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 - May 2006

May turned into one of those months we will never forget, thanks largely to a single exercise concerning the translocation of 16 painted dogs from South Africa to our Rehabilitation facility in Hwange. A quite exhausting 4-day operation was the culmination of many months' negotiation and frustration.

In August 2005 we received a letter from the South African North West Parks Board, asking if we were interested in receiving a pack of dogs from Pilansberg National Park, which were "surplus" to requirements. In fact the letter stated that they had heard that we would be interested. Rather surprised with the "surplus to requirements" aspect, we none the less spoke to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), who immediately supported the proposal and issued the relevant paperwork within a week. Then we waited, and waited, for the go ahead from South Africa, looking at our crowded diaries, almost on a weekly basis, to see when we could make the trip, if and when we got the go ahead. Months went by, during which time we heard that certain elements in South Africa were suggesting euthanasia for the "surplus" pack!! This strengthened our resolve of course and we remained determined, the translocation taking on more of a rescue mission now in our hearts and minds.

The Pilansberg management clearly wanted the dogs to come to Zimbabwe and the communication channels remained open. Euthanasia was not an option to them either.

Finally, this month, we received the confirmation that the translocation had been approved and with the paperwork issued we set off on Tuesday morning, a 15-hour drive from Hwange to Pilansberg ahead of us. On the way we collected a truck, which had been specially modified, with a cage on the back, suitable for carrying the dogs. The drive was too much - delays at the border and busy traffic on the narrow, unlit roads at night determined that it was not safe to continue and we found a hotel room for the night. Upon reaching South Africa on the Wednesday afternoon, we made further modifications to the truck to ensure that the dogs would be as safe and comfortable as possible.

Another frustrating day of waiting followed as the ZPWMA representatives who were travelling with us had to wade their way through even more red tape. It would have been easy for them to give up but they were as determined as we were and eventually met up with us on the Thursday evening.

Early Friday morning saw us driving to the facility that was holding the dogs. The South African vet and his team prepared their equipment as we prepared ours, aiming to fit protective collars to each dog at this stage so that we would not have to put the dogs through the stress of a further immobilization prior to their release. The process began, the vet darting each dog in turn and his team bringing them to us, a collar fitted, identification photos taken of each one before they were placed in the back of the truck. After approx two hours we had the 16 dogs in the truck and the vet gave them the reversal injection to wake them up.

Now we could set off on the arduous drive back to Hwange, knowing that we could not find a hotel to rest this time around, even if we wanted too. For the dogs benefit, we had to keep driving as they relax and sleep together if the vehicle keeps moving, however once it stops, they often wake up and can become stressed at being in a relatively confined space.

We reached the border at 10pm and after three hours of queues, more red tape and more queues, we were back in Zimbabwe, with only another 8 hours to go!! A quick refuelling stop in Bulawayo, a cup of coffee and we continued as the sun rose behind us.

We arrived in Hwange at 9.30am, completely exhausted. However the remarkable reception committee immediately revitalized us. The Zimbabwe Minister of Environment, ZPWMA officials from Head Office in Harare and Hwange Main Camp and the national media were all there to greet us. This compared to the fact that we did not meet a single official from the South African National Parks Board during the whole exercise, which was rather surprising and a bit disappointing.

Many people, too many people, are quick to criticize Zimbabwe, however this exercise alone shows the level of commitment towards conservation, which exists within the country and many of its officials. The dogs have settled in well and we will hold them now for two or three months before releasing them into the wilds of Hwange National Park.