Zimbabwe Wild Dogs

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Nov 24 2008 | By: zimbabwewilddogs

Hi folks,

Recently, one of our scouts reported a wild dog pup with a snare around it’s neck.  Yesterday, for the first time in a while, we managed to get a decent look at the pack, and especially of the snared pup.  The poor little fellow has the most horrific wound around his neck and on closer inspection you can actually see the snare still tight around his neck…

It was heartbreaking to watch him struggle along behind the rest of the group, sitting down at every available opportunity.  The adults were remarkably attentive though, and we witnessed several adults licking his neck to clean the wound. Such behaviour has probably kept him alive - by preventing infection. 

When he eventually made it down to the water, he enjoyed a quick dip and then moved off to lie by the side of the pan until the others were finished playing.

The most distressing thing is not being able to do anything about it immediately.  Unfortunately, until I have my wildlife immobilisation licence (I will be doing the course next February), we need to rely on someone else to come and do the darting, and he is not always available at short notice.  There is also a considerable cost associated with calling him out and getting the pup immobilised (US$100 per day fee plus the cost of drugs and fuel and scout time), and the current prevalance of snaring is really eating into our budget.  (Likewise, for me to do the course so I can immobilise the dogs myself, costs US$1500).  If anyone could help us in this snare-removal campaign by donating funds, we would be extraordinarily grateful: it really is heart rending to see something like this and be prevented from taking immediate action by money and circumstances.

However, we are prioritising removing the snare at the moment, and I hope to be able to report some good news soon.

Back soon,

Rosemary

PS - I promise to post some good news in the next blog - there are lots of positive things going on here as well!!