Backgorund:

Numbers of wild dogs, Lycaon pictus, are declining and approximately 4500 wild individuals survive in protected areas in Africa. The only viable population of wild dogs in South Africa is in the Kruger National Park although introductions have been made to four other reserves  (Madikwe, Pilanesberg, Venetia and Karongwe) in this country. After an absence from KwaZulu-Natal of about fifty years, 22 wild dogs were reintroduced into Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park (HUP) in 1980-1981. This release was successful but numbers declined after 1993. Dr Ant Maddock started a monitoring programme using photographs taken by students, staff and tourists (e.g. Maddock 1999). Following recommendations by the wild dog biologists and approval by KZN Wildlife more wild dogs were released into HUP in 1997. This was to enable the population to become part of the proposed Southern African Metapopulation. The Green Trust (WWF-SA) and KZN-Wildlife (then Natal Parks Board) sponsored this reintroduction from 1997-2001. Michael Somers was hired to run this project. For the first four years he was project executant monitoring the wild dogs. He later left to take an academic post but still supervisors and finds funds for the project. This project has involved not only biologists and KZN Wildlife but also local communities and private landowners and a positive awareness about the wild dogs has been created. This project was designed as a model reintroduction project having learned from the mistakes of many previous failures.  The project is now sponsored by The Carnivore Conservation Group of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) (R46 000 for 2002 and 2003), The Green Trust (WWF-SA) (R10 000 for 2002 and 2003) and KZN Wildlife (logistical support). Our funding is annual and has to be reapplied at the end of each year. Funding is therefore never a given.

Besides these successes in awareness we have also learned a great deal about wild dog reintroductions and this has greatly contributed to their conservation. We now have a better understanding of pack formation in bomas and the integration of introduced dogs into existing wild dog packs. The project has for the first time monitored the formation of a new pack consisting of existing and reintroduced wild dogs – obviously extremely important for their conservation.

There is compelling evidence, from large conservation areas, that competition with lions is critically important to wild dog conservation. As the lion in HUP are now being monitored by the University of Natal and KZN Wildlife, continued monitoring of the wild dogs for another year will afford a very valuable opportunity to determine the relationship between these two species in small conservation areas.

The main aims of the project are:

·        To continue to determine the status and pack forming dynamics of wild dogs in HUP.

·        To determine, by collaborating with other researchers, the role lions and spotted hyaenas play in the conservation of wild dogs in small conservation areas.

·        To determine the status of wild dog conservation outside HUP in KwaZulu-Natal.

·        To continue to foster positive relations with local communities through communication, education and capacity building initiatives with regard to wild dogs and other carnivore conservation issues.

·        To raise awareness of the links between conservation and tourism and specifically the tourism value of wild dogs – thus promoting a positive image to support their conservation.

·        To contribute, through the IUCN Wild Dog Action Group meetings, to the planning of the wild dog metapopulation.

Many newspaper and magazine articles have been published on the project. Many television crews (including SABC’s 50/50) have also visited the project and made television programmes on the wild dogs of HUP. This includes a

Publications by members of the programme include:

1.      Somers, M.J. 2001. Wild dog Wanderlust. Wildside. 1(7): 4-7.

2.      Somers, M.J. & Maddock, A.H. 2000. Relocation and re-establishment of wild dogs in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. Pp 8. In: KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service Annual Research Symposium Abstracts. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service. Pietermaritzburg. 14 pp.

3.      Andreka, G., Linn, I.J., Perrin, M.R. & Maddock, A.H. 1999. Range use by the wild dog in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 29: 1-9. 

4.      Krüger, S.C., Lawes, M.J. & Maddock, A.H. 1999. Diet choice and capture success of wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, south Africa. Journal of Zoology, London 248: 543-551. 

5.      Maddock, A.H. 1999. Wild dog demography in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa. Conservation Biology 13(2): 412-417.

6.      Somers, M.J. & Maddock, A.H. 1999. Painted dogs in Zululand. African Wildlife 53(5): 24-26.

7.      Somers, M.J. 1997. The Zululand wild dog conservation and management programme. Brochure. 2 pp.

8.      Andreka, G.E. 1996. Spatial utilisation, habitat selection and population status of the wild dog (Lycaon pictus) population in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park. M.Sc. thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. 151 pp.

9.      Krüger, S.C. 1996. The feeding ecology of the African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. Unpublished MSc. thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. 141 pp.

For more information on this project please contact Michael Somers or visit the web site: www.geocities.com/michaelsomers/wilddogs

To contact us:

 

Michael Somers (project leader)
Department of Zoology
University of Transkei
Private Bag X1
5117 Umtata, RSA
Tel: +27 (0)475022600
Cell: +27 (0)822007834
Fax: +27 (0)821312007834
E-mail: michaelsomers@yahoo.com

 

or

Jan Graf (project executant)
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park Research Centre
P.O. Box 515
3960 Hluhluwe, RSA
E-mail: janandreasgraf@webmail.co.za

 

Other wild dog projects:

Venetia wild dog project:

Wild dogs were introduced there earlier this year. This project has generous sponsorship from Land Rover. Marakele National Park also has wild dogs in a boma at present, which will be released once the fences are complete. This project forms part of the Venetia project.

Madikwe:

Wild dogs were introduced here in 1995 but have twice been hit with rabies. Despite this introduction is considered a great success. Funding for this work is covered by North-West Parks and the private game lodges on Madikwe.

Pilanesberg:

This 1998 introduction has so far been a great success. North-West Parks and other various sources cover funding for this work.

Karongwe:

This is a new release but appears that it is going to be successful despite the small size of the reserve (9000 ha). The wild dogs were brought in primary for tourism and not conservation. As far as I am aware the owners of the reserve provide funding for this.