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 - October 2007 - Painted Dog Conservation: Realising the dream

Despite all the difficulties, PDC's brand new Community Conservation Education Complex is finally opened in Zimbabwe by the Governor of Matabeleland North on 31st August 2007

The Painted Dog Conservation project's mission is to protect and increase the range and numbers of the painted dog (Lycaon pictus) both in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in Africa. The project is committed to creating a conservation model built on education, community involvement and international support.

During the early years of the project's life, human-induced carnage accounted for 95% of all painted dog mortalities; public presentations showed prejudice and ignorance towards the dogs' plight. It was clear that unless this situation was addressed, the species could become extinct.

Initially much work was done with commercial farmers to create a "ceasefire" while a method was developed of catching and removing perceived problem packs from the farmlands. The project designed anti snare radio collars, providing the dogs with some protection if caught in a snare, and erected road signs to warn motorists of the dogs' presence. During this same period the project successfully lobbied the authorities to have the painted dogs placed in the Specially Protected category of the Parks and Wildlife Act. These measures resulted in the National Painted Dog population increasing from 350 to750 during the period 1992 - 2000.

At this point poaching began to escalate, so an 18 man anti poaching unit (APU) was established, which has collected over 10,000 snares since inception. The project began to deal with more and more painted dogs suffering horrific snare related injuries. Thus a rehabilitation facility was built, designed to cope with an injured individual or an entire pack.

This was the first part in what developed into the Community Conservation and Education Centre idea designed to protect the long-term future of the painted dogs in Zimbabwe by involving the local community. PDC's believes that education holds the key to long-term changes and so in May 2004 the "Iganyana Children's Bush Camp", forming the second part of the Centre, was opened. Here, a world class, extended experiential education programme has been designed with a philosophy aimed at affecting healthy developments in the perspectives, attitudes and feelings of the students toward the environment. The primary schools in PDC's immediate catchment area, bordering Hwange National Park have been targeted for the annual programme.

While education undoubtedly holds the key to long-term change, the issues facing the impoverished rural communities need to be addressed now. Conservation cannot be taught to people who are hungry, thus a Community Development programme was instigated. Part of this was a conscious decision to employ only people from the immediate local area, which suffers from over 90% unemployment!! PDC began an Art & Craft project aimed at providing income for as many men, women and children as possible, utilizing the snare wires collected by the APU to create crafts that are sold world wide. This project is backed up by a programme to establish "nutritional gardens" in the surrounding villages, which provide food security and teach sustainable utilization of natural resources.

The final part of the PDC Community Conservation and Education complex is the Interpretive Hall, which is designed to teach both local and international visitors about the greater Hwange ecosystem, the plight of the painted dog and how they can help, through a series of artistic, informative and interactive stations. This has been under construction for a couple of years and it is PDC's hope that it will help attract visitors to the area and thus inject some life into the failing, local tourism industry.

Finally, on 31st August, the long-awaited day came and the doors of the Interpretive Hall were finally opened to the local community. The fact that this ambitious plan has finally come to fruition, against the increasingly difficult circumstances currently prevailing in Zimbabwe, is a huge testament to the patience and dedication of the PDC team and a confirmation of hope for the future for local communities. It has also been made possible by substantial financial contributions from DSWF, one of PDC's longest and most loyal supporters.

The following is the report from Peter Blinston, project director:

"It was a low key event, typical of the way we just like to quietly go about our business, it was also a great success. Our Chairman, Jerry Gotora and Chief Nelukoba hosted the proceedings, with our Guest of Honour being the Governor for Matabeleland North. However the day belonged to the people. They were extremely proud to have such a complex in their area - this coupled with the fact that they had built it! When we started building in 2002, we made a pledge to Chief Nelukoba that only local staff would be used, the complex would not only benefit his community in the long term, it would bring direct and real benefit in the short term in the form of employment to a region that suffers from over 80% unemployment.

The day started early because we had to collect many of the local people. Pick up points had been pre arranged and our vehicles headed out to all points of the compass to collect the eager public. By the end of the day over 300 people visited the complex. The highlight for most was the opportunity to see the painted dogs at our Rehabilitation Facility. However they were also enthralled by the Interpretive Hall, with its life size cut outs of bull elephants, giraffe and other species, plus the wonderful paintings that depict the life and times of Eyespot the painted dog, while also illustrating the role the dogs play in the Hwange ecosystem. The guests all walked along the 1.5km of raised walkway, arriving at our Children's Bush camp where entertainment and refreshments were available. Members of our staff were on hand to guide them through the Interpretive Hall and explain the complexities plus purpose of the Rehabilitation Facility.

They had all heard about our Children's Bush camp because so many of them had children who had already attended the camp. However for most, this was the first opportunity for them to see the place that has had such a profound effect on the lives of those same children. With the complex now complete, we can embark on our planned programme of visits for these parents. We will send a bus to the village from which the children attending the Bush Camp have come. As many parents as will fit into the bus will then be brought to the CCEC and be given a guided tour, which will end at the Bush Camp, where they will hear their children's emotive poems or songs and plays created out of the experiences they have had while staying at the camp.

To do this we need a buy a bus!!"

From this, it is clear that DSWF's commitment to PDC will, of necessity, be ongoing! This project continues to defy the many difficulties that working in Zimbabwe entail, and the dedication of PDC staff gives hope for the future of painted dogs in one of their last strongholds.