Today saw the
successful launch of the Wild Dog Advisory Group South Africa (WAG-SA) website
at www.wagsa.org.za
developed by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in consultation with WAG-SA
participants. WAG-SA is a collaborative advisory group made up of key
stakeholders in the fight to keep South Africa’s Endangered Wild Dogs
alive, including reserve managers, landowners, researchers, veterinarians,
non-governmental organisations and provincial representatives.
The website provides an online resource to guide national African Wild Dog
management, to inform relevant stakeholders and to educate the general public.
Furthermore it provides detailed information on the current status and ranges
of African Wild Dogs in South
Africa, all aspects of management of the
species, as well as links to current and past research projects and literature
– all of which will aid conservation decision making.
Said Brendan Whittington-Jones, Coordinator for the National Wild Dog
Metapopulation Project: “There are, approximately 5,500 free-ranging African
Wild Dogs left in Africa. They have
disappeared from at least 25 countries during the past 50 years. With fewer
than 450 free ranging African Wild Dogs left in South Africa it is the country’s
rarest carnivore.”
WAG-SA, which operates under the auspices of the IUCN’s Canid Specialist Group,
was established in 1997 to monitor and facilitate the development and
maintenance of the managed Wild Dog metapopulation in South Africa.
The managed metapopulation comprises a series of geographically isolated
private and state reserves that are capable of sustaining African Wild Dogs,
but which need continual, intensive, collaborative efforts to manage these
subpopulations as one, collective metapopulation. WAG-SA acts as a platform for
reserve managers and interested parties to present and discuss Wild Dog
metapopulation challenges and issues and, as a group, to recommend solutions.
In this regard WAG-SA also collaborates closely with individuals and
institutions actively involved with both the captive population and unmanaged
free-roaming populations of the species, both in South Africa and throughout the
region. These include provincial bodies, such as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and North West Parks and Tourism, as well as national
bodies such as the National Zoological Gardens. Decisions made regarding the
reintroduction and translocations of Wild Dogs within the managed
metapopulation are made at WAG-SA meetings.
“Managing this species in South Africa
is particularly complex as a result of the African Wild Dog’s social dynamics
and the significant threat posed by habitat fragmentation, continued
persecution in some areas of South
Africa, and snaring and vehicle strikes. The
challenge remains to ensure active participation from metapopulation reserve
members and to establish safe-passage landscape linkages between
subpopulations. This will allow for natural dispersals from among resident
populations and ultimately reduce the intensive requirements of population
management currently necessary due to the fact that the populations are
geographically isolated,” continued Whittington-Jones.
For further information about the Wild Dog Advisory Group and the EWT’s
National Metapopulation Project contact Brendan Whittington-Jones on brendanw@ewt.org.za. The
EWT’s Wild Dog conservation efforts are supported by Jaguar Land Rover South
Africa, Land Rover Centurion, Richard Bosman, Vaughan de la Harpe, the South
African Mint, Investec Property, Knowsely
Safari Park and Global
Supplies.
African Wild
Dog
The African Wild Dog - Lycaon pictus - also called Cape Hunting
dog, or painted dog is found in savannas and lightly wooded areas in
sub-Saharian Africa. They live in packs that
are usually dominated by a monogamous breeding pair. These dogs are very
social, and packs have been known to share food and to assist weak or ill
members. Social interactions are common.
Description
A tall, lean
animal with males slightly larger than females. They have a mottled coat, which
features patches of red, black, brown, white, and yellow fur. Each animal has
its own unique coat pattern and have only four toes per foot, unlike other
dogs, which have five toes on their forefeet. They have large, rounded ears.
Call
The dogs
communicate by touch, actions, and vocalizations.
Food
African wild dogs
hunt in formidable, cooperative packs of 6 to 20 animals. Packs hunt antelopes
and will also tackle much larger prey, such as wildebeests, particularly if
their quarry is ill or injured. The dogs supplement their diet with rodents and
birds.
Breeding
They may breed at
any time of year, although mating peaks between March and June during the
second half of the rainy season. The gestation period is approximately 70 days.
Pups are usually born in dens dug and abandoned by other animals. Weaning takes
place at about 10 weeks. After 3 months, the pups leave the den and begin to
run with the pack. Females will disperse from their birth pack at 14–30 months
and join other packs that lack sexually mature females.
Conservation Status – Endangered
African wild dogs
are endangered. They are faced with shrinking room to roam in their African
home. They are also quite susceptible to diseases spread by domestic animals.
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to
create a tour for you to see these magnificent animals.