harnas wild dog project

The African Wild Dog is one of the most endangered predators in Africa. This indigenous animals population have declined at such an alarming rate, in the past 30 years, that there are only small Wild Dog populations left in only 14 countries where they were previously present in 39. Of these 14 countries, only six have populations of more than 100 dogs.

Currently one of the few captive populations of African Wild Dogs in Namibia is on Harnas. This population grew from various packs of wild juvenile and adult dogs. All the dogs in the first pack were very badly wounded.

One dog’s front leg was amputated, another was badly cut in the neck and another had a broken foot. A second pack of four juveniles came to Harnas from the Otjozondjupa region in 1996 and in 2008 two more packs joined, one also from the Otjozondjupa region and another from the Oshikoto region. Harnas is currently the refuge for some 30 African Wild Dogs.

The Harnas Wildlife Foundation recognizes the fact that the African Wild Dog is one of Namibia’s most valuable assets and, although re-establishing extirpated populations is one of the lower priorities of African Wild Dog conservation.

It is technically possible to re-establish extirpated wild populations by reintroduction. This however provides no substitute for the conservation of existing populations.

Harnas Wild dog project

In a highly fragmented landscape the African Wild Dogs can be released into a network of small fenced reserves. These fenced sections each would support one or a few packs to establish intensively-managed metapopulations. We intend to release some of the current captive held dogs into the proposed 8 000 ha Life Line reserve. We intend to generate income from these dogs through an already established eco-tourism infrastructure.

The success of the initial phase of the project will serve as an incentive for bordering commercial farmers and the community of Otjinene/Epukiro to contribute in the establishment of a commercial–communal conservancy. With the help of willing farmers in Namibia and possibly Southern Africa as a whole, the conservation of these magnificent animals would be assured.

benefits and achievements

the conservation benefits will be:

To establish a source of African Wild Dogs for possible reestablishment into former ranges.
To provide a protective reserve should African Wild Dog numbers decrease to critical levels.
To allow problem dogs to be moved to Harnas as a temporary facility for later translocation.
To generate baseline bio-medical data with emphasis on disease screening, vaccine testing, genetics, parisitology, morphometrics and reproductive physiology.
To initiate a metapopulation management program for African Wild Dogs in Namibia enabling a study of diet, predator-prey relationships, prey selection, hunting success and interspecific competition.
To sustain the use of wildlife, especially African Wild Dogs and other natural resources though income generating by low impact eco-tourism.

the educational benefits will be:

To prove environmental and conservational education opportunities.

the community benefits will be:

To create employment opportunities for the Bushman communities living on and around Harnas.
To encourage local people to develop tourism enterprises with Harnas.
To create the incentive to enable people to benefit from tourism on their land and to conserve wildlife and natural resources.
We encourage other farmers/lodge owners for possible release sights to contact us about our feasible contract for the envisaged Wild Dog release/exchange program.

current achievements for the harnas life line and wild dog sanctuary:

Converting the current 8,000 ha Life Line camp into a protected reserve for selected animals.
To break down old internal cattle farming fences.
Construction of a 43km double perimeter bonnox field fence around the Life Line camp.
Establishing a metapopulation management program.

Wild dog on Harnas by Annika Funke

Wild dog on Harnas by Harald Löffler

Construction of a capture and release boma in the game breeding camp. This boma is constructed directly outside the Life Line camp. The boma is roughly 50 by 70 meters, a total of 3500m2 large, and is constructed of solid steel and old conveyor belts. Through this boma it will be possible to capture antelope passively (through daily water and feeding methods) from the game breeding camp and transfer them into the Life Line camp.

Continuing the current eco-tourism practices on Harnas.
Establishing the commercial–communal Otjinene conservancy in the near future.
Converting farm dams into more natural water holes, equipped with irrigation systems ensuring a permanent supply of water.

Wild dogs on Harnas

Volunteers on Harnas

Erecting various observation posts including; the Dam-house, the Anthill, the Tree-house, the Camelthorn-house and the Wild Dog observation den. These posts are used for researching subjects such as counting game, documenting the adaptation of released animals and studying the behaviour of specific subjects.
Erecting of various solar-power systems which provides economically sound, eco-friendly, renewable power for the electrical fences, electrical gates, hot water for the lodge, volunteer village and the farm homestead.
Fitting various predators with GPS collars for more accurate research and observation. Known as a Real Time Location System or RTLS this includes software and hardware necessary for the receiving of transmissions. The RTLS provides passive (automatic) collection of location information.