African Wild Dogs are the most endangered carnivore in Southern Africa with around 650 individuals left in the wild. Their population has been slowly increasing over the last 20 years since the inception of the Metapopulation Management Approach in South Africa, which uses active and adaptive management techniques to boost and supplement the Wild Dog population in the country.
This approach includes relocating individuals to reserves around Southern Africa with the aim of forming founder packs; to repopulate areas where Wild Dogs were historically found and extirpated from; and/or as supplementary individuals to boost genetic diversity and resilience within existing populations.
Located on the Mozambique Border in the North of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, Tembe Elephant Park home to a single Pack of genetically diverse Wild Dogs, which forms a vital part of the Wild Dog metapopulation in South Africa. Over the past two years, the pack has grown steadily and currently consists of 16 individuals, with cohorts already starting to show signs of dispersal.
Tembe is currently in need of emergency funds to the sum of R200 000.00 to assist with the construction of a crucially important new Predator Boma, with the primary aim of holding Wild Dogs. The construction of the boma will ensure that Tembe is ready to temporarily hold dispersing Wild Dog and will also allow individuals to be relocated when necessary, to avoid human conflict.
The building of a Boma on Tembe Elephant Park is an important positive step for the management of this endangered predator on the reserve. Please consider contributing towards this vital initiative.