KAWDCT
Donation protected
The clock is ticking and time is running out for the African Wild Dog (AWD)! With already dwindling numbers, and rapidly decreasing, AWDs need all the help they can get!!!!
African Wild Dogs are the MOST endangered large carnivores in Southern Africa, and second in Africa to the Ethiopian Wolf. The declining population can be attributed to persecution, retaliatory killing, habitat loss and (introduced) diseases
The reality of Africa without its endemic African Wild Dog is something we are nearing on a daily basis if we don’t take action before it is too late. This fundraiser is dedicated to preventing that daunting possibility. The Kalahari African Wild Dog Conservation Trust (KAWDCT) is a grassroots field based organization, the only organization in Namibia dedicated to AWDS’. The KAWDCT have taken on the mission of AWD conservation throughout Namibia. Namibia’s AWD population is one of the very few free roaming populations remaining in Africa, unrestricted to fragmented wildlife reserves like other African populations.
Lethal persecution is the leading cause of wild dog deaths in Namibia, as a result of Human Wildlife Conflict. This constant struggle has left many farmers without the economic income their livestock would bring, due to falling prey to local predators. This in turn, causes animosity with farming communities, often leading to persecution as the farmers see this as their only option. With an already devastatingly low count of wild dogs left in the world, estimated around 6,000, and only an estimated 1,400 mature adults, every loss adds to the staggering uphill battle the wild dogs face in any hopes of replenishing their diminishing numbers. Over the last 10 years, Namibia has seen a decline in its known population by 50%, the latest estimates being 350 nationally. Every denning season multiple packs are persecuted due to this conflict with the local communities. Dens are sought out, and destroyed, seeing mortalities of whole litters of pups as well as multiple adolescents and adults in the packs, resulting in many cases of pack disintegration.
July of 2022, KAWDCT will place the first ever GPS collars on African wild dogs of this particular population in north-east Namibia, the most elusive, unknown and most persecuted populations in Namibia, if not Africa!. These collars will help the organization keep track of where the animals are, in order to cease future preventable persecution as well as persecution in 2022. This will also provide an early warning system for the farmers to keep their calves and smaller animals safe from the predators, which in turn will reduce conflict and build relationships. The collaboration between conservationists and farmers will not only help to prevent persecution but will work to reshape the perception the wild dogs carry within the community.
Once collars are placed, the team will then shift gears to focus efforts on community partnership and human/wildlife management. This will entail monitoring the packs through the GPS collars in order to receive updated locations of their whereabouts. These locations will be be shared through a communication system between KAWDCT and local farms in order to encourage farmers to bring their livestock into safe areas when the AWDs are near. The team will be in the field daily through the remainder of the year, focusing efforts on the mitigation of keeping both the farmers' livestock and the AWDs safe.
In addition to location monitorzation of the AWDs, the team will dive into ecology in hopes of further understanding the local packs. Through examinations of questions such as why do some farmers incur higher losses as compared to others? What factors drive packs into these areas to hunt as well as den? What wildlife are the dogs predating on and how does that compare to the typical "preferred diet" of dogs in other/surrounding areas? All these questions as well as examining the overall available prey source, water sources, AWD routines, as well as habbits, and so much more will help not only KAWDCT but researchers all around understand the Namibian AWD.
In order to continue with our efforts, community support not only within the farming community but also abroad makes our mission possible. Needed support for expenses such as fuel, supplies, food for the team while out in the field, rangers in place to guard AWD dens, and running costs. As a small, newly established organization, we greatly rely on the support and generosity of our community through fundraisers and donations. Though small in numbers, KAWDCT certainly is not lacking in drive, dedication, and perseverance. Continued support will allow the potential this mission has to come full circle, securing a safe tomorrow for the AWDs of today.
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Organizer
Nicole KAWDCT
Organizer
Saint Cloud, FL
