The Painted Dog Fund has awarded $50,000 to the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP)
to expand its successful painted wolf conservation initiatives into North Luangwa, a
17,000km² expanse of critical yet understudied habitat within the Luangwa Valley
ecosystem. This region, home to one of Africa’s largest painted wolf populations, has seen
limited painted wolf conservation efforts to date.
With almost 20 years of experience across many Zambian parks, ZCP is a trusted leader in
painted wolf conservation. They have a strong painted wolf programme in South Luangwa;
however, a lack of capacity and funding has hindered ZCP’s intensive monitoring efforts
further north. This grant enables ZCP to expand its programme into North Luangwa,
ensuring that painted wolves here receive the same protection as their southern
counterparts.
Over the past year, the Painted Wolf Foundation (PWF) has partnered with ZCP to identify
the most effective uses of the grant, which will enhance ZCP’s work with painted wolves in
North Luangwa. ZCP have developed a comprehensive painted wolf strategy, and their work
will be used to guide conservation actions related to painted wolves in the system. ZCP will
be working with Zambia’s Department of National Parks & Wildlife, as well as project
partners Frankfurt Zoological Society and Conservation South Luangwa, to implement this
strategy.
With significant support from the Painted Dog Fund and a strong partnership with PWF,
ZCP’s expansion into North Luangwa is a crucial step towards a better understanding of
painted wolves in this system, the threats they face, and the mitigation strategies we need to
put in place to ensure their long-term survival.
