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Community-based Conservation |
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African wild dogs are vulnerable to extinction because they exist at low densities, range widely, and come increasingly into contact with people. Even wild dogs in protected areas frequently move in adjacent areas where people live. Grassroots conservation efforts beyond park boundaries are critical to prevent their extinction. The African Wild Dog Conservancy has a community conservation project in northeastern and coastal Kenya, a biodiversity rich mosaic of protected areas and community lands under extreme threat. Due to past civil strife, little is known about the many threatened species there. This region is potentially a significant refuge for wild dogs and an important corridor for the metapopulation of the Horn of Africa, as well as for other threatened wildlife species. Virtually nothing is known about the conservation status and ecology of wild dogs in this region. This project has been identified as a wild dog conservation priority by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group and the AZA/Wild Dog Species Survival Program. |
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This pioneering project investigates the conservation status, ecology, and effects of cultural beliefs, traditional practices, and human activities on wild dogs in this region. A key component in sustaining wildlife and promoting a healthy environment is to empower local communities through hands-on training and to help community-based organizations establish education programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Project Objectives: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The project directly contributes to conserving African wild
dogs by providing new scientific information on a potentially key population
linking wild dogs in the Horn
of Africa. Results from the project will be used to develop
an African Wild Dog Conservation Action Plan in partnership with local,
national, and international stakeholders, and to establish a long-term
monitoring program with the Kenya Wildlife
Service. As determined by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, expanding
habitat connectivity and long-term
monitoring are top priorities for conserving wild dogs. By training
and working with Kenyans, innovative community-based solutions can be
fostered and implemented, and local awareness of the importance of the
environment and wildlife conservation raised. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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www.awdconservancy.org |
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