Conservation Approaches

Snares are one of the cruelest threats facing painted wolves. Painted wolves can suffer terrible injuries or die, and the death of a single animal, especially if it is the alpha female, can result in the elimination of the entire pack.

The illegal bushmeat trade is rife in many parts of Africa where the painted wolves roam. Snares are set to catch antelope and other small game for local consumption or for trading into bushmeat markets. The painted wolf is not the target of these snares, but with their size and speed, are often caught and suffer excruciating injuries or even death.

And so, removing snares has become a major part of the conservation effort needed to save the painted wolf. Anti-poaching units patrol through areas where painted wolves are known to range, removing as many snares as possible.

Information from monitoring and research can be very helpful in targeting the work of the anti-poaching units. For example, if a den site is known, then work on removing snares can be focused around that area, where the wolves are likely to hunt for the duration of the denning season.

There are fewer painted wolves left on our planet than elephants, lions, or even rhinos. And yet, very few people are aware of their existence, let alone their plight.

For those who do know the painted wolf, the pall of their history casts a shadow over them today. Persecuted as vermin for over a century, a multitude of malign myths need to be dispelled.

And yet, this is a very special species, full of fascinating behaviours, compassionate caring, and the cutest pups on the savannah. And more than that, they are deserving of our attention – they deserve a seat at conservation’s top table.

Raising awareness of the painted wolf is absolutely critical to raise the funds and the political will necessary to conserve them.

With less than 7,000 painted wolves left on the planet, managing their genetic diversity is a critical part of the conservation puzzle.

Many painted wolf populations are very small and very fragmented. While painted wolves can roam very far to form a new pack, the increasing human influence on the landscape means that there is sometimes nowhere to go.

So, humans have to intervene. It may require translocations, it may require pack ‘formation’, but it will always rely heavily on the good will of landowners who must be educated about the benefits of having painted wolves on their land. Without such interventions, the remaining populations of painted wolves would slowly become totally isolated – a sad fate for these wide-ranging and fearless souls.

Community partnerships are critical in ensuring the success of painted wolf conservation efforts.

In many places, painted wolves live alongside humans, ranging in and out of unfenced protected areas. They are predators, and they are seen by local communities as a threat to their livestock. So, it is critical that these local communities perceive or receive some benefit from the painted wolf’s existence. If they are only suffering the costs associated with painted wolves, why should they tolerate them?

Many field conservation organisations have recognised this and at the core of their work are community programmes that respond to the real needs of the local community, for example basic livelihoods and health support, investment in businesses and support for sport and culture.

Promoting coexistence with wildlife is central to conserving painted wolves, in particular managing disease transmission risk between domestic dogs and painted wolves. Vaccination of domestic dogs helps to improve the lives of communities and to save painted wolves!

Another critical component of community partnerships is in education.

Rural communities value education highly, and the future of conservation, not only of the painted wolf, is with the young people of Africa.

Bush camps, conservation clubs and libraries are just some of the opportunities for children to experience wildlife in a positive light, to learn from wildlife and to build skills which may be out of reach in their rural schools.

Building the capacity of young Africans to engage in the conservation ‘business’, whether through tourism, research or conservation NGOs, is also central to the future of wildlife conservation.

Rural communities value education highly, and the future of conservation, not only of the painted wolf, is with the young people of Africa.

Bush camps, conservation clubs and libraries are just some of the opportunities for children to experience wildlife in a positive light, to learn from wildlife and to build skills which may be out of reach in their rural schools.

Building the capacity of young Africans to engage in the conservation ‘business’, whether through tourism, research or conservation NGOs, is also central to the future of wildlife conservation.

Underpinning all conservation work should be a robust understanding of where painted wolves live, the way they use the landscape and interact with other animals, and the threats they face.

Painted wolves are generally monitored using radio-tracking, although for poorly known populations, a baseline spoor survey may be necessary. Range and movement information can help to target anti-poaching efforts, identify priorities for habitat protection, as well as areas where conflict with local communities may arise.

Painted wolves are especially vulnerable to diseases such as rabies and canine distemper. Research and monitoring helps to understand the disease risk for a particular population and identify priorities for conservation.

Research contributes to understanding the relationship between painted wolves and their prey, as well as other predators, all of which have important implications for management and conservation action.

With so few painted wolves left, and with their habitat becoming increasingly fragmented, it is also critical to understand the genetic makeup of populations and their connectedness with others.

Rehabilitation facilities serve as sanctuaries for sick, injured, orphaned or unwelcome painted wolves, before they can rejoin their pack or be reintroduced to a safe area.

Such centres can provide safe havens for:

• Recovery from snare injuries and road accidents;
• Treatment for diseases such as rabies and canine distemper;
• Rehabilitation from the illegal wildlife trade;
• Temporary shelter and protection for painted wolves being moved away from areas of high conflict with local farmers;

Professional rehabilitation facilities, with minimal handling policies, and a focus on reintroduction, are absolutely critical to the survival of this endangered species.