At the end of 2014, the Gumbi Community made history by being the first community owned game reserve in South Africa to introduce a pack of endangered African Wild Dog onto the Somkhanda Game Reserve.
The pack settled in well and their success was cemented as the alpha female gave birth to the pack’s first litter last week.
Since introduction, the pack has had some great successes, but also some tragedy.
After establishing their hierarchy, the alpha female (dominant female who leads the pack) was caught in a snare one night.
This snare was not put out specifically for dogs, but rather to target small antelope for subsistence poaching of meat.
Unfortunately, wild dog are particularly susceptible to snaring as they cover large areas when hunting and also fan out as a pack, thus increasing the likelihood of encountering a snare.
She was found first thing in the morning by the Wild Dog monitor on the reserve, but unfortunately the snare had killed her.
Another setback
Shortly after this incident, there was confusion in the pack as hierarchy was once again contested.
One of the other females had left the pack briefly during the night and was caught and killed by a leopard.
She was found the following morning with bite marks to her head and leopard tracks in the area.
These two fatalities left the pack extremely vulnerable, with only a single female left with the two males.
The incidents have, however, resulted in a stabilisation in the pack dynamics and they have settled down well.
Exciting news
It was with great excitement that the new alpha pair were seen mating and, several weeks later, the female was seen inspecting warthog burrows around the reserve.
She eventually settled on one near a drainage line which offered good cover and soft soil in which to dig.
Wild Dog typically gestate for just under two-and-a-half months and when the monitors noticed her spending more time at the den site and less on the hunt, the excitement started to grow.
Over the weekend of 16 May, Axel Primmer, the Wild Dog monitor from Wildlife ACT Fund, noticed her to be visibly thinner and also heard chirping noises coming from the den itself.
‘She had been venturing out with the males less frequently, relying more heavily on regurgitation from the males for food,’ said Axel.
‘This is an extremely happy time for the reserve and the painted dogs of Somkhanda,’ said Nkosinathi Mbhele, Reserve Manager.
Wildlands’ Threatened Species Coordinator Mark Gerrard said, ‘With the introduction and success of this pack of African Wild Dog, Somkhanda and the Gumbi community are contributing significantly to Wild Dog conservation in the country.
‘Not only has this increased the number of Wild Dog in the country, but more importantly increased available habitat for, and pack numbers of, this endangered species.’
For more information on Wild Dog conservation in the province or for information on Somkhanda Game Reserve, please contact Mark Gerrard on markg@wildlands.co.za
