African Wild Dog Conservation. Project Sponsors.


 

Protecting Zambia’s Wildlife Heritage:

The African Wild Dog Anti-Snaring Team

Despite being widely-recognized as one of the productive wildlife areas in Africa, Zambia’s rich wildlife heritage is under serious threat from poaching.  Meat-hunting in the form of snaring is one of the most pervasive poaching activities in the country, particularly within and around protected areas.  Snares are typically of crude wire construction designed to tighten and constrict around whatever portion of an animal that encounters them.  Snares are set in great profusion around waterholes and other high use areas and, because of their indiscriminate nature, snares inflict severe injuries and mortalities on virtually all large animal species. 

Unfortunately, wild dogs are no exception.  In some areas of Zambia such as the Lower Zambezi National Park, over 30% of wild dogs were found carrying snares around their necks, with many animals repeatedly being caught (Leigh 2005).  As a consequence the Lower Zambezi wild dog population has precipitously declined and is no longer considered viable without strong connectivity between South Luangwa and other source areas, in combination with a significant reduction in snaring. 

  A deadly snare injury

To help combat this serious threat to wild dog populations AWDC has teamed with the South Luangwa Conservation Society to assemble Zambia’s first African Wild Dog Anti-Snaring Team.  Selected, trained, and employed through SLCS, the team uses AWDC wild dog movement data to identify high-priority areas for snare-removal.  Snare detection and removal requires long hours in the field under extremely remote, harsh and dangerous conditions.  Few people are capable of such difficult work and thus team members must undergo an intensive selection and training process before they can be tasked with the heavy responsibility of protecting one of Zambia’s most renown, yet most endangered, large carnivores. Meet the Team, below (in alphabetical order).

Below: An immobilized young male dog with a snare on its paw.  The animal was euthanized, as the severity of the injury had diminished its body condition beyond recovery and resulted in an attack from another predator that left bite marks and infection throughout its neck.

An African wild dog with a snare injury that resulted in the loss of one of the front feet, severely restricting movement , hunting ability and avoidence of other predators such as lion and hyaena.

An African wild dog with a snare caught around the abdomen. Once caught on a dog, snares continue to tighen and typically result in massive infection and inflammation, loss of limbs and mortality. (Photo provided by Johan Elzenga).




The Team:

Edgar Malipita

Edgar was born in Kamoto but lives in Mfuwe. He is 24 years old. He completed grade 12 and this is his first job.



Johnathon Mbewe

Jonathon Mbewe is 25 years old and was born in Chipata and lives in Mfuwe. He completed grade 12 and this is his first job.



Isaac Phiri

Isaac is 28 years old and was born in Mulfulira. He completed grade 12 and is married with three children. He was a volunteer teacher for Mwendakwisano Community School before becoming a scout.



Davis Zulu

Davis Zulu is 26 years old and was born in Kakumbi Old Palace in Mfuwe. He is married with 3 children. He completed grade 9, and this is his first full-time job. He was previously an informer for SLCS.



 For more information on supporting the African wild dog anti-snaring team contact AWDC or SLCS.