iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which runs from Maphelane in the south to Kosi Bay on the Mozambique border, is South Africa’s first World Heritage site and home to eight interlinking ecosystems.
Recently, a pack of 13 African Wild Dogs (otherwise known as painted dogs for their distinctive markings) was released into the uMkhuze section of the 320 000 hectare park as part of the drive to secure the future of this endangered species.
“It is hoped that the new pack will establish itself to become an important contributor to the metapopulation along with other packs in the Wetland Park,” says Andrew Zaloumis, iSimangaliso CEO.
Re-establishing African wildlife
“The introduction of painted dogs is part of iSimangaliso’s integrated conservation strategy with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to re-establish the full range of game that became extinct in this part of southern Africa more than 75 years ago. Other rare and valuable game already brought back include elephant, black and white rhino, tsessebe, oribi, cheetah and buffalo.”
The Painted Dog (Lycaon pictus) is the most endangered carnivore in Africa, after the Ethiopian Wolf. The total population of painted dogs in Africa has declined dramatically over the last 30 years, and is currently around 5000 with less than 500 in South Africa and each pack is therefore extremely important in maintaining genetic diversity.
Although they are capable of fairly rapid population increase, the main limiting factor to their success (in SA at least) is the availability of suitable habitat. There are very few protected areas, such as iSimangaliso, that are large enough and have the prey base to host even a single pack of wild dogs.
Challenges ahead
A key challenge to the successful establishment of free ranging packs is snaring. Due to their method of hunting as a pack, a single snare line will often claim several dogs.
According to Tony Conway, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Biodiversity Conservation Coordinator for iSimangaliso Wetland Park, “no matter how often it occurs, a reintroduction event of an endangered species in crisis into a secure area such as iSimangaliso is extremely gratifying, and an achievement we should all be proud of.”
See more photos below…
13 painted dogs run wild in iSimangalio – seen here with the Lebombo mountain range in the background.
Almost all have been fitted with VHF radio and tracking collars, and will be monitored on a daily basis to determine their movements. The collars have also been modified to provide protection against snaring.
Seen here as one pack in the boma, the pack was made up of two groups: six males from iMfolozi and a group of unrelated females. The two gender groups were kept separate initially while they adjusted to each other and were carefully monitored for signs of aggression before being joined as a pack.
For more information, visit the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority.