Help
Save African Wild Dogs
Too
few people know about the plight of one of the world's most
endangered
canids, the
African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
or Africa's "painted wolf." This unique pack-living canid, with
its large parabolic ears and mottled coat pattern of yellow, white,
and black, once ranged widely throughout Sub-Saharan Africa in
39 countries. Today wild dogs have all but disappeared in 15,
with perhaps no more than 3,000–5,500 remaining. Their dramatic
decline is largely due to human persecution and habitat fragmentation.
The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Canid Specialist Group,
and American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Canid and Hyaenid
Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) regard African wild dogs as a high-priority
species for wildlife conservation. Their numbers according to
the IUCN Red List are
decreasing.
Why
Save African Wild Dogs?
Among
the top carnivores, wild dogs require large, ecologically diverse
areas to survive and may have a significant impact on the structure
and function of ecosystems. One of Africa's most efficient predators,
wild dogs help regulate prey species that in turn play a role
in shaping vegetation communities. Because of habitat requirements
and ranging behavior, however, they are threatened by human
disturbance and use of natural landscapes.
Securing a future for this species, therefore, is an essential
part in stemming the loss of biodiversity and preserving a healthy
ecosystem. By working with people living with them, we hope
to help secure their long-term survival.
Our
Approach to Conservation in Practice
Having
lived and worked in the African bush for many years, we believe
that investing in people and taking an adaptive grassroots approach
are necessary to make wild dog conservation efforts sustainable
and indeed truly important to enable those most directly affected.
The African Wild Dog Conservancy's community
conservation project is in the biodiversity
hotspots
of northeastern and coastal Kenya, a rich mosaic of protected
areas and community lands under extreme threat. One way our approach
differs from some other projects is that we have taken the time
to learn why many community-based conservation efforts have not
succeeded:
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Our
project was started with the support of local people with
vision, who recognize that the well-being of wildlife, plants,
and people is interconnected, and that healthy ecosystems
improve livelihoods.
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With
this in mind, baseline information on attitudes and concerns
is being collected to track project success, document and
learn from mistakes, and adapt as needed.
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Time
is being taken to build good working relationships with local
people based on trust, recognizing that there will be bumps
along the road, and that conservation and development are
not always compatible. We are striving to interweave traditional
skills and knowledge, and cultural and religious perspectives
with conservation science, training, and education.
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About the African Wild Dog Conservancy
Started
in 2001, the African Wild Dog Conservancy is a registered
501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to working with local
communities, and national and international stakeholders
to conserve wild dogs through scientific research
and education. The AWD Conservancy's objectives
are the following:
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Establish
and support long-term conservation programs
involving local communities in research
and education
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Develop
and implement a collaborative multidisciplinary
program integrating applied field and captive
conservation research
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Facilitate
development programs aimed at improving the
lives of local people by building partnerships
with community-based organizations and NGOs
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