Zimbabwe Wild Dogs

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Mar 27 2009 | By: zimbabwewilddogs

Hi folks,

We managed to find two of the collared packs yesterday and between the two scouts and I, we got great sightings of both.  I’m pleased to report that the Mapari pack is still 14 individuals, although one of the adult males has a snare around his neck. 

An adult male from the Mapari pack carrying a snare: note the ball of fur below his neck where the snare is.

The Maera pack is missing one adult.  I had thought this was the case for about 3 weeks, but wasn’t 100% sure.  Also, it seems that the pup that had the bad snare injury has actually still got the snare round his neck.  I saw him very well yesterday, and while he seemed to be doing okay, he was looking a bit tatty and the snare wound was once again obvious. 

When I was in Harare recently I was able to collect my license to enable me to possess and administer the drugs I need to do something about this, so I’ll be trying to remove both these snares over the next few days.  I’ll let you know how it goes.  It’s wonderful how resilient these dogs are and I just hope we are able to help them.

It just seems to be an uphill battle with these snares.  I strongly suspect the adult that has gone from the Maera pack will have been killed by a snare, and after we found that carcass in a snare a couple of weeks ago, I’m sure several other members of that pack are also carrying snares. 

One of the snares that killed a wild dog

Fortunately both the Mapari pack and Maera pack are collared, so we can find the packs in order to help them.  The uncollared packs are not so easy as they are rarely seen.  (Incidentally - I’m often asked about why we collar the dogs – this is a good example of one of the benefits that come from collaring).

I’ll let you know how we have got on in a few days, although I suspect it may take a while….

Rosemary