The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in partnership with Painted Wolf Wines and Chalmar Beef will host a fundraising dinner at Chaplin’s Grill in Hurlingham.
The dinner will raise money for an urgent vaccination programme to stem the outbreak of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in packs of African wild dogs.
EWT, a leading biodiversity conservation organisation, said African wild dogs were threatened by a lack of safe space for them to exist. These mammals are killed by humans protecting their livestock, fall victim to snares, die of scarcity of food in some areas and are also killed by diseases.
According to Belinda Glenn, EWT’s communication and brand manager, CDV is a contagious disease often carried by domestic dogs and is closely related to measles in humans.
“It causes respiratory and central nervous system malfunctions and also affects the gastrointestinal system,” explained Glenn. “The infection can spread quickly, affecting entire populations especially when the animals have not been exposed to the disease before and thus do not have any natural immunity.”
Glenn added that the animals were more likely to get the disease during periods of stress.
“The disease can pass through a pack of wild dogs quickly, showing neurological signs, disorientation and aggression. “Death occurs one to six days after the first signs are noticed,” said Glenn.
The dinner which is expected to raise well over R30 000 will assist with the purchase of the vaccinations. “Fourteen wild dogs will be urgently vaccinated in fenced game reserves while 30 to 40 per cent of each pack in the Kruger National Park (about 100 dogs) will be vaccinated.
“The aim is to protect a core of the population from both CDV and rabies,” explained Glenn. “Each animal needs to receive a booster vaccine four to six weeks after the first injections and then every year thereafter, which means lots of vaccines are needed.”
The wine and food pairing dinner will be held on 9 November where Dr Kelly Marnewick of EWT will give a short presentation. Bookings can be made directly with Chaplin’s Grill and tickets cost R450 per person. R300 from each booking will go to the EWT.
Details: 076 564 5979 or info@chaplinsgrill.co.za
