Snares cause trouble for African wild dogs
The establishment of the African wild dog in the Waterberg has taken a step backward after two breakaway packs did not manage to meet up and establish a third breeding group, as many had hoped.
Efforts to establish the endangered wild dog in the area have otherwise gone extremely well. The Waterberg is home to the largest and one of the last free-roaming packs outside formally protected areas in South Africa. One of the two groups is denning for the third year just south of Lephalale. The dogs migrate between private properties. The Waterberg Wild Dog Initiative (WWDI) collaborates to ensure the survival of wild dogs and works with cattle and game farmers in the area to promote co-existence.
Reilly Mooney of the WDDI spoke during a meeting for landowners, conservationists, and other role players in the Waterberg at the Farmers’ Hall in Vaalwater on Friday, June 2. It was hosted by the Waterberg Development Initiative.
According to Mooney two packs reside in the area, namely the Melkrivier pack and the TOOG pack towards the Overyssel area. The Melkrivier pack consists of 11 dogs and the TOOG pack of 19 dogs.
During late February the first dispersal of three sexually mature females of the TOOG pack took place. A short while later two males left the Melkrivier pack and there were high hopes that the two groups would meet up and form a new pack. According to Mooney the dispersal is a natural process that follows successful breeding. Mixing of the two populations will ensure a healthy flow of genes. Some of the dogs in the packs have tracking collars, which enables the team from WWDI to track their movements.
The dispersal, however, was not successful, with all but one of the dogs lost. One of the two males died after getting caught in a snare. The WWDI team removed more than 30 snares in that area after they found him. The other male ran into the TOOG pack and fled back towards Melkrivier. He spent some time outside a predator park but was also caught in a snare after moving on.
One of the females got a foot stuck in a fence and could not detangle herself. Her carcass was found by the WWDI team. The second female is missing and has not been found. The last of the females were able to rejoin the TOOG pack after three months of roaming. They accepted her back into the fold.
“We are not seeing the high level of success we had hoped for,” said Mooney.
Human and wildlife conflict, disease due to contact with unvaccinated domestic dogs, snaring, road collisions, and habitat fragmentation are some of the biggest dangers the wild dogs face. Wild dogs are notoriously difficult to keep behind fences.
Wild dogs are some of the most endangered wildlife species. They are the second most endangered carnivore in Africa.
The Melkrivier pack is currently denning south from Lephalale next to the R33 and motorists are cautioned to slow down and be careful. Residents interested in viewing the wild dogs can do so via the Waterberg Wild Dog Ecotourism Project on an informative game drive.
For more about the Waterberg wild dogs, WhatsApp Mooney on tel. 073 791 6249 or visit www.waterbergwilddogs.org.za.
