SOUTH AFRICA: Rare wild dogs released into South African bush in bid to help save the species

Record ID: 455582

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Rare wild dogs released into South African bush in bid to help save the species
  • Date: 12th January 2011
  • Summary: TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK, SOUTH AFRICA (JANUARY 11, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WILD DOGS IN ENCLOSURE (3 SHOTS) TOURISTS AND OFFICIALS AT THE ENCLOSURE GAME RANGERS AND SECURITY AT THE PARK (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM MAHAMBA, TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK MANAGER, SAYING : "This is, like adding profile to our game reserve, so, as you know wild dogs are an endangered species, I think with the reintroduction of wild dog, a lot of people will get attracted and would like to come and see the wild dog and the big five that we have in Tembe and we hope by that more tourists will come and more job opportunities will be created." WILD DOGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KELLY MARNEWICK, ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER SAYING : "The release here is of great importance to us because wild dogs are so endangered in South Africa every little piece of habitat is very very important so one more reserve opening the doors to wild dogs just expanse opportunities for the dogs, more dogs will be free running, more dogs can be breeding and more dogs can contribute to South Africa's wild dog population." WILD DOGS INSPECTING THE EXIT AS THEY TRY TO LEAVE CARCASS USED AS BAIT FOR THE WILD DOGS TO LEAVE ENCLOSURE WILD DOGS RUNNING OUT OF THE ENCLOSURE OFFICIALS TRACKING THE WILD DOGS AN ELEPHANT GRAZING IN THE BUSHES GAZELLES (SOUNDBITE) (English) CEDRIC COETZEE, KWAZULU-NATAL WILDLIFE ACTING CEO SAYING : "There is obviously always challenges when it comes to the introduction of endangered species but with Tembe we are quite confident that there is low poaching rate here at Tembe and the animals will be monitored on a very close basis, so, twenty four hours a day, so the animals will be monitored." MORE OF THE WILD DOGS
  • Embargoed: 27th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa, South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Nature / Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA3REDM4NZLVQB5HTATOHXC6O41
  • Story Text: Close to a fenced enclosure, or boma, deep in the South African bush, a group of spectators gathered to watch a rare event - the release of the highly endangered African wild dog into a game park.
    Once reviled and almost shot to extinction, the African wild dog, with its distinctive mottled markings and large ears, is experiencing a revival - both in numbers and as a tourist attraction.
    The small pack of South Africa's rarest carnivores released into the bush in KwaZulu-Natal is seen an important development in the conservation of an animal species whose future until very recently looked extremely bleak.
    The park's manager says the release of 14 wild dogs into their new home in Tembe Elephant Park, on the province's northern border with Mozambique, is a significant milestone.
    "This is, like adding profile to our game reserve, so, as you know wild dogs are an endangered species, I think with the reintroduction of wild dog, a lot of people will get attracted and would like to come and see the wild dog and the big five that we have in Tembe and we hope by that more tourists will come and more job opportunities will be created." said Tom Mahamba.
    Wild dog packs run their prey down and eat it while it is still alive; a practice seen by most societies as abhorrent.
    The big cat species favoured by tourists, by contrast, usually kill their prey by suffocating it, before starting to eat. Fear and loathing of wild dogs saw them wiped out across large areas of southern Africa, by the 20th Century.
    But conservationists have come to their rescue, rehabilitating not just their numbers but also their image.
    The African Wild Dog, they say, plays an important part in wilderness ecosystems, removing weak and infirm members of prey species and improving their genetic makeup.
    The Endangered Wildlife Trust hopes the animals, also known as the Cape Hunting Dog, the Painted Dog or Painted Wolf, will multiply and ward off the possibility of becoming extinct.
    Experts believe there are as few as 3,000 of the animals left in the wild.
    "The release here is of great importance to us because wild dogs are so endangered in South Africa every little piece of habitat is very very important so one more reserve opening the doors to wild dogs just expanse opportunities for the dogs, more dogs will be free running, more dogs can be breeding and more dogs can contribute to South Africa's wild dog population." said the manager of the conservation program Kelly Marnewick.
    Some of the dogs have been in the boma for more than a year and were hesitant to leave their enclosure when released into the veld. Rangers used fresh carcass of an nyala in front of the open gate to lure the wild dogs out. The pups were the first to come out of the open gate.
    "There is obviously always challenges when it comes to the introduction of endangered species but with Tembe we are quite confident that there is low poaching rate here at Tembe and the animals will be monitored on a very close basis, so, twenty four hours a day, so the animals will be monitored." said the KwaZulu-Natal wildlife acting head, Cedric Coetzee.
    Wild Dogs are now a top tourist attraction at the few game reserves in southern and east Africa that contain them.
    There are four conservation areas in the KwaZulu-Natal providing refuge to the dogs. The largest population is found in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park which accommodates about 100 dogs, including their pups. The smaller populations are found at Mkhuze and two private reserves, Thanda and Hlambanyathi.
    There are now only between 350 and 400 of these endangered creatures roaming South Africa's veld and only fewer than 6 000 remain alive in Africa.
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