"Painting the Painted Dogs"

Click these links to see my Expedition Journal, Photos and Video.

In February 2007 I spent 6 weeks, from late August to mid- October, at the Painted Dog Conservation project (PDC) in Zimbabwe, tracking and sketching highly endangered African Wild Dogs (known as Painted Dogs in Zimbabwe) and learning about the educational and community aspects of the PDC project. After my return home I created a traveling exhibition and lecture series. The exhibit featured sketches from my expedition journal, completed watercolor paintings and photographs from my trip, with a percentage of sales donated to PDC. Although the Flag Expedition is complete, I continue to donate 25% of the sale price of every Painted Dog painting directly to PDC and I hope to visit PDC again in the near future.

Why did I chose to study Painted Dogs?
I chose Painted Dogs because whenever I see them they are the highlight of my trip. Many people who go to Africa for the first time don't know much about the dogs before their trip (often confusing them with hyenas or jackals) but once they have seen them they are always intrigued by this highly endangered, nomadic and social species.
The dogs are built for endurance. They are light in build, slim and have extremely long slender legs. They are beautifully and individually marked in black, tan and white with white-tipped tails, a dark muzzle, almond eyes and huge round ears. Fights within (or even between) packs are rare and they are truly one of the most sociable predators. The whole pack cares for pups once they have leave the den and they often care for sick or injured pack-mates, regurgitating food for those who cannot hunt.

Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is where I saw my first pack of Painted Dogs. One of the males had an injured hind leg and was chased by a spotted hyena. The rest of the pack saw the hyena and chased it off into the bush. Several years later, when I met Greg Rasmussen, founder and director of PDC, he told me that this pack are known as the "Mlesilonda" (the wounded ones). The dog with the paralyzed leg was injured in a snare, which PDC staff removed.

Why are they called Painted Dogs?
In Zimbabwe African Wild Dogs (Lycaon Pictus) are often called Painted Dogs, with the term 'painted' being taken from their Latin name 'pictus'. The 'African Wild Dog' name came about during a time when most large predators were being purposefully exterminated. It gives the impression of a feral species, a vicious killer and an animal which does not need to be conserved. In truth these dogs are one of the most ancient and unique dog species, not closely related to wolves, domestic dogs or jackals (or hyenas, which are not dogs at all but more closely related to civets and mongooses). The dogs are in serious need of protection and the use of the 'Painted Dog' name helps to break down barriers and also gave me a wonderful expedition title!

How endangered are Painted Dogs?
In a word - very. Their numbers have dropped dramatically from between 300 000 - 500,000 in 1900 to approximately 3,000 today. They have vanished from 25 of the 39 countries forming their historical range and are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources (IUCN) list of endangered species. Zimbabwe contains one of the last viable dog populations. Threats to their continued survival vary in different countries but in Zimbabwe the main threats are snares intended for other species, disease, and road traffic accidents. In certain areas, like Hwange National Park, they also suffer from close proximity to large numbers of lions (which will kill dogs and their pups and steal their kills). However, across their entire range, habitat destruction is the main concern.

What is the Painted Dog Conservation Project?
PDC was founded by Dr Gregory Rasmussen and is based on the edge of Hwange National Park in north- western Zimbabwe. The aim of the project is to conserve and increase the range and numbers of the Painted Dog both in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in Africa.

PDC has a number of wonderful facilities created to help educate people and protect the Painted Dogs. High on the list is the Childrens Bushcamp where groups of children can stay at the project and learn about the local environment and the dogs.

Children from local schools stay free, they are divided into 'packs' for their stay and they spend every day on different activities - visiting the dogs at the rehabilitation facility, going on game drives into the national park, having art lessons in the bush. The atmosphere at the bushcamp is always buzzing and the children leave the camp with a new understanding of their local environment and the wildlife that surrounds them.

The PDC Rehabilitation Facility cares for injured or sick dogs. Often they are caring for dogs who are injured by snares but once their wounds have healed sufficiently, the dogs will be released back into the park. The rehab is also a place where 'new' packs can be formed from dogs who have been relocated from other areas. Individual dogs have a much harder time surviving, so it is always preferable for a dog to be part of a pack. By locating these dogs near each other in the rehab, it is possible to see if they will form a new pack and can then be released together, increasing their chances of survival.

The PDC Visitor Center is a wonderful facility located on the main road into Hwange National Park. There are numerous displays, explaining the life of a Painted Dog, and the different habitats found in the park. All the displays, including life-size cutouts of local species, paintings and spoor (animal prints) on the floor were produced by local artists. It took me 2 full days to read every piece of information in the center, but the more casual visitor can read the larger display boards and gain a quick but unique insight into the life of this species. Similar information boards can be found along the raised walkway which leads from the Visitor Center to the Rehabilition Facility and Childrens Bushcamp.

PDC's commitment to the local comunity is deep. They are one of the largest employers in the local area and work closely with local schools and villages. PDC has 2 Anti-Poaching Units which patrol on a daily basis looking for snares and poachers. They employ local Conservation Officers who visit schools and attend local village meetings, helping villagers with diverse problems from dealing with problem wildlife to creating more productive vegetable gardens. PDC is also associated with the Iganyana Art & Craft Centre in the nearby village of Dete, where local artists produce arts and crafts for sale, including paintings and masks made from snare wire found in the bush.

How did my Expedition help Painted Dogs?
My aims were two-fold. Firstly, to use my artwork, photographs & video footage from the trip to raise awareness of the dogs. Many people don't realize that the dogs are an ancient and endangered species. Or they think that the dogs are dangerous and vicious when in fact there has never been an authenticated account of Painted Dogs attacking or killing a human. My lecture series and traveling exhibition illustrated the true nature of the dogs and hopefully made people aware of the species and more interested in their conservation.
My second aim was to directly raise funds for the PDC project by donating 25% of proceeds from the sale of all Painted Dog artwork to PDC (including commissions, sketches and original watercolors). I also donated 100% of my post-expedition talk fees to the project.
As a result of my visit to PDC, I have now arranged a second Conservation Expedition, this time to the African People & Wildlife Fund in Tanzania. This project will run from 2010-2011. I also hope to visit PDC again in the near future and continue to donate 25% of sales from Painted Dog paintings to the project.

What is the Artists For Conservation (AFC) Flag Expeditions Program?
The Artists for Conservation Foundation (Formerly the Worldwide Nature Artists Group) is a non-profit juried association of artists dedicated to celebrating and protecting our natural heritage. The group limits its membership to 500 artists. AFC has a website featuring the work of its artists, many of whom donate a percentage of their sales to conservation groups, and has many other exciting programs underway, including the Conservation Artist Award, an annual members art exhibit and the Flag Expeditions Program. I am a signature member of AFC and have found it to be a great organization with a wonderful mission - to support wildlife and habitat conservation, biodiversity, sustainability and environmental education through art that celebrates our natural heritage. The Flag Expeditions program is a unique program offered by AFC. Signature members may submit proposals for the field study and artistic rendering of endangered species or habitats, often in remote parts of the world. The chosen artist has the privilege of carrying the AFC flag on their journey and creates a journal of their expedition. Painting the Painted Dogs is the AFC's 5th Flag Expedition. For more information about the AFC Flag Expeditions program please click www.natureartists.com/flagexpeditions.