African Wild Dog

[Richprins]

It is there?

[Klipspringer]

Thank you, Klippie

The topic on an animal used to begin with some kind of information, but as it was RP who started the topic......

Yeah, but this info is recent (this week's animal of the week), so it was not available when the topic was started

So maybe better this way

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

Saving Endangered Wild Dogs takes a team effort


27 June 2019

The Endangered African Wild Dog is a rare sight for visitors to a handful game reserves that still have them. But one more opportunity to catch a glimpse of these scarce and reclusive animals will soon be available in South Africa.

The Makalali Game Reserve has recently become the newest addition to the Wild Dog Range Expansion Project, coordinated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the Wild Dog Advisory Group of South Africa (WAG SA) as part of ongoing efforts to save this species from extinction.

Since its inception in 1973, the EWT has worked tirelessly to protect Africa's carnivores. Today, these predators remain close to the organisation’s heart, particularly African Wild Dogs. The ultimate goal is to reverse the decline of Wild Dogs globally, by actively increasing their populations and range throughout southern Africa. This is achieved this by establishing, maintaining and expanding safe space for Wild Dogs; reducing threats to their survival; ensuring positive changes in human-based values to Wild Dogs; and supporting laws to better protect them. Despite this, Wild Dogs are still among the most threatened animals in Africa, under severe threat from snaring, poaching, disease, roadkill, and habitat loss. In southern Africa, the EWT is proud to help reverse this continent­ wide trend, and the population has stabilised at around 500 individuals.

This most recent relocation was made possible thanks to a group effort by aha Hotels & Lodges, the EWT, WAG SA, the owners of Makalali Game Reserve in Limpopo, and Rob Panos, the Makalali Reserve Manager.

The reserve is currently 26,000 ha and recently obtained National Private Nature Reserve status. Due to its size, ecology and the efforts made by management to keep the area protected, Makalali was identified as an ideal site to introduce a pack of Wild Dogs.

While Wild Dogs have passed through Makalali before, the introduction of this new, young pack of four is aimed at making the species a permanent fixture in the reserve. The two young males, nicknamed “Nyezi” and “Mkhovu”, were born in 2016 and are the ideal age to start their own pack. The females, “Zeyheri” and “Pacman”, were born in 2016 and 2017 respectively.



The pack was successfully relocated to Makalali on 9 June 2019, thanks to the EWT Carnivore Conservation Programme’s Cole du Plessis and Grant Beverley, and is currently being held in a 100x100m section of the predator boma on the premises. In just a few months, they will be fully released into the wild.

aha Hotels & Lodges and Makalali contributed much-needed funds towards making the pack’s introduction to Makalali possible. aha CEO, Graeme Edmond was also on site to lend a hand to the EWT team and Dr Joel Alves from Wildlife Vets SA by taking samples, fitting a GPS collar to one of the males, and loading the dogs into the custom-designed crates for the long drive from KZN to Limpopo.

Graeme, who has taken a very personal interest in the process, says, “this project is something that’s very close to my heart and I’m over the moon that I could get aha Hotels & Lodges involved in finding a new home for these Endangered animals. We’ll be paying close attention to their progress in Makalali and will continue to support the process in any way we can.”

EWT CEO, Yolan Friedmann, added, “The EWT is very excited to partner with organisations like aha Hotels & Lodges and Makalali private game reserve to relocate these Endangered carnivores to new areas. Without their support and vision, relocations such as this would not be possible. The EWT encourages tourists from all over the world to view animals in their wild and free habitats, in places such as Makalali.”

[Lisbeth]

In Kruger there seem to be an increasing number. I don't know if it is only an impression or a fact

[Richprins]

It is difficult to say, Lis? They are very active and travel a lot, so the same ones will be seen over and over?

The last proper census was the EWT photographic project, which was highly successful and showed about 400 animals. No reason why that should change?

[Lisbeth]

Impala Gets Stuck in Mud During Wild Dog Hunt
2019-07-04 05:30

(Warning: Graphic Content)

phpBB [video]

The sun went down on a poor impala after a pack of wild dogs chased into a muddy dam in Madikwe Game Reserve.

The stunning site was captured by David Fisher on Father's Day, and shared with Latest Sightings.

“We were on our game drive in Madikwe heading towards Tau dam. While on route to the dam, it was mentioned over the radio that wild dog tracks had been spotted in the vicinity around lunch time. It seemed a little odd to all passengers on our vehicle – as we had just stopped to talk to another vehicle who had been out in search of the wild dogs the entire day and did not make any mention of such a sighting.”

“After the sundowners we headed straight back to Tau dam. We were parked near the water inlet to the dam with mountains and the sunset in front of us. It was the most beautiful setting and all were pulling out cameras to capture the sunset with a lone buffalo bull walking off.

"At this point Leigh shouted 'Dogs!'… Seven wild dogs skimmed around our vehicle in a trot heading to the water inlet to drink. We didn’t even have time to digest as we all tried to get glances of them and take photos.

"Within seconds of arriving and starting to drink, they took off full pace in the same direction they arrived – and we knew something was up! As they reached our vehicle they spotted an impala which had clearly made a fatal choice. The dogs pursued the impala around our vehicle and back towards the dam. The impala lunged into the dam in an attempt to save itself and eventually got stuck in the thick mud.

"At first, the dogs were hesitant due to crocodiles or the cold water, but that was short-lived and two of the dogs were soon onto the impala.”

“While our drive had not been too adventurous to that point, after being in the bush for three days already for us the sunset was the highlight – when the dogs caught us by surprise.

"It really was the top-up on an already special occasion. The bush is all about timing and luck, but we all know that some people make their own luck. In our case, as can be heard on the video, we owe a huge amount of our luck to our ranger Brett, whose knowledge and experience enabled us to script such an experience.”

[Richprins]

Amazing how often prey runs into water to escape the doggies...they are definitely water-shy!

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Unusual location!



Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
Jul 6

07:38 ama
7 wild dog On the move
'We followed them for one hour and they are still around'
S63 tar, 600m after the H1-8 turn-off
Near Pafuri Picnic Site
5/5
Tinged by Peter