Painted dogs, also known as African wild dogs or African hunting dogs, face a medley of threats and may be the most endangered carnivore in Africa. Once roaming across most of sub-Saharan Africa outside of the rainforest and desert regions, and numbering perhaps as many as 500,000 animals, there may be as few as 7,000 painted dogs remaining in the wild today.
Listed as Endangered by IUCN, painted dogs are highly social and tend to live at fairly low densities. They also need large areas for home ranges, and as wild habitat shrinks across Africa those remaining areas, including protected areas, tend to be too small to hold sustainable populations of this species. Thus loss of habitat, and fragmentation of those habitats, are probably the single greatest threat to long-term painted dog survival.
Three other threats are also significant. Direct killing of painted dogs by humans often occurs, either accidentally in snares set for other species or purposefully, often by herders to protect livestock (although painted dogs rarely kill livestock, preferring wild prey). Disease is also a significant factor, as rabies and canine distemper can quickly wipe out a local population, and with habitats widely fragmented and separated by high human densities, this may lead to painted dogs disappearing forever from an area. Finally, other large predators, especially lions and hyenas, are a threat, especially in smaller protected areas where the densities of these predators can be quite high. Loss of pups to these predators (as well as from leopards) can lead to a lack of recruitment and a slow but inexorable decline in local numbers.
A fifth threat that is local but in places significant is vehicle collisions – where roads intersect painted dog territory, and dogs are hit by cars when crossing the roads.
A number of conservation initiatives exist across their remaining distribution that help painted dogs, ranging from species-specific organizations focusing on painted dog protection to larger initiatives aimed at protecting local ecosystems that include painted dogs. This is especially true in Zimbabwe and Tanzania, two countries with some of the last remaining populations of this predator. Local education efforts, anti-poaching initiatives, conflict mitigation efforts (including the creation of predator-proof corrals and camera trap payment incentives), disease monitoring, and even the placement of signage and speed bumps on roads to lower speeds and limit roadkill are ongoing at many sites where painted dogs still survive.
We support Lion Landscapes in their multi-year survey initiative to assess the status and conservation needs of Tanzania's painted dog population in an effort to bolster the population of this endangered species.
Zoo New England participates in the African painted dog Species Survival Plan. By sharing research and knowledge, participating institutions work together to establish guidelines that best ensure the health of captive populations, and with success, the survival of endangered species.
You Can Help!
Painted dogs are susceptible to diseases like rabies and canine distemper, which can also be spread to other wildlife. Much of this spread is exacerbated by unvaccinated domestic dog populations. The health of wildlife can affect the health of people too. We’re all connected and depend on each other to stay healthy. Do your part for conservation by making sure your pets are up to date on their vaccinations. Preventing the spread of disease among wildlife both here and afar will protect humans and other animals from existing or new diseases.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' "Reduce the Risk" initiative aims to reduce zoonotic disease threats by combating wildlife trade that poses a risk to human and animal health. Through its Government Affairs and Wildlife Trafficking Alliance programs, AZA has committed to combating illegal wildlife trade, in addition to addressing unsustainable trade in wildlife.
