Volume 6, Issue 1 Painted Dog Conservation Inc August 2009 ABN: 30 268 127 580 Registered in Western Australia Written and edited by Greg PO Box 40, Westminster WA 6061 Gibbard, John Lemon and Patrons: Daniel Scarparolo Chairman - Gregory Gibbard Dr Luke Hunter ©PDCInc 2009 Vice Chairman - John Lemon Treasurer - Richard Watson Bradley Trevor Greive From the Chairman I would like to welcome all our newest members and It has been my privilege to have been instrumental in our existing members to our half-yearly newsletter and setting up PDCInc with the support of John, Dick and trust you will all enjoy the content inside. Margie and Chris McClelland who have been with me The committee led by John in my absence for the from the start. I am very appreciative of the support majority of the past and present year has been very shown to me by the committee and wish them every busy organising events for the members and others success for the future. enjoyment. The project in Zimbabwe has gone through a number Organising events is not an easy job and generally of changes with staff numbers due in main to the when booking a venue there are costs associated and dollarisation in February. The Zimbabwean dollar is all minimum numbers which must be paid for regardless but replaced by the South African Rand and the US of the actual number of attendees. Too often I have dollar. The US dollar is used in Victoria Falls and Harare seen a few people on the committee and indeed and in Bulawayo most prices are quoted in the South their partners go to extraordinary lengths to try and African rand. Prices for most commodities are showing fi ll places. We recognise that not all members will some stability for the fi rst time in several years. want or be able to attend however we do ask that our Fuel had stabilised at about a $1 per litre but there members circulate any fl yers with their colleagues so is now a shortage again and at some places is being that we can at least get maximum exposure for an quoted between $1.50 and $1.80 and as high as $2.20 event. It is only with your support as members that per litre for diesel. PDCInc can achieve its objectives. The bush camp for the children got off to a late start Thank you to the members of SAVE for their continued due to striking teachers. Wilton Nsimango displayed support at our events and also to Silvery Gibbons and great initiative in organising camps for the children the other associations for forwarding our fl yers to their while the strike was in progress and the programme is members. back on track. While in Perth, Emma Still from Monarto After a very long time John has obtained the services Zoo in SA, who started the “Creating for Conservation” of Tracey Bernasconi to fi ll the position of Secretary. which has a charter of providing support for the Bush Thank you and a warm welcome to PDCInc. camp, mailed letters from the local children and those In the last newsletter I indicated I was in Zimbabwe letters have been distributed to the various schools assisting the Painted Dog conservation with their which are part of a penpal system. Thank you Emma. administration. Towards the end of April I submitted PDCInc will be holding their annual general meeting papers to obtain a work permit and should I be during October, date time and venue will be advised successful, I intend staying at least three years with the to members. I would encourage all members to attend project. and be an active part of the organisation. It is your As foreshadowed it was challenging and I stayed a association and in the end it is the members that will further 2 and a half months before fl ying to the UK ensure its success. and staying with the projects director who fi nally got Welcome to our new and renewing members: Jim capped and is now Dr Gregory Rasmussen. Some of and Sarah Felgate, Robyn Lines, Matt Becker, Kellie you will remember that this man shattered most of Leigh, Luke Hunter, Lauryn Baxter, Laura Monaghan, Bill his lower limbs in an ultra light plane crash in 2002. Hutch, Melissa Canales, Tracey Bernasconi, Astrid King, Dr Rasmussen will be travelling to the project during Brian Bernasconi, Indigo Foster Tuke, Kate O’Connell, August. Carla Srb, Mark Lynch, Virginia Rimes, Leanne Van Der From the UK, I fl ew back to Perth for a short stay and Weyde, Thea Peterson, Patrick Patterson, Julie Hann, met with the committee and outlined my plans for the Susan Swalling, James Barr, Nathan Parker, Gwen future before once again heading out to Zimbabwe. McNaught and Robert Hemsworth. Inside this issue: Painted Dog Conservation - Zimbabwe...Page 2 | Wild Dog Project Update...Page 3 PDC Inc on Facebook...Page 3 | Robin Lines’ Down Under Tour 2009...Page 4 | Absolutely 80s...Page 5 African Wild Dog Conservation Update...Page 6 | Creature Feature: Nile Crocodile...Page 8 Patrons Report...Page 5 | Donations...Page 10 Page 2 Volume 6, Issue 1 Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) − Zimbabwe For our newest members, the following is a brief on the project Anti-snare plates developed that PDCInc was initially set up to support. You would all be in conjunction with the aware that we have expanded our support to neighbouring supplier of the collars, countries, Zambia and Namibia. Sirtrack of New Zealand, are The director of PDC, Dr Gregory Rasmussen has been working incorporated in the design in Zimbabwe from 1989. During 1992 he set up Painted Dog and have enabled many Research and during the fi rst two years the human induced individuals to survive after carnage from snares, shooting and road kills accounted for 95% being caught in snares, thus of all dog mortalities. Early public presentations showed prejudice maintaining the integrity of and ignorance and it was clear that unless this situation was the pack. addressed the species could become extinct. The initial emphasis Road signs have been erected was thus to identify the critical issues and develop a pragmatic to alert motorists to the presence of dogs and packs that utilise and holistic strategy that would make a substantial lasting the main roads. Retro-refl ective collars are fi tted to the dogs. These contribution to Painted Dogs, nature conservation and very measures have reduced road mortality importantly, to the lives of the local people. Relocation PDC’s mission is to protect and increase the range and numbers The development of humane, non-invasive capture techniques of the painted dog (Lycaon pictus) both in Zimbabwe and has enabled PDC to relocate whole family units from sensitive elsewhere in Africa through conservation, education and farming areas without harm to the dogs. community involvement. They are committed to creating a Legislation network of conservationists, the local community and securing PDC has successfully lobbied for the species to be given special international funding. protection under the Parks and Wildlife Act and has been The aims of PDC are: successful in securing the only prosecution against an individual • conserve and increase the range and numbers of dogs in for shooting a dog. Zimbabwe Rehabilitation Facility produce and publicise thoroughly researched techniques • PDC has constructed a rehabilitation facility for painted dogs that can be used to protect this endangered carnivore, as part of the National Conservation Strategy for the species. both in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in Africa The facility boasts a main enclosure, 600m in diameter, a 100m establish this project as a role model for conservation of the • medium term enclosure and a small intensive management dogs and other species at a pan African level enclosure (20m x 4m). All three areas are linked by a series mobilise Zimbabweans through education and awareness • of raceways to facilitate the movement of individuals with programmes to empathise with, conserve and be proud of minimum handling. Painted Dogs • enhance the well-being of local communities that Children’s Bush Camp interact with this fl agship species. To be achieved through It is an unequivocal fact that today’s children are tomorrow’s conservation education and capacity building with wildlife custodians and they need to be educated about the stakeholders. various problems facing endangered species. With this in mind PDC established a Children’s Bush Camp. A summary of their achievements to date includes: An extended education experiential education programme Anti poaching units has been designed linked to the National curriculum for PDC employs 17 men split into three units to carry out patrols grade 6 children with a philosophy aimed at aff ecting healthy on a daily basis throughout the Gwayi Conservancy. Since the developments in the perspectives, attitudes and feelings of fi rst of these units was deployed during late 2001 they have students towards the environment. collected over 12,000 snares! Seventeen primary schools that border Hwange National Park Conservative estimates indicate that 10% of snares kill, thus have been targeted for this annual free of charge programme. over 1,000 animals have been saved at a value to landowners of some $350,000US. Community Outreach Programme PDC’s Community Development Offi cer visits local schools to Population increase teach children about the conservation of natural resources, The national population estimated at between 400–450 in 1987 including wildlife. had grown to an estimated population of 750 dogs in 2005. This had not occurred elsewhere in Africa during the same period. As well as teaching children about wildlife in general and the long term eff ects of poaching it is also they are also taught Working closely with the ranchers dogs are recolonising areas about sustainable use of permaculture.