News Updates
HITN Interview, Peter Blinston - Fall Expo 2018 (English)
Painted Dog Conservation Executive Director, Peter Blinston, talks about his first love for painted dogs, Painted Dog Conservation and the partnership with in this interview with HITN at the WCN Fall Expo 2018.
Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) Executive Director, Peter Blinston, talks about his first love for painted dogs, Painted Dog Conservation which he helped establish and has guided the development and execution of programs to address the threats directly impacting upon the painted dogs. He also talks about the partnership with Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) in this interview with the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, Inc (HITN) at the WCN Fall Expo 2018.
The death of legendary Tait.
After the BBC had finished filming in 2015, Nick Dyer went into the Nyamatusi with our senior tracker, Jealous Mpofu, to try and find Tait. She was very old and the rains were about to arrive.
This is Tait, she features in the BBC’s documentary #Dynasties Painted Wolf episode.
After the BBC had finished filming in 2015, Nick Dyer went into the Nyamatusi with our senior tracker, Jealous Mpofu, to try and find Tait. She was very old and the rains were about to arrive. This was the last time anyone saw Tait. Nick wrote the following in his and our Executive Director Peter Blinston’s book “Painted Wolves: A Wild Dogs Life”. It was a deeply emotional experience.
The End of a Legend
I find Tait and her Vundu Pack on the banks of the Zambezi River in the remote wilderness area of the park. It has been a month since I last saw her and she seems to have aged considerably. She limps painfully, her last two pups are missing and a bulge protrudes from her belly that suggests mastitis.
I crawl across the open sand on my bum, taking half an hour just to get close. She is no longer used to my presence, so I am cautious. Somehow, she seems to have shrunk. And while she is clearly weaker and frailer than the other wolves in her pack, none are challenging her position. She is still in charge and clearly revered and respected.
This is Tait and her Alpha Male Ox
Her alpha male, Ox, walks to the edge of the river and Tait follows behind. They stop and look out across the waters together with an air of gentle reminiscence.
Tait turns and looks inland across the territory she has controlled for the last eight years. She is now ten years old and I can sense she knows that this is her last.
She has been an incredible alpha female. Responsible for so many pups, grandpups and great-grandpups, Tait has made a significant contribution to the survival of her species. While she is near her end, her genes will flow on like the Zambezi.
I look at her Vundu Pack. It is a remnant of its former strength. The individual wolves seem strong and healthy, but as a pack they are diminished. Now puppyless, I sense the joy has been drained from their existence and they are ready for a new beginning.
As the sun starts to set, I take my last ever photographs of Tait. We make eye contact like we have so many times before.
Peter Blinston having darted Tait to remove her failed collar
Looking into her tired eyes, I remember her hunting, fighting hyena and playing boisterously with her pups. I remember cradling her head after Peter darted her to remove her failed collar and feeling her warm heartbeat under my hot hand.
She turns and walks away, and her pack rises to follow her. I can no longer photograph as the tears in my eyes won’t let me focus.
This is the last anyone saw of her. Some say she was taken by lion. A natural death is rare in the bush. I honestly have no idea how she died.
I just know she was ready and I am glad I could be with her one last time.
To order your copy of the book “Painted Wolves: A Wild Dog’s Life” by our Executive Director, Peter Blinston, and award winning wildlife photographer Nick Dyer, click here.
On the frontline of saving painted dogs in the Mid Zambezi.
Painted Dog Conservation is on the frontline in the battlefield of saving painted dogs in the Mid Zambezi. Watch this short video of our Executive Director, Peter Blinston, talking to and showing the BBC filming crew in Mana Pools about collaring painted dogs to get crucial information.
Painted Dog Conservation is on the frontline in the battlefield of saving painted dogs in the Mid Zambezi. Our Executive Director, Peter Blinston, explains to the BBC Crew filming painted dogs in Mana Pools for the blockbuster documentary, #Dynasties’ Painted Wolf episode, the process of darting and collaring painted dogs in order to get crucial information.
Sir Richard Branson's favourite animal: the painted wolf aka painted dog!
These magnificent animals are very misunderstood. For a start, they are often known by the unflattering name wild dogs, casting them in a negative light - Sir Richard Branson.
Image by Nick Dyer
Our family is growing, our voice is getting bolder and reaching far in dispelling myths about painted dogs and showing how beautiful, unique, and fascinating social animals they are.
It is such an honour to have Sir Richard Branson behind the painted dogs and helping address the prejudice towards the species in his article about his favourite animal- the painted wolf aka the painted dog.
He also talks about the new book Painted Wolves: A Wild Dog's Life by Nicholas Dyer Photography and our Executive Director Peter Blinston, BBC’s #Dynasties painted wolves. We are happy to have you in the team, Sir!
#GivingTuesday for Mpindo, they need your help.
The Mpindo community acted when they needed to, by calling us to retrieve this pack, which had denned and ate their goats. Through their action they saved eight pups and two adult painted dogs lives.
Today is #GivingTuesday, we implore you to remember the Mpindo pups.
The Mpindo community acted when they needed to, by calling us to retrieve this pack, which had denned and ate their goats. Through their action they saved eight pups and two adult painted dogs lives.
Help us raise USD$4000 today #GivingTuesday for the Mpindo Primary School children to come to our Iganyana Children’s Bush Camp for a full four-day camp next year.
The Impact of our camp in raising an environmentally conscious future generation is well documented and regarded. Our Children’s Bush Camp is 15 years old, it has changed the lives of more than 12,000 children, but only a third of these children are now adults and taking up active roles in society where they can influence change.
With your support, the children from Mpindo village will help widen that circle of influence and save more painted dogs in the process.
Painted dogs are endangered and need your support. Every act, big or small, to save painted dogs makes a big difference.
Follow this link to give your support and change these children's lives https://donate.wildnet.org/?fund=Painted_Dog&ms=gt_pdc
Or read our full appeal here https://mailchi.mp/…/phindo-pups-will-soon-be-released-but-…
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#Mpindo #GivingTuesday #PaintedDogs #PaintedWolvesAWildDogsLife