Helicopters used to track painted wolves
The rough volcanic terrain of Tsavo East National Park, a vast wilderness in Kenya, has made innovation a lifeline for the threatened painted wolves who live there.
With the rugged terrain and sparse road network, tracking painted dogs from a vehicle is incredibly difficult. Therefore Tsavo Trust, in addition to using vehicles, also uses their planes and new helicopter to track packs and identify individual painted wolves.
Tracking and monitoring the painted wolves is critical for protecting them. This is an important part of understanding the threats these animals are facing in the area.
With this knowledge the threats can be mitigated, leading to better protection for the painted wolves by Tsavo Trust.
Aerial tracking is proving to be highly effective but also comes at a significant cost. However, part of a grant, made by the Painted Dog Fund, is now making this possible.
The video below shows Joseph Kyalo Kimaile, Chief Wildlife Officer of Tsavo Trust, landing successfully by helicopter in the remote Tivo riverbed after spotting a pack resting there. Kyalo managed to take identifying pictures of each painted wolf in the pack and was amazed at how relaxed the dogs were despite the helicopter landing nearby.
With the ability to locate and track packs from the sky, the team is now preparing to deploy collars. These will provide greater insight into movements, habitat use and the threats the packs are facing, allowing Tsavo Trust to take timely and focused action to protect them.
We believe this is the first time a helicopter has been used in this way and has become another innovative tool for conserving painted wolves in remote and inhospitable areas.
Images and video courtesy of Tsavo Trust.
