When conserving wildlife species, re-introductions are just the beginning of the process. The question is, how do you ensure the species long-term sustainability? This is a challenge faced by the Serengeti Painted Wolves, a collaboration between the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute and our own Institute. In this post the project members describe their conservation work with African wild dogs—their recent successes and plans for the future.
Wild dogs of the Serengeti
a lost species is returned to the Serengeti National Park
African wild dogs (sometimes known as ‘painted dogs’ or ‘painted wolves’) are one of the most beautiful yet endangered carnivore species in Africa. Native to the open plains of sub-Saharan Africa, they are formidable hunters that live in highly social packs dominated by a top (or ‘alpha’) mating pair.
But the species has been in decline across its range. Diseases such as rabies and canine distemper and encroachment of farming activity into their habitats have taken their toll and wild dogs now occupy just 7% of their former ranges. In a further blow to the future of the species, in 1992 the population in the Serengeti National Park vanished, and was presumed extinct.
Then in 2000 there was good news—wild dogs began re-appearing in the Maasai community lands in Loliondo, to the east of the Serengeti National Park. A few elusive dogs were spotted to begin with, but by 2004 twenty-six individuals had established themselves in four packs, though they didn’t recolonise the park itself.
Genetic testing of these dogs by University of Glasgow researchers in collaboration with Tanzanian partners showed that these animals were in fact the same population as those that vanished from the park years before. The genetic studies also showed no evidence of inbreeding, despite the population having gone through a recent bottleneck.
But the wild dog recovery also brought problems to local communities. A lack of wildlife in these pastoral areas was forcing the wild dogs to hunt livestock, which are critical for the livelihoods of the Maasai, and in retaliation the wild dogs have been poisoned, killed and harassed.
The ‘Serengeti Painted Wolves Project’ was established by the Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute to conserve some of the endangered packs outside the protected area and move them back into the national park. Over the last few years a total of 66 wild dogs from six of the most severely threatened packs have been captured and moved from the Loliondo area to a holding pen in the western Serengeti, and then released into the park. All the packs, with one exception, have settled within the national park boundaries.
The Serengeti is now celebrating five new litters of wild dogs born to the re-introduced packs. Despite having become used to a diet of goat, the wild dogs now feed only on wildlife; the abundant impala and young wildebeest calves found inside the park. Even the open boundaries between the protected area and village lands have been free of conflicts between the newly settled wild dogs and domestic stock.
In March, the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, came specifically to join in the latest release of a wild dog pack in the western Serengeti. President Kikwete is a keen supporter of the Serengeti Painted Wolf Project, and has recognised the efforts of the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute and the University of Glasgow to re-establish the wild dog population in the Serengeti. This dedication to conservation is reflected across many sectors in Tanzania, and is the essence of the nation’s commitment to the protection of global biodiversity.
The enormous hard work put in by the Tanzanian field team ahead of the recent release was rewarded when the enclosure gates were opened, and the thirteen wild dogs ran excitedly into the bush. They immediately settled into their new life, and successfully hunted twice within two days of the release. Painted wolves, wild once more.
The return of the painted wolves is undoubtedly enriching the beautiful savannahs of the Serengeti. But we still need to understand more about the ecology and demography of the dogs. What competition do they face from other large carnivores, such as lions and hyenas? What determines whether they will move outside the protected areas and how far the packs range? Answering these questions will help us define the core habitat of this species, and whether we are doing enough to protect this iconic species and the stunning environments in which they live.
Authors: Eblate Ernest and Emmanuel Masenga (TAWIRI) together with Markus Borner and Grant C.Hopcraft (Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine).
The Serengeti Painted Wolves Project is a joint effort by the Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) and by the University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine. It is funded by the Paul Tudor Jones Family Foundation and a private grant from President of Tanzania Dr. JK Kikwete.
– This post was first published at the Africa Geographic blog, and is re-posted here with permission.
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