The Wild Dogs of Zululand
Status
Owing to their numbers declining to approximately 5000 individuals in the wild, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has classified African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) as ‘Endangered’. The decline in numbers of wild dogs in Africa is attributable to direct human persecution, road casualties, snaring, diseases, genetic problems, predation by and competition with other large carnivores, and habitat loss.
History
Wild dogs were originally widely distributed in KwaZulu-Natal with major populations occurring in Zululand. They were last recorded around Lake St. Lucia and in iMfolozi Game Reserve in the early 1920’s, with extirpation of the species in the province estimated in the mid 1940s.
During the years 1980-81 22 wild dogs were reintroduced into Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park (HiP) by the then Natal Parks Board. This reintroduction was initially considered successful based on the survival and breeding of a single pack during the subsequent decade. However, it was estimated that approximately 30 dogs left the park during the 1980s, with one pack established in the Magudu area. Owing to the remaining small population size in HiP and decline in their numbers after 1992, concern was raised for the survival of this population.
Additional wild dogs were introduced into HiP to bolster the present population of 8 dogs. This introduction (iMfolozi pack) in 1997 consisted of 4 dogs, all wild caught. In 1999 the alpha female died and consequently the pack split up and most of the individuals disappeared.
In August 2000 the two remaining adult males from this original iMfolozi pack dispersed from the park and were seen near Richards Bay, later in Pongola Nature Reserve, and then Ithala Game Reserve. Ultimately, only the collared dog was left on Arloo Game Ranch near Golela where he was found dead in July 2001.
In 2000 another two females were introduced into HiP and bonded with two existing males from the original Hluhluwe pack to form the New iMfolozi pack. During September-October 2002 three wild dogs split of from this pack forming a third pack, the Makhamisa pack. The introduction of a fourth pack of 8 wild dogs, called the Crocodile pack, took place during April 2003 in iMfolozi Game Reserve.
The four packs currently monitored inside HiP have the following numbers of dogs (excluding pups) at present:
Hluhluwe pack: 9; iMfolozi pack: 15; Crocodile pack: 6; Makhamisa pack: 3
During September & October 2003 a group of 7 female wild dogs (Pleiades sisters) and a separate group of 3 males (Potter’s bachelors, one animal collared) broke away from their natal pack, the Hluhluwe pack. (Note that these two groups are from the same pack and thus related).
This dispersal behaviour is a natural phenomenon among wild dogs since these dispersers are essentially looking for potential mates of the opposite sex to form a new pack with. As no other dispersing wild dogs from any of the other packs in HiP were available at that stage these 2 groups of wild dogs left the park.
On the 15th October 2003 the Potter’s bachelors were seen at the turnoff to Charters creek. The next week, three wild dogs were reported in the Magudu area south of Pongola. These three wild dogs were subsequently tracked by radio telemetry on the 28th and 29th on KwaZulu Private Game Reserve and identified as Potter’s bachelors. Reports were also received of sightings on Mkuzi Falls.
From February through May 2004, the single collared male from Potter’s bachelors roamed in the Mkhuze district and was seen on the following properties: Meiersland farm just west of Thanda Private Game Reserve, Iqina Game Ranch, Intibane Game Reserve, and was last seen on Phinda Private Game Reserve on the 27th May. No reports have been received of this animal since.
It is unclear what happened to the remaining two males of the Potter’s bachelors. These 3 wild dogs may have split up although this is considered unlikely. Several other reasons seem more feasible including being snared, shot or killed in vehicle accidents.
On the morning of the 10th December 2003 the seven Pleiades sisters left HiP. Two attempts to drive the animals back into the park were both unsuccessful. As none of these females were fitted with a radio collar they could not be followed by telemetry tracking.
During January 2004, wild dogs were reported in the Cilwana area south of iMfolozi GR, and on the R618 (corridor road) between KwaMsane and Nyalazi Gate. At that stage it was unclear what the origin of these animals were. Then from February to June 2004 regular sighting reports were received of 3 wild dogs on Ubhizane Private Game Reserve. With the help of photographs, it was determined that these were the 3 older sisters of the Pleiades sisters. The Pleiades sisters had thus split into two groups.
Simultaneously during middle February 2004 reports were received of wild dogs in the Ulundi/Opathe/Ntojaneni area. On the 1st April 2004 a female wild dog was found dead (killed by vehicle) on the R66 at Ntonjaneni between Ulundi and Melmoth, and identified as one of the younger females of the Pleiades sisters. The person who found the dead female also saw 3 other wild dogs. This group, called the Nebula sisters, thus made up the 4 younger sisters of the original Pleiades sisters.
Since these sightings in April no confirmed reports have been received of the Nebula sisters. It is suspected that they have moved out of the area in their further search for males.
The 3 Pleiades sisters were last recorded on Ubhizane Wildlife Reserve on the 1st June 2004. Following this a sighting was made on a property called HH, just east of Ubhizane and west of the N2. The person reporting this sighting saw 3 adults and 2 smaller animals.
On the 23rd June 2004 a sighting of 5/6 wild dogs (3 adults and possibly 2/3 younger animals) was made outside Hluhluwe town at Bonamanzi Game farm. The following day a single dog was also sighted in the same area on Bahati Game farm. It is unclear who these animals might have been, although it could have been the Pleiades sisters. The presence of younger animals (possibly pups) with the 3 adults remains a mystery.
During July and August 2004, wild dog sightings were reported on the following properties: Phinda, Mkhuze GR, Thanda, Bonamanzi, Dumazulu, and Malala Lodge. ID photos taken on Thanda should confirm identities of the two female dogs residing there for the past 2 months. Concurrent reports from the Hluhluwe and Mkhuze districts strongly suggests that these sightings represent two separate groups of dogs.
All the owners or managers of the above mentioned private properties have been very welcoming of wild dogs on their properties and clearly expressed their interest in the conservation of these animals in general. It is important to note, a single farmer did express his dislike of wild dogs though, threatening to shoot the animals if he came across them.
The overall positive opinion indicates an encouraging trend in an area that is increasingly switching from commercial cattle farming to game farming and eco-tourism. In the Phongola and Magudu areas there are large conservancies forming (KwaZulu Private GR & Mkuzi falls GR) that are very interested in housing these animals. The Emakhosini-Opathe Heritage Park in the Ulundi area and the Ithala GR in the Louwsburg area should also offer opportunities for wild dog introductions in the future.
Finally The Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park should ultimately offer the biggest potential site for wild dog reintroduction. It is envisaged that fencing will be completed in the next 18 months after which the first wild dogs will be introduced. Ultimately this area should carry up to 3 or 4 packs.
It is apparent that there are many promising opportunities for wild dog conservation in the Zululand region. The close proximity of the reserves and private properties mentioned above and represented at this workshop should also contribute to the successful natural dispersal of wild dogs (and their genes) between these areas. This will strengthen the viability of this local population of wild dogs.
African Wild Dog Reintroduction and Conservation Project
Jan Graf
082-828 9318
Micaela Szykman
072-661 1800
Zama Zwane
082-390 6817
Hluhluwe Research Center
Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park
035-562 0606 (extension 214)