Project update - April 2005

The Painted Dogs of Zimbabwe

From Project Director, Peter Blinston ….. a personal story…..

With a big smile never far from his face, Jealous has been driving out each day to locate and follow the various study packs. He has learnt the art of radio telemetry well. Combining this skill with his inherent tracking ability, he has no trouble in keeping up with the dogs. In particular he has focused his attention on the Sethule Pack and happily reports that they show no permanent physical damage from the hyena attack (as reported in DSWF's Wildlife Matters Autumn 2004 Issue*). His main comment has been that it was strange for him to be out tracking dogs without me; such is the nature of our work together over the years.

2004 drew to a close with an outbreak of anthrax in the Save / Malilangwe region of Zimbabwe, providing yet another threat to the countries embattled wildlife and testing the resolve of the dedicated conservationists who remain. Dr Chris Foggin is one such person, a wildlife vet with years of experience, who still works tirelessly to do what he can for the wildlife here during these increasingly difficult times. It was Dr Foggin who contacted us with the sad news that a pack of painted dogs had fallen victim to the anthrax outbreak on the Malilangwe Trust Estate near Chiredzi, with the bodies of the five adults being found around the den site. Remarkably two tiny pups who were only 4 or 5 weeks old remained alive! They were at the stage where they were just about taking regurgitated meat from the adults and yet had somehow avoided the anthrax that had killed their parents. Dr Foggin treated the tiny pups and placed them in the care of Colin and Anne Wenham of Malilangwe Trust. They were kept in quarantine for the necessary period to be absolutely sure they were free of the deadly bacteria. Once Dr Foggin was happy that the pups were indeed free of anthrax, he contacted us, asking if we could now take care of the pups and make a plan to get them back into the wild? Of course we said yes, and I drove the 800 plus kilometres from Hwange to Malilangwe with Xmas Mpofu, the supervisor of our rehabilitation facility.

The story of the rescue of the pups highlights to me, two key aspects of Painted Dog Conservation. The first is the "national" aspect of the organisation as we are called upon to deal with any and all incidents concerning painted dogs the length and breadth of the country. Of equal significance to me is the capacity building we undertake that is highlighted by the personal development of Jealous and Xmas. We can perhaps take some credit, but it is our trusted volunteers like John Lemon, who make their own personal sacrifices and join us for extended periods, who make it possible for Painted Dog Conservation to grow.

Children's Bush Camp

The opening of our Children's Bush Camp in 2004 was a major achievement and the result of much sweat and tears. DSWF contributed substantially, not only to the physical building and fitting out of the camp but also the capacity building that came from the training courses conducted by our Education Officer, Bruce Lombardo.

Over 600 children, from the 15 local Primary Schools attended the camp in 2004.

With few such alternative educational resources or enrichment opportunities in their lives, the bush camp experience has turned out to be a highlight in the childhood of local students. Children leave the experience very enthusiastic about nature conservation. They spread their enthusiasm and newfound knowledge to their families, peers and other members of their communities. Parents and community leaders are pleased and grateful for this opportunity for their children. The relationship between the project and the community has been affected in a very positive manner, generating an even greater stakeholder attitude toward the project's conservation goals in general, and the protection of the painted dog population specifically.

The bush camp programme is an unparalleled educational opportunity for local children that will have a significantly positive impact on conservation endeavours in the area by encouraging a stakeholder attitude in local communities over time and by providing direct benefit from conservation activities to local people. Having seen the local wildlife, experienced the excitement and beauty of the wild African savannah and gained an experiential understanding of its complex ecology, bush camp graduates have more of an emotional investment in caring for it. Whereas, before, locals have been expected to protect something that they had no direct experience with, no emotional attachment to and received no direct benefit from. Bush camp alumni will increasingly represent a new generation of villagers over time.

Craft programme

DSWF have been supporting our Craft Programme, "Iganyana Arts", which continues to provide invaluable training opportunities for local artisans, thus maintaining our commitment to capacity building as well. This community development initiative of PDC began in 2003 and has quickly taken off. As many as 25 artisans a day now produce a line of over 40 unique, high quality products, using materials that are 70% recycled and chosen to encourage sustainable and legal use of natural resources. The sculptures produced from the snare wire collected by our anti poaching units have had the biggest impact however as indicated by the recent auction at Christies in London no less!! What an amazing evening it was. This unique event, jointly hosted by DSWF and Born Free Foundation, not only raised invaluable funds that will be ploughed back into the craft programme and anti poaching initiative, it also took the plight of the painted dogs and the work of the project onto a new stage.

Anti-Poaching Unit

The work of our APU, supported for many years now by DSWF, remains one of our principal areas of activity. 2004 saw a continued decline in the number of snares found, many of these were freshly set, indicating that the APU remain as diligent as ever and that any poachers who venture into the areas patrolled stand little or no chance of being successful. In our area at least, few, if any, "old" snares are gathered these days. When the APU first started in 2001, the bush was littered with snares that had been set and then left for many weeks. These snares still killed and maimed indiscriminately, the trapped animals often rotting as the poacher had long since forgotten where he set the snare.

Logistical and funding limitations restrict us to deploying two units, thus the distance a unit can patrol effectively in one day governs the total area protected. We rely on local knowledge and the experience gained over the years to strategically deploy the units in "hot spots", and it is on such manoeuvres that the APU vehicle is used extensively, carrying the unit's kit, to set up fly camps. However, the rough terrain takes its toll on our very old vehicle, thus constant repair and maintenance are often the order of the day.

Being stretched, as it were, over such a large distance is the biggest obstacle the APU face and is the reason why they still find snares. Early 2005 serves as an example of this, when our two units combined on a joint patrol on the eastern side of Gwayi Conservancy. That left the western side "free" for a week or so and when the unit normally stationed there returned, they found fresh snares and a dead buffalo. They only had to wait a few hours and the poacher returned, to be greeted by our eight man strong patrol and handcuffs! Needless to say the culprit is now under arrest, awaiting prosecution. Our APU have also undertaken the training of other APU in the area. Such measures are designed to encourage active participation in wildlife conservation and of course spread the protective shield provided by regular APU patrols.

The need for more APU patrols is great. While our immediate areas of operation remain relatively free of poaching activity and snares, this cannot be said for other regions where many people talk of the problems but unfortunately take no action to resolve them. We have a proven track record and with volunteer, Martin Stiemer prepared to commit to a full time position in order that we can expand our APU; it is only a lack of money that stops us!

The partnership forged between PDC and DSWF over the years has been pivotal to the success of the project. DSWF were in at the beginning and have contributed significantly as the project has grown into one of the main employers in the Hwange region and a model for conservation across Africa.

At a time when our methods are proving to work, the continued support of DSWF is vital. We have the capacity in terms of resolve and commitment to increase the APU initiative and expand the Children's Bush Camp programme to reach even more communities that interface with wildlife, all we need is increased funding to do this.

Please support this excellent work to save the painted dogs and other wildlife species struggling to survive in Zimbabwe.

(*Wildlife Matters is produced by DSWF for its members. For details on membership see How Can I Help)

Every little contribution helps wildlife and remember 100% of your donation will go in full to the project - thank you!

You can also help by becoming a member of DSWF. Click here for more information

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