Painted Dog Conservation

Painted dogs are one of the most endangered species in the whole of Africa.
Fewer than 7,000 painted dogs are left across the entire continent.
They may not be as famous as their trunked, horned, or maned neighbours, but these painted dogs —also known as African wild or hunting dogs—are beautiful, unique, and fascinating social animals.
Painted dogs are native to Africa, and aren’t found in the wild anywhere else on the planet. They live in small pockets across a handful of countries including Zimbabwe, the home of Painted Dog Conservation. There are roughly 700 painted dogs here, and we work with local populations of both humans and dogs—via conservation, education, and outreach programs—to help them not only survive here, but thrive.
In Zimbabwe, painted dogs are protected under the following Statutory Instruments (SI):
Mother knows best: Painted dogs live in matriarchal societies, with packs of up to 30 members all answering to an alpha female.
#paintedwolfwednesday
#repost @paintedwolf_org
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Demystifying the ‘myth’ that is #Lycaon in the painted wolf’s Scientific name: #Lycaonpictus!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A painted wolf’s scientific name is Lycaon pictus translating to wolf-like creature in #Greek, and ‘pictus’ meaning painted in #Latin. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#Paintedwolves are the only living species of the genus Lycaon, most other #canines, like grey wolves, are #canis. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The name Lycaon comes from King Lycaon from Ancient Greek #mythology. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Lycaon, the sadistic King of #Arcadia, who lost favour with #Zeus after he tied to feed the God of Lightning human flesh at a banquet. To punish Lycaon, Zeus turned him into a half-man, half-wolf-like creature. Ever wonder were the #werewolf myth comes from?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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While painted wolves might share a name with the cruel lupine king, they themselves are not wanting killers but empathetic, caring and tender to their pack mates. There has been no recorded attack on humans by a painted wolf in the wild. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Help create awareness for the plight of the painted wolf by participating in #PaintedWolfWednesday. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Photograph by award-winning, Nicholas Dyer Photography.
“The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans.” - Jim Fowler.
To help save painted dogs follow LINK IN BIO.
#mondaymotivation #savethepainteddog #pdc #painteddogs #africanwilddog #wildlife #environment
Photo Credit: @wildxonex
Always a beautiful sight to experience. Painted dogs are one of the most endangered species in the whole of Africa.
Save the painted dog, LINK IN BIO.
#Lukodetpack #endangeredspecies #painteddog
Video Credit: Washington Moyo
#paintedwolfwednesday
#repost @paintedwolf_org
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#Paintedwolves don’t just communicate with hoo-calls but scent-marking too. The #wolves have scent glands located on their anus, genitals, and face.
#Lemurs, #cheetah, hyena, lion and even #rhino using #scentmarking as a form of communication.
Scent marking is when a #mammal produces a hormonal substance from a scent gland, or in the form of urine or feces, and deposits it in a prominent area.
These glands allow painted wolves to communicate sexual readiness, gender, age and health with pack mates and other painted wolves.
Unlike cheetah that uses scent posts, painted wolves tend to prefer scent marking on tall grass.
Painted wolves scent mark more in the heart of their home range and less on the periphery of their territory.
Wolves of higher social rank, like the #alphas, tend to scent mark more than subordinate pack members.
Help create awareness for the plight of the painted wolf by participating in #PaintedWolfWednesday. Image by award-winning @nicholasdyerphotography
The #dogrun, every second Saturday of the Month. Running to save an endangered species. Check the dates and join us if you are in the neighbourhood on the next run.
#conservationmeetsfitness #zimparks #forestrycommisionzimbabwe #dete #crossdete #thedogrun #endangeredspecies #savethepainteddog #pdc #painteddog
Question: What do you like about painted dogs?
Me: Their big rounded lovely ears make them so attentive every time😍
You:....................? #whatdoyoulikeaboutpainteddogs
#savethepainteddog #pdc #painteddog #aficanwilddog #paintedwolf
Photo Credit: David Graham.
On the frontline of conservation.
#repost @peterblinston
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Two out of the ten dogs in the Wexau Pack. A great two days in the field. Culminated in successfully Collaring adult male “Peace”
#mambanjeprimaryschool kids were so happy to be picked up this morning coming to the Iganyana Children’s Bush Camp where they will stay four days. Here, they will learn about conservation and wildlife in a way they have never before.
We believe that engaging children (and adults) in local communities surrounding Hwange National Park is the right way to stop painted dog (and other wildlife) threats recurring in subsequent generations. “We can not expect kids to care or let alone take action to conserve something they do not have an appreciation of or love.” - @peterblinston
To support the Iganyana Children’s Bush Camp kindly follow LINK IN BIO.
#mambanje #mondaymotivation #iganyanachildrensbushcamp #kids #conservation #wildlife #environment #savethepainteddog #pdc #2020
Video Credit📹: @davidkuvawoga
Ngweshla pack feeding on a Kudu in Linkwasha yesterday. As you can see with the tall grass, Hwange has been receiving a generous portion of rains in the past few days, hopefully it keeps up the trend so that locals' crops grow and reduce the threat of poaching.
#ngweshlapack #savethepainteddog #pdc #linkwasha
Video Credit: Geshem Njamba
Sights and scenes from the pre-camp meeting/assessment with kids from Mambanje Primary School who are due to come for a four-day free camp at our Iganyana Children’s Bush Camp next week.
Before kids come to Iganyana Children’s Bush Camp, a pre-camp is conducted to prepare them in terms of what is expected of them and what to expect at the camp during their four-day stay. A pre-camp assessment is also done, kids answer a questionnaire about the environment, wildlife and conservation in general. After the camp, they will be presented with the same questionnaire to assess the impact of the camp.
Always, the results show that kids come out of the camp better knowledgeable about, and with a positive attitude towards the environment and wildlife. An important aspect that will ensure the survival of wildlife and the habitat Hwange is endowed with.
Follow LINK IN BIO to support the Iganyana Children's Bush Camp.
#savethepainteddog #pdc #iganyanachildrenbushcamp #kids #education #conservation #environment #wildlfe #painteddogs #mambanjeprimaryschool #milliontrees2020 #trees #paintedwolfwednesday
Photo Credit📸: @davidkuvawoga
#paintedwolfwednesday
#Repost @paintedwolf_org (@get_repost)
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‘To know them is to love them,’ – Africa’s most successful #predator has a softer side. Being empathetic and caring, the #paintedwolf pack is as good as their weakest member, and unlike #lions, they sympathetically care for the frail. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In the wild, a serious injury or illness is a #deathknell for even the hardiest of African #animals but not painted wolves. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The sick, injured and old wolves, along with puppies, take preference at the kill and will be tenderly cared for and nursed back to health. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There are cases of #wolves surviving on three legs and recovering from serious injury due to the #empathy and dedication of their #pack mates.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you can be anything in this #world, be kind, like the painted wolf. #Humanity has a lot to learn from these sociable and loving #canines. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Share the love this #PaintedWolfWednesday. Image by @nicholasdyerphotography
“It is our deep felt belief that in order to make a difference and win in conservation, it is paramount to change lives.”
— Wilton Nsimango -PDC Education and Community Development Programs Manager.
@painted_dog_conservation aim to directly benefit local people by providing a way for them to earn more and access nutritionally balanced and reliable meals. To these ends, we build and establish nutritional gardens with irrigation systems next to boreholes in the local communities whose children attend our Children's Bush Camp.
With your help, we aim to drill and manage more boreholes. To help change lives, follow LINK IN BIO.
#mondaymotivation #kids #community #savethepainteddog #painteddogs #pdc #development
Photo Credit📸: Molly Feltner.
#paintedwolfwednesday
#Repost @paintedwolf_org (@get_repost)
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P A I N T E D . W O L F . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My, what big #teeth you have! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Relative to body size #paintedwolves have the largest #premolars of any living #carnivore, second to the #spottedhyena. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Painted wolves are considered to be hypercarnivores, which means 70% of their diet is meat. As a result of the high-protein diet, their premolars have evolved to become more carnassial, meaning blade-like. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Having teeth that are adapted to holding and slicing flesh is an advantage for the #wolves when taking down prey. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Quick cutting teeth also reduce the time at the kill. Being slightly-built - the faster the pack can eat and move on, the less likely they are to come into conflict with other big #predators, like #lion and #hyena. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Image by award-winning, @NicholasDyerPhotography. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Share your #paintedwolfwednesday stories with us.
#paintedwolfwednesday
#Repost @paintedwolf_org (@get_repost)
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P A I N T E D . W O L F . W E D N E S D A Y ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What to expect when a #paintedwolf is expecting… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Painted wolves produce surprisingly large litters for their body size. After a gestation period of about 71–73 days the #alphafemale will give birth to between eight and eleven #puppies. Each pup clocks in at 300 – 350 grams and is born blind. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#Paintedwolves do not have an equal gender-ratio. The sex ratio of a litter tends to be male-biased. This means more male puppies are born relative to females pups per litter. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The #lactating #alpha will remain close to her pups for the first month. After four weeks regurgitated meat is added to the menu. #Pups are fully weaned at two months and will remain bound to the #den for a further four to eight weeks. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Image by award-winning, Nicholas Dyer Photography. Share your #PaintedWolfWednesday stories with us!