In July CCB and Mokolodi Nature Reserve received a group of wild dogs from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Tsabong (Southern Botswana). A farmer had a group of wild dogs denning on his farm that had taken several of his cattle. He had called DWNP for assistance and was encouraged to do better management first before further action was taken. However, he was not willing to keep the dogs on his land as they had already caused him significant losses. DWNP had caught the puppies at the den site and the dominant male. The rest of the pack had then disappeared from the farm. Along with the DWNP, Central Kalahari Predator Research Group, CCB and several local veterinarians, a plan was developed for the future of the dogs.
The dogs were to come to Mokolodi Nature Reserve and an enclosure was to be built to temporarily house the small pack. Then 3 female wild dogs that had been raised as orphans at Grassland Safaris in the Western Kalahari were to come down and be introduced to the father and the pups. This involved a lot of collaborations and communications with all the groups involved and was a great exercise in how we can effectively work together by combing resources and ideas. The enclosure was kindly supported by the Comanis Foundation who also assisted with the transport of the dogs. Thanks also go to Hawk Eye Fencing for building the facility at cost.
The plan was a success and the father and pups bonded immediately with the 3 females. It was a great moment to see them meet. The puppies were extremely happy and each of them was excited and exuberant. At the first feeding time together they shared their food with no aggression and appeared as if they had always been together.
The new pack remained in the enclosure for 10 days at Mokolodi Nature Reserve and then were transported up to the Northern Central Kalahari Game Reserve to a temporary boma for a couple of days before finally being released on 31st August. It was a great moment for everyone involved to see the pack returned to the wild. The male and one of the females were collared with satellite collars and are now being monitored by the Central Kalahari Predator Research Group. We look forward to hearing about their progress.
The dogs were to come to Mokolodi Nature Reserve and an enclosure was to be built to temporarily house the small pack. Then 3 female wild dogs that had been raised as orphans at Grassland Safaris in the Western Kalahari were to come down and be introduced to the father and the pups. This involved a lot of collaborations and communications with all the groups involved and was a great exercise in how we can effectively work together by combing resources and ideas. The enclosure was kindly supported by the Comanis Foundation who also assisted with the transport of the dogs. Thanks also go to Hawk Eye Fencing for building the facility at cost.
The plan was a success and the father and pups bonded immediately with the 3 females. It was a great moment to see them meet. The puppies were extremely happy and each of them was excited and exuberant. At the first feeding time together they shared their food with no aggression and appeared as if they had always been together.
The new pack remained in the enclosure for 10 days at Mokolodi Nature Reserve and then were transported up to the Northern Central Kalahari Game Reserve to a temporary boma for a couple of days before finally being released on 31st August. It was a great moment for everyone involved to see the pack returned to the wild. The male and one of the females were collared with satellite collars and are now being monitored by the Central Kalahari Predator Research Group. We look forward to hearing about their progress.
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