This week, we look at why African Wild Dog conservation efforts by Wildlands, including the monitoring programme that we’re helping fundraise for, are so crucial.
At the end of 2014, the Gumbi Community made history by being the first community owned game reserve in South Africa to introduce a pack of endangered African Wild Dog onto their land. The pack settled in well and their success was cemented, as the alpha female gave birth to the pack’s first litter earlier in the year.
Since their introduction late last year, the pack has had some great successes, but also some tragedy. After establishing their hierarchy, the alpha female (dominant female who leads the pack) was caught in a snare one night. This snare was not put out specifically for dogs but rather to target small antelope for subsistence poaching of meat. Unfortunately Wild Dog are particularly susceptible to snaring as they cover large areas when hunting and also fan out as a pack, thus increasing the likelihood of encountering a snare. She was found first thing in the morning by the Wild Dog monitor on the reserve but unfortunately the snare had killed her.
Article courtesy of Environmental Management Magazine .
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