12th Mar 2010

Trustee Tom Ogilvie-Graham has returned from an emergency trip to Zimbabwe where an outbreak of canine distemper has been threatening domestic dogs and Painted Dogs alike. We were asked to assist in treating dogs to prevent sick dogs coming into contact with the Painted Dogs. Find out more about how the trip went above.

Responding to canine distemper emergency

African Painted Dogs in Zimbabwe are endangered by destruction of habitat, human conflict and infectious disease. We have been working with the Painted Dog Conservation project to help build a veterinary clinic in Hwange National Park, and to provide the specialist wildlife veterinary training that they will need to protect the Painted Dogs.

A conservation emergency has arisen in the form of an outbreak of canine distemper affecting dogs in the villages surrounding Painted Dog habitat. This threatens the existing Painted Dog populations, and is likely to further reduce the population size. WVI trustee Tom Ogilvie-Graham has spearheaded our response by taking vaccines to Zimbabwe and holding 5 vaccination clinics in affected villages.

In the 5 clinics organised by Painted Dog Conservation, he vaccinated 490 dogs, treating them for fleas and ticks, as well as any other health problems detected. In addition to working with domestic dogs, Tom got the chance to visit the clinic, meet the staff, and treat some Painted Dogs. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Painted Dog Conservation in the future, and trust that our quick response will protect the existing Painted Dog population.

For further details on the Painted Dog Project, click here. Thanks go to Intervet and Novartis for providing the vaccines for this intervention.