African Wild Dog Monitoring Platform

This is where it all began for Contemplate Wild! In mid-2016, an entire pack of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) died after contracting canine distemper. In response, a vaccination campaign was initiated, during which tracking collars were deployed on each pack of wild dogs.

The aim of these collars was to enhance the success of follow-up vaccinations and enable better monitoring to prevent further mortalities. However, the availability of real-time tracking data proved invaluable, as it significantly reduced search times when animals were reported with snares.

This improvement greatly increased the chances of rescuing these animals and ensuring their survival. Furthermore, the tracking collars allowed for closer monitoring of animals venturing into high-risk areas or exploring beyond the boundaries of the conservation area.

Wild Dog Monitoring Platform
African Wild DogTracking collars

Tracking collars are both expensive and short-lived, lasting no longer than eighteen months.

The challenge lies in finding a balance between extended battery life and collar weight, as a larger battery to prolong usage would render the collar too heavy for the dogs to wear comfortably.

To address this issue, we embarked on a highly productive collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour. Together, we are working to develop lighter and more cost-effective Internet of Things (IoT) GPS tracking devices specifically designed for wild dogs.

Read more about this in the tracking device development section

The system, managed in conjunction with the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Carnivore Conservation Programme, heavily relies on the inputs and responses form conservation managers.

For instance, conservation managers provide the information regarding the location of snares discovered during ranger patrols or volunteer snare removal campaigns, which is utilized to create snare risk maps. These maps are then compared to the actual movement data of packs where snaring incidents have occurred, using a custom algorithm.

This comparison helps determine the threshold for generating real-time alerts when packs traverse high-risk areas. Consequently, the system generates alerts allowing conservation managers to closely monitor these packs for snares with the goal of rescuing any trapped animals.

Although it is challenging to quantify the “success” of the system, it is worthwhile highlighting that since its deployment in the Greater Kruger Park in late 2020, over 40 wild dogs have received successful treatment for injuries caused by snares!

An actual double snare wound recovery is shown below. This timeline shows how we received an alert that a pack was in a high risk area, a snare was detected, the dog was darted and treated on 2021-10-06, seen again on 2021-11-05 and made a full recovery as seen on 2022-01-22

Double snare wound and recovery - sensitive content warning

The system encompasses more than just snare risk monitoring. It actively monitors and can generate alerts for various other behavioural aspects, such as denning, as well as high-risk events like venturing into areas with a heightened risk of persecution.

This broader scope allows for comprehensive monitoring and timely notifications to conservation managers, ensuring a proactive approach to addressing potential threats and safeguarding the well-being of the wildlife under their care.

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