Wilderness Safaris and Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) to Release Wild Dog Pack into Mana Pools National Park

The Mpindo Pack of wild dogs housed in a boma at Wilderness Safaris Chikwenya Camp will be released into Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe on the 4th of September 2020. 

In February 2018, the pack was reported to be predating on goats belonging to the Mpindo community on the eastern boundary of Hwange. PDC captured the dogs in June and held them at the PDC rehabilitation centre before releasing them into a different area of the park. The dogs made a bee-line straight back to the Mpindo community. In consultation with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) it was decided that they should be relocated to another national park: Mana Pools.

There are no communities nearby Mana Pools, thus reducing the human-wildlife conflict, expand their range and revive the current declining wild dog population in Mana. The 19-strong pack has remained fit and healthy thanks to the continued partnership of PDC, Wilderness Safaris and the Wilderness Wildlife Trust, which have been monitoring, providing food and logistical support to the project.

Peter Blinston, PDC Executive Director, says “We are thrilled that the pack has acclimatised to Mana so well. We are proud to continue working with Wilderness to ensure the pack will be at its optimum when released into the park from the boma. Keeping them for as long as we have has increased the likelihood of them staying here”.

Click here to view a short video and more imagery of the Mpindo Pack.