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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Bureau
are sounding the alarm over the dwindling Zimbabwean population of painted dogs, also known as the African wild dog, with less than 700 remaining in the country.
The survival of this endangered species is dependent on community cooperation and protecting their habitat.
Painted Dog Conservation is working in areas surrounding Hwange National Park and Mana Pools to safeguard this unique and fascinating species.
The organisation’s marketing and communications manager Ronnie Sibanda is urging the community to support conservation efforts to ensure the survival of these animals.
“We do many projects for the community; we operate in around Hwange National Park. We believe that for any conservation effort to succeed, there should be a buy-in from the community to save wildlife,” he said.
“We have less than 700 painted dogs remaining in Zimbabwe, hence we need to create harmony between people and nature. If the community understands animal behaviour, it will help.”
Mr Sibanda said painted dogs were an endangered species and there are benefits to be derived from conserving them.
“It is collaborative efforts that will make us all succeed in conservation. The attitude of communities towards painted dogs and wildlife has positively changed over the years due to intervention programmes,” he said.
Painted Dog Conservation is implementing projects to promote conservation, including community and school education programmes, anti-poaching measures, and supporting local farmers.
These collaborative efforts are crucial for the conservation and protection of the painted dog, a highly successful predator with a success rate of over 80 percent in hunting.
The painted dog, with its stunning coat patterns and strong family bonds, is a testament to its adaptability and intelligence, making it a priority for conservationists and initiatives such as Painted Dog Conservation to safeguard its future.
“Painted dogs have special characteristics that resemble those of human beings as they respect the family hierarchy and have only one breeding pair,” he said.
“They don’t mate among the pack or with family members. A pair is chosen for mating and the rest assist in raising puppies as a family. When they want to mate, they leave the family to find partners elsewhere and that is when they start to roam on their own,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said when they meet another pack they choose the mating pair.
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“The others become uncles and aunties and they will support the two that would have been chosen. When they have puppies, there is always a babysitter who is fed by the pack,” said Mr Sibanda.
“Painted dogs take care of their sick and elderly and they don’t leave their folks to die. They feed and nurse them until the member dies.”
Mr Sibanda said there is a need for international and local support for endangered species.
Painted Dog Conservation has been a permanent partner of the Matabeleland North Show Society during the Matabeleland North Agricultural Show. The organisation has capacitated farmers and also donated prizes for winners every year.
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