DSWF - Painted Dog Conservation project

Welcome to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

		PROJECT: PAINTED DOG CONSERVATION PROJECT

		Location: ZIMBABWE in and around HWANGE NATIONAL PARK
		DSWF Support: Since 1995
		Funding to date: £189,000

		Project Summary: Conservation of the highly endangered African Painted Dog and local education project.

Project update - April 2006

While Greg and I undertook our annual USA / European Tour, visiting many friends and "rattling the can" to bring in the much needed funds, life at PDC continued without missing a beat. The project's work is gaining more and more international recognition, testament to the dedication and commitment of our staff.

Foggie Wilson, our Office Manager, handles the day to day logistics in her inimitable, matriarchal way, while Wilton Nsimango works tirelessly to ensure that the Children's Bush Camp continues to deliver its life changing experience for so many of the local children. During the months of February and March over 170 children from 5 schools visited the camp on our extended 4-day programme. Wilton supplements these camps by visiting the schools before and after each camp, thus he conducted 20 school visits during the same period, which is very exhausting work for him, carried out with a permanent smile on his face. Closed for the school holidays now, much maintenance work is being undertaken by Dought Nkomo and his team.

Martin Muserere, our Computer Training Coordinator, continues to deliver a first class programme for many of the local peoples. He has conducted over 7500 hours of lessons since the programme began last year, almost 2000 of those hours this year alone, and seen 240 students graduate from the course.

Sikhosana keeps a tight rein on the APU, deploying them for maximum effect. Poaching levels thus remain low in the core areas patrolled, but there is still concern about the poaching in the eastern Gwayi plus the eastern boundary of Hwange National Park and the area to the far west of us, where there is again encroachment into Hwange National Park. The truth of the matter is that there are still not enough professional anti poaching units in the region. We continue to provide training and support for the landowners in the Gwayi who are showing interest in deploying anti poaching units. While every snare that is collected in is a plus, the problem nonetheless, remains massive.

The dogs of course are the main focus of everything and as usual Jealous stepped up to the task of keeping an eye on them. The Umtchibi pack continue to flourish within the sanctuary of Hwange National Park, the pups growing before one's eyes as the very capable adults provide plenty of food for them. The pack is still fifteen strong and are regularly seen in an around the Main Camp area. However we are perhaps more delighted by the progress being made of the "Mashambo" pack, which comprises of only two adults and three pups - these pups are huge!! This is testament to how well the parents are feeding them and though they are still a fragile pack in terms of the age and experience of the dogs, we are optimistic that another litter this year will take the pack up to a more effective unit. With Jealous picking up additional sightings of two packs in the Eastern Gwayi, one comprising of 7 dogs and the other comprising of 4 dogs plus a pack of 11 dogs to the west of us at Masuma Dam, the overall situation is looking very good. Even Agula and Ukula are still being seen every day. I need only check the fuel log to see how many kilometres Jealous has driven to gather this information; I know only too well how uncomfortable all those kilometres are in his battered old landrover.

To cap off a very positive period of dog sightings, the National Parks staff at Tashinga, in Matusadhona, have been reporting on the good progress of our "Tashinga" pack, which we released into the wild last year. Not only are the four dogs doing well, they also seem to have stimulated "dog activity" in the region, as sightings are coming in of other dogs, not previously seen there. Needless to say we are very keen to make the arduous journey back to Matusadhona, once we have confirmation that it is again possible to cross the numerous rivers that dissect the region.