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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 into adjacent areas where people live. Grassroots conservation
efforts beyond park boundaries are critical to prevent their
extinction. Rangelands
comprise about 85% of the land surface area in Kenya, and
are largely inhabited by pastoralists dependent on livestock.
Wild dogs and other carnivores co-habit these areas. 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 and present security concerns,
however, little is known about the many threatened
species that live here. This region is an important
refuge for wild dogs, as well as for other
threatened wildlife species, and an important
corridor for the metapopulation
of wild dogs in the Horn of Africa. Outside of this
project, virtually nothing is known about the conservation
status and ecology of wild dogs that live here. This project
has been identified as a conservation priority by the IUCN/SSC
Canid Specialist Group and the AZA/Wild Dog Species Survival
Program.
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Kenya
(in yellow) straddles the equator and is surrounded
by five neighbors. Rich in biodiversity, it is challenged
with balancing the needs of a growing population for
natural resources and land with conserving habitat
and wildlife. |
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This
satellite image of the project area includes the Tana
River (the nearly vertical green line). The Tana
is the primary perennial water source in the region,
with swamps fed by flood waters providing additional
water during the dry season. |
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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.
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Collect
and analyze data on abundance and distribution, prey
preferences with special reference to domestic livestock
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Train
local people
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Conduct
trend survey of local attitudes and concerns about wild
dogs in particular, and carnivores in general
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Identify
and prioritize threats to wild dogs
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Develop
a wildlife conservation education program
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. Expanding habitat
connectivity and long-term monitoring are top priorities
for conserving this species. 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 can be raised.
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Bob
teaches data entry |
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Wild Dogs in the Biodiversity Hotspot Convergence
Zone
The
African Wild Dog Conservancy is presenting new
information on wild dogs in the biodiversity
hotspot convergence zone that will
be used for conservation planning. This is part
of a larger continent-wide planning effort to
help protect wild dogs and other carnivores.
What
Local People Say
The
first social survey of attitudes towards wild
dogs and other large predators has been completed
with over 200 villages participating and over
5,000 wild dog sightings.
Attitudes towards wild dogs and other predators
are largely negative because of concern for
livestock and personal safety. Despite this,
wild dogs co-exist with villagers with almost
half of those interviewed saying they wouldn't
kill them.
Interestingly,
the majority of those interviewed didn't think
predators had any value, but didn't want them
to become extinct. Some villagers said they
should be left alone. Reasons given by those
who thought that predators had value included
being an important part of their natural heritage,
having potential economic importance, and consuming
dead livestock. Many villagers qualified their
responses, indicating that predators should
be placed in a sanctuary or zoo, and only those
animals that kill livestock should be eliminated.
Although
the role of predators in the ecosystem wasn't
well understood, with over half of those surveyed
believing that wildlife couldn't become extinct,
most expressed concern for wildlife in general
and the environment. This belief highlighted
the importance of working with local people
to address a key question "How can wild
dogs and people co-exist for future generations?"
Predators
and Livestock
Wild
dogs weren't considered a major cause of livestock
losses. Less
livestock losses attributable to wild dogs and
religious injunctions against killing may explain
tempered tolerance towards them.
Spotted hyenas were far more likely to be blamed.
Losses to lions and leopards varied regionally,
while losses to hyenas, caracals, cheetahs,
and jackals were found in all villages surveyed.
Pythons and crocodiles occasionally took livestock
as well. |
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www.awdconservancy.org |
