Developing the next generation of African painted wolf conservation leaders

The PWF Painted Wolf Conservation Leadership Programme, a partnership between PWF, the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) and Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), is designed to create a new generation of African conservation leaders dedicated to the species across the Continent.

Our ambition is to expand proven painted wolf conservation techniques to wherever painted wolves exist, and we need a large number of dedicated African conservationists with species-specific skills and experience in order to achieve this.

The painted wolf has long been neglected by conservationists and one of our greatest challenges is finding experienced people with these required skills.

Without them, it can result in unnecessary learning curves and experimental approaches when proven techniques exist.

By equipping people with the skills to implement these proven techniques, we can significantly increase the immediate return on the investments the Painted Dog Fund makes, which will improve the immediate outlook for the species.

At the core of the Programme is the Leadership Centre based in South Luangwa Valley, Zambia. The Programme has the capacity to host 20 people a year, in an area rich with painted wolves.

The field and classroom based modular curriculum has been built on ZCP’s extensive, science-backed training programme, and enhanced with input from PDC. Further input comes from the Centre for Wildlife Studies in the US.

Students will have the opportunity to enhance their learning experience with PDC in Hwange, Zimbabwe, where they will be exposed to another landscape and different approaches to conservation challenges. This will help the students to take what they have learnt and adapt it to be effective in their local landscapes.

The programme also includes in-situ training where our experienced painted wolf specialists can help adapt approaches to each unique environment.

The programme addresses the severe lack of black African painted wolf conservation leaders, offering trainees long-term mentorship and development support.

The programme will increase the number of painted wolf conservationists across Africa and build a new generation of conservation leaders with the necessary skills to save the species.