Allied Nutrition
13 December 2017

 

Dear Allied Nutrition Valued Customer,

 

The greatest threat amongst animals currently is habitat loss and fragmentation, which is also one of the reasons why wild dogs are one of the most endangered carnivores in Africa. HESC is home to several problem animals from around the greater Kruger area – wild dogs included. Wild dogs, according to the WWF, are listed as endangered. With their fascinating physique, unique social hierarchy and their nomadic lifestyle, they are well coordinated agile hunters of the bush. With less than 5000 estimated left in the wild, with less than 600 left in South Africa alone, the reason for their decline are that farmers may regard them as vermin, poachers’ snares meant for other game and human civilization encroaching on their habitat. It is interesting to note that 12 – 15 000 ha is required to sustain one pack of wild dogs. Other causes of their population decline are though diseases such as rabies, contracted usually from domestic animals. Because of their highly social nature one rabid wild dog would quickly infect the rest of the pack, wiping them out entirely. At HESC, we housed 4 male wild dogs. These males were not part of a bigger breeding pack and were not participating to the survival of the specie due to the lack in females. Under HESC’s care and supervision these badly injured males recovered completely and are able to contribute towards the wild dog population.

 

Over the last couple of months, Kapama Private Game Reserve (Greater Kruger – Hoedspruit area) had frequent sightings and visuals on two female wild dogs. This created the thought of re-introducing the four-male wild dog at HESC to the females, contributing to the bigger metapopulation of the wild dogs in the greater Kruger area. Unfortunately, nature doesn’t always play with and can never be predicted. As time and plans started to mature, the pack of four male wild dogs at HESC, one of the wild dogs was not accepted by the other three wild dogs. We were extremely sad and set back with the fact that our pack of 4 males didn’t bond as expected, however we remained positive about our next challenge and change of direction. Our planned wild dog release needed to be re-assessed and persistent with the idea, find an outline below of our action plan for the release of the Hoedspruit wild dogs. 

 

PLAN OF ACTION WITH THE WILD DOGS
(Lycaon pictus)

At the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre

November 2017

• Due to the problem we experienced during the bonding period of the current 4 wild dogs, we decided to change the group of males and house them in camps with newly erected feeding areas covered with shade netting.
• The male dogs in the quarantine facility were darted by the resident veterinarian (Dr. Peter Rodgers) and moved to the feeding camp of the wild dog enclosure.
• Two male dogs named “Klaserie” and “Hoedspruit” were cleaned, sanitized and quarantined by appointed staff in adjacent individual camps.
• DNA samples were taken from both dogs by Dr Rodgers ensuring the guarantee of males genetic variety.

Monitoring process:

• Curators observe daily behavior of the newly introduced wild dogs.
• At night the Bushnell Camera Traps are employed and every morning all data is analyzed by the Curators.
• Fecal samples were taken before and after the introduction phase in collaboration with our research students protocol in order to analyse the stress levels.
• Glucocorticoids (GCs) and catecholamines (CAs) hormones, excreted in the feces were measured as indicators of stress levels.
• Depending on the results the estimated monitoring time was between 1-2 weeks.
• After familiarization, the drop gate between the two males remained open to facilitate the free movement between the two individuals.
•  Two weeks after introducing Klaserie and Hoedspruit to each other, they were darted and Radio collars fitted.
• During the latter part of December, both dogs will be released onto Kapama Private Game Reserve
•  With the aid of the radio collars, monitoring the movements of the two males will be done daily, over a 3-year period.

 

Meet the two heroes and how to identify them in our story

 

KLASERIE

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HOEDSPRUIT

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We wish to thank the customers of Allied Nutrition for their contribution which totals R35 000 to HESC. The funds have been used to cover the costs of the Radio collars which were fitted to the 2 male wild dogs (Klaserie and Hoedspruit) before being introduced back into the Kapama Private game reserve. This is to ensure that our rangers and staff can monitor their movements and daily behaviour. Hopefully and ideally the 2 male dogs will team up with the 2 female wild dogs currently in the reserve and will bond and form a formidable new wild dog pack in the area. In doing so, this is a small yet significant step towards securing our wild dog populations to be enjoyed by our children and future generations.

 

Yours in conservation

 

 

 

Adine Roode