African wild dogs! my passion…..
Unique to Africa, and endangered, these special predators are resident in only 9.4% of their historical range of sub-Saharan Africa. Given that wild dogs are a wide-ranging species that require plenty of space, large expanses of protected land such as transfrontier conservation initiatives are fundamental for their future conservation.
Gonarezhou wild dogs, photograph by the AWCF team, led by Dr. Rosemary Groom.
The Greater LimpopoTransfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) encompasses parts of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique and hosts globally significant populations of African wild dogs. Habitat loss, wire snaring, disease (rabies), competition with lions and human persecution threaten wild dogs throughout their range.
Gonarezhou National Park is part of this eco-system, and we at Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge are privileged to have access to this pristine wilderness.
Gonarezhou is a perfect wilderness environment for these endangered animals..and their pups..
Look at this great photograph, below, taken last year on a Chilo game drive in Gonarezhou National Park, by Derek and Sarah Soloman of Kuyimba Trading. We at Chilo look forward to the return of Derek and Sarah in late April, leading another specialist safari to this unique wilderness of ours..
African wild dog in gonarezhou National Park-photographed by Derek Soloman
The African Wildlife Conservation Fund (AWCF) is dedicated to wildlife conservation in Africa with a focused goal of safe-guarding endangered African wild dog populations in the Zimbabwean Lowveld.
Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge is seeing increased sightings of wild dogs on game drives, and it is through the efforts of such as AWCF, Frankfurt Zoological Society and Zim Parks, that these endangered animals are doing well in the Gonarezhou National Park.
another lovely photograph from the AWCF research team in Gonarezhou…
The Gonarezhou Predator Project, managed by AWCF, is vital to increasing our knowledge and awareness of the challenges facing our predator populations in Gonarezhou
http://www.africanwildlifeconservationfund.org/projects/gonarezhou-predator-project/
These are some more fascinating links to blogs on the Gonarezhou Predator Project …..
http://zimbabwewilddogs.wildlifedirect.org/2012/07/29/adventures-in-gonarezhou/
http://zimbabwewilddogs.wildlifedirect.org/2012/09/04/african-wild-dogs-in-gonarezhou-part-1/
http://zimbabwewilddogs.wildlifedirect.org/2012/09/10/african-wild-dogs-in-gonarezhou-part-2/
If you have read this far, you can now understand why African wild dogs are an integral part of the Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge experience!
Here is one of my paintings , which hangs in the dining room at the lodge…..
Lin Barrie Wild dog art at Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge
The African Wildlife Conservation Fund is proud to be an official charity of the 2014 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, read the details:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gjfqmg8gpxvcnoy/Running%20for%20African%20Wild%20Dogs_AWCF.pdf
Prizes for the Two Oceans team include a sponsored two night’s stay for two people at Motswari Private Game Reserve in the Timbavati , merchandise and vouchers from The Safari Store, wine prizes from Painted Wolf Wines and two of my wild dog sketches….
Painted Wolf Wines are one of the preferred brands at Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge and they sponsor many groundbreaking initiatives for African wild dog conservation in Southern Africa…..
Some of the wines donated by Jeremy and Emma Borg of Painted Wolf Wines for AWCF at the Two Oceans marathon include a magnificent Magnum, bearing a label painted by Lin Barrie!
Painted Wolf Wines-yummy!
UPDATE:
As a follow on from the successful running of the Two Oceans marathon by the AWCF team , here is a Thank you message from Jess Watermeyer, leader of the team:
The AFRICAN WILD DOG – Africa’s second most endangered carnivore, and a unique and charismatic species, is heavily threatened by loss of habitat, fragmentation of protected areas, human persecution and accidental wire-snare poaching.
AFRICAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FUND (AWCF) – http://www.africanwildlifeconservationfund.org – was accepted as one of the few official charities of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in 2014
(http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/information/run-charity)!
On Saturday the 19 April 2014, 50 runners, from across the globe, got up at 4:00 am dressed themselves up in African Wildlife Conservation Fund kit, including wild dog ears, and ran 21km in an effort to raise funds and awareness for African wild dog conservation. We could not have hoped for better weather, a better atmosphere or a more dedicated group of athletes!
We also managed to get some fun exposure with SABC news:
However, hand in hand with the success of this event is each and every one of you – those behind the scenes who encouraged the runners and donated so generously towards the cause!
Our total profit thus far is $10 305.00 – an incredible effort (!), and with just under a week to go until we close the books on this event, I want to do all I can to help us reach a little higher for African wild dogs
We also managed to get some fun exposure with SABC news https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qfZfABJTio
Through this event, I want to do all I can to promote AWCF as a conservation NGO, bring about awareness of a conservation cause which I am extremely passionate about, and raise some VERY much needed funds for our conservation work and projects!
DONATIONS can be made in one of two ways: into any of our registered trust accounts (please see attached) OR through our safe and secure PayPal link on our website – http://www.africanwildlifeconservationfund.org/donate/ (see attached).
Please use the reference ‘OMTOM_Jess Watermeyer_Donation’ and send me your proofs of payment so that I can keep track of any donation amounts coming in and, importantly, know who to thank!!
Do please follow AND LIKE our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AfricanWildlifeConservationFund)
wine and wild dogs 
Hi Lin, you have done some amazing work!
Are you also running in the OMTOM?
Alan Ter Morshuizen
Thanks Alan!
no, not running!
Hi Lin, I am compiling an appeal for sponsorship for the Wild Dogs.
Would you mind if I use material from your web site, please, if I give the credits where due?
Alan, please tell me how and where your sponshorship will work, and who will benefit, before I can answer you fully, thank you
Hi Lin, The African Wildlife Conservation Fund is an official charity of the 2014 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon.
50 of us have been selected to run as representatives of AWCF to raise funds for the charity. 100% of what we raise goes directly to AWCF.
To that end I am putting together a mailer to send to all of my contacts to appeal for sponsorship. I want to make it look really professional, so am asking for permission to use some of your content in my appeal mailer, please. That will give you some mileage too, as I will reference your blog in the mailer.
Thanks, Lin.
sorry Alan, have been in the bush out of comms…by now you will have run the race! hope all went so well, of course you could use anything you see fit, (bit late now but do so with pleasure in the future…apologies!)
Hi Lin, Thanks. We run tomorrow morning. I did manage to find good pics on the web, but the response of potential donors has been very disappointing – I think people generally are under a lot of financial pressure. Thanks for the kind wishes. Best regards, Alan.