One of PWF’s core strategies is simple but powerful: take proven conservation techniques to wherever the species exists.
Painted wolves are not an easy species to work on. One of the greatest challenges we face is finding conservationists who have the specific knowledge and field skills needed to effectively conduct this work.
What is needed is new African talent, and PWF, together with Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) in Zimbabwe and Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP), has created the new PWF Painted Wolf Conservation Leadership Programme. It has the support of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in Zambia, with funding coming from the Painted Dog Fund.
The Programme, which will be run by PWF, offers a modular, science-based curriculum built on ZCP’s leadership development model, enhanced with significant input from PDC and support from the Centre for Wildlife Studies in the US.
At its core is the Leadership Centre, based in South Luangwa Valley, Zambia, that immerses trainees in the country’s longest running wild dog conservation project to develop practical, field-based skills that are essential to effectively saving the species.
The Programme extends to giving candidates the opportunity to develop their knowledge at PDC in Hwange, a different landscape with some alternate, but equally effective conservation approaches.
PWF conservationists will also visit the candidates home area, helping them to adapt their newfound skills to their local environment and specific challenges, while cross-pollinating ideas from the other projects they support across Africa.
The Programme has the capacity to support 20 budding painted wolf conservationists a year, who will develop into a new generation of painted wolf conservation leaders – led by local Africans.
