PAINTED DOGS'
NEW LIFE IN GABON
SEVEN AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS
We sent a pack of seven African painted dogs bred in the UK at Port Lympne to a protected reserve in Gabon. This is the first time African painted dogs have lived in Gabon for over 25 years!
IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE?
No, it's a pack of African painted dogs!
The dogs travelled by road from Port Lympne Reserve to Luxembourg, via a short trip under water on the Eurostar. From there they flew to Brazzaville in Congo, courtesy of Cargolux who kindly funded this part of their journey. They were then on the road again to make the 15 hour drive to Lékédi Parc in Gabon.
WATCH VIDEO
OUR AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS
Meet the group
Mantler - male (born 10.11.12)
Madi - female (born 12.11.14)
Five - male (born 12.11.14)
Flash - male (born 12. 11. 14)
Sprench - male (born 12.11.14)
Horseshoe - female (born 12.11.14)
Gecko - male (born 12.11.14)
Our work
WITH AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS
Major threats
HABITAT LOSS
Our work
AT PORT LYMPNE RESERVE
Our work
ABOUT AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS
African painted dogs are the only living members of the genus Lycaon and are so genetically divergent from wolves, dogs and other members of the canid family they would not be able to interbreed. Their extinction would mean the loss of a unique canid lineage several million years old and yet their numbers continue to decline as a result of ongoing habitat fragmentation, conflict with livestock and game farmers, accidental killings by snares set for other animals, road accidents, and infectious disease.
Major threats
AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS' SURVIVAL
Each pack requires a significant range to support them, not least because they coexist with other carnivores such as lions, spotted hyenas, leopards and cheetahs. In fact lions also prey on painted dogs making close proximity with a pride very dangerous to a pack.
Our work
STUDBOOK HOLDERS
Many more litters have followed over the years, and now our vital conservation work will see a pack of seven repatriated to Gabon.
Lekedi Parc have kindly offered our dogs a home of 37 acres in a natural environment on their native land.
They will be fed and monitored regularly by staff and we are very excited to see how they adapt to their new home.
The work carried out by The Aspinall Foundation is only possible with the support of individual donors. You can join us and help not only to protect the future for these seven dogs, but also support our ongoing re-wilding programme. Please donate now and type Dogs in the comments box when you complete your details.