindo pack from Hwange National Park to Chikwenya at Mana Pools National Park on 23 September. A feet that further demonstrate Wilderness Safaris ‘s conservation commitment, the move will help to increase the current painted dog population in Mana Pools while mitigating the threat of human-wildlife conflict in Hwange.

Snowtail, alpha female of the Mpindo pack

Jonathan, alpha male of Mpindo pack

With fewer than 7 000 wild dogs left in Africa, it is imperative that we continue to take proactive measures to help secure the future of the species. Wilderness Safaris and Capmount Lodges are excited to work with us, where the combination of their unique skill sets and our conservation values will help drive the success of this vital relocation project.

Wilderness Safaris has also organised a Wilderness Air Caravan to move the dogs from Hwange to Mana, and will pick up the costs to feed the dogs over the next few months. The PDC team will be based at Chikwenya for the duration of the project, and will work closely with Wilderness Safaris’ field team to ensure that all logistical requirements are taken care of.

Photo Credit: Wilderness Safaris

The primary reason for the move is to mitigate a human-wildlife conflict issue on the eastern boundary of Hwange National Park. This pack was reported to be predating on goats in February 2018. We captured them in June under a directive from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, and held them at our Rehabilitation Centre until December before releasing them back into the Park. Unfortunately, they went back to the same communal land area and we were instructed to capture them again and come up with a location further away. The current relatively low painted dog population in Mana Pools, combined with the support from Wilderness Safaris, has provided the ideal opportunity for this translocation and release.

One of the most positive factors of this project is the opportunity for Chikwenya guests to become “citizen scientists” by actively supporting and participating in the project. Guests staying at the camp on 23 September are able to be part of the translocation experience, from when the dogs arrive at the airstrip and are moved and released into the boma. Our Executive Director, Peter Blinston, will also be available to speak to guests about his research and work on this incredible species. Throughout the rest of the season, until late November 2019, Chikwenya guests will be able to visit the painted dogs in the boma and interact with the PDC researchers in camp, and again next year when they are released.

Photo Credit: Wilderness Safaris

Entirely dedicated to wild dog conservation in Zimbabwe, we monitor more than six packs across Hwange. The Nyamepi research base in Mana Pools assists our efficiency in data collection by enabling researchers to process samples on site on a daily basis. Once the dogs are released from the boma, Wilderness Safaris guests and guides will be encouraged to continue contributing to wild dog conservation by taking photos, and noting dates and times of sightings.

Painted Dog Conservation and Wilderness Safaris: About Our Partnership

• Wilderness Safaris Zimbabwe has partnered with Painted Dog Conservation to help drive the conservation of wild dog in Mana Pools and Hwange National Parks.