African Wild Dog Scouts

Project Animal(s) : Wild dogs
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Africa
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : http://www.awf.org/projects/african-wild-dog-scouts
Project is timebound? : No

The African wild dog is seriously endangered due to human-carnivore conflict. Hunting and habitat loss has left fewer than 5,000 wild dogs in all of Africa, as their historic range has shrunk almost 90%. To combat the rapid decline of these carnivores, African Wildlife Foundation is working to understand threats and challenges facing wild dog communities and the best methods of protection.

AWF, in collaboration with the Samburu-Laikipia Wild Dog Project, local communities, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)—and with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—has employed 12 wild dog scouts from five different communities in Northern Kenya. These scouts, using handheld radios, Global Positioning System (GPS) units, and other equipment provided by AWF, collect information regarding movement and mortality in packs, along with providing information to local communities on pack location.

Scouts are able to earn a livelihood while engaging in conservation that benefits their communities. Additionally, AWF has initiated critical dialogue between communities and key researchers that will help prevent the killing of wild dogs.

Project Agency : African Wild life Foundation

Project Agency Contact : http://www.awf.org/contact