Endangered Wildlife Trust's Wild Dog Relocation Program Faces Setbacks and Successes in South Africa

Since 1997, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has successfully increased the African wild dog population by more than 344 through relocation efforts to reserves in nations such as Mozambique, where the species had disappeared due to the civil war (1977-1992). Recently, three female wild dogs were transported from Karingani Game Reserve to Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa. Tragically, one sister succumbed to capture myopathy, while the others were taken to Rietspruit. One formed a bond with a male who was later killed by a lion, and another became pregnant but was killed by a leopard, leading to the loss of her puppies. Despite these setbacks, the project anticipates 150 puppies in 2025 across South Africa, Mozambique, and Malawi, with 1.5 million hectares allocated for wild dogs. The current population stands at approximately 6,600, with only 700 breeding pairs.