Back ground
Many animals coming to Harnas are used to human contact and will never survive in the wild again.
The exception however is the African Wild Dog. The Wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of the most endangered predators in Africa. The Wild dog population has declined to such an extent in the past 30 years that there are Wild dog populations left in only 14 countries. There were 39 countries with wild dog populations previously. Only six of these countries have Wild dog populations of more than 100. Currently only one captive population of African Wild Dogs exists in Namibia at Harnas Wildlife Foundation. The population originated from 7 free roaming individuals (adults) caught in gintraps close to Epukiro and brought to Harnas for rehabilitation in 1996. Subsequently an additional 4 individuals (all pups) were brought to Harnas following the shooting of their pack in Otjiwarongo District, bordering Bushmanland |
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Following separation of the dogs into 3 packs there has been four litters and the current population stands at circa 35 animals.
The Harnas Wildlife Foundation recognizes the fact that the AWD is one of Namibia's most valuable assets and although re-establishing extirpated populations is one of the lower priorities of AWD conservation it is technically possible to re-establish extirpated wild dog populations by reintroduction, but this provides no substitute for the conservation of existing populations.
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In highly fragmented landscapes, wild dogs could be released into a network of small, fenced reserves, each supporting one or a few packs, to establish an intensively-managed metapopulation.
Beneficiaries: Conservation benefits: • Establishing a source of wild dogs for possible reintroduction into former ranges • Provides a "reserve" should wild dog numbers decrease to critical levels • Problem dogs can be moved to Harnas as a temporary facility for later translocation • Generating baseleine bio-medical data with emphasis on: -Disease screening / vaccine testing -Genetics -Parasitology -Morphometrics -Reproductive physiology
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• Initiating a metapopulation management program for wild dogs in Namibia enabling study of: diet, predator, prey relationships, prey selection, hunting success and interspecific competition • sustainable use of wildlife (especially AWD) and other natural resources through income generating low impact eco - tourism |
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Educational benefits:
• Environmental education opportunities
Community benefits:
• Creating employment opportunities for the impoverished Bushman community living on and around Harnas
• Local people will be encouraged to develop a tourism enterprises with Harnas, incentives will be created to enable people to benefit from tourism on their land and to conserve wildlife and natural resources
Project
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- Converting the current 10 000 cattle ranch into a protected reserve for selected carnivores including wild dog: Breakdown of current internal fences - Constructing 70 km of bonnox field fence-(7000 poles, 3500 km electric wiring, 14000 insulators) 2.4m high and folded over on the ground towards the inside of the boma for 50cm at least, rocks are packed onto the folded fence, electrification with three live strands on the lower half of the fence, electrification on the outside to prevent other predators getting into the reserve • Construction of release boma's- Size: 100m x 100m same fence as outside perimeter • Constructing 2000 ha game camp serving as prey reservoir with construction of capture / release bomas • Establish metapopulation management programme • Establish commercial-communal Otjinene conservancy |
Own contribution- Harnas Wildlife Foundation
The Harnas Wildlife Foundation does not have the financial means to contribute to the project but will contribute in providing means necessary for research, education and physical construction of fences, bomas etc.
Harnas will help in establishing a joint tourism venture within the proposed conservancy, providing training, marketing and other current expertise / infrastructure.
Partner Organizations :
Harnas Wildlife Foundation
2 private Donators that wish to remain anonymous at the time
Telekom Namibia
Hills Pet food
Bokomo Namibia
Commercial farmers
Local community Epukiro / pos 3 / Otjinene
