Page 10 - IFV_Issue 6_2022

Nature

NEW WILD DOG PACK FOR MABULA

According to the Endangered Wildlife Trust, wild dogs are

South Africa’s most endangered carnivore

cross Africa, it’s estimated that there are only around The journey for the two males was long, as they had naturally
six thousand wild dogs to be found in their natural detached from their resident pack in northern Limpopo in early
Ahabitat and of the 39 countries where they used to roam 2021 to go in search of females. They travelled 330km before
free, they are now found in only 14. Over time, they have lost arriving at Mabula in July 2021. With no suitable adult females
approximately 93% of their historic range due to habitat loss and available in South Africa’s wild dog metapopulation, two females
encroachment of the human population. Hazards that this species in the free-roaming Waterberg Wild Dog population were
faces include displacement of wildlife that naturally would be identified for translocation, which took place in March 2022.
their prey, poaching and becoming a roadkill statistic. The four dogs spent several weeks in adjacent holding bomas
On Tuesday, 10 May 2022, at the Mabula Private Game Reserve, to facilitate social bonding and allow time for the new pack to
there was much excitement as they proudly announced that a acclimate to the area before their release onto the reserve. The
newly-formed pack of four African wild dogs have been released bonding was extremely successful, and the dogs are now roaming
from their temporary holding boma onto the reserve in the the reserve as a cohesive pack.
southern part of the Waterberg. Two males and two females have With fewer than 650 African wild dogs remaining in South
formed the second-known breeding pack of African wild dogs in Africa, this translocation and formation of a new breeding pack
the Waterberg. contributes towards the long-term conservation of African wild

8 • Issue 6 2022 • The Villager