Painted Dog death adds to urgency of WVI Zimbabwe project

30th Aug 2011

The death in a vicious snare of Bulls Eye, the handsome painted dog whose life was saved last year by a WVI vet, has added poignancy to a project to save one of South Africa’s most endangered species.

News of his death also adds a tragic postscript to a story just written by Painted Dog Conservation of the intricate pack world overseen by alpha male Bulls Eye and his mate Ester.

Last year, Brigadier Tom Ogilvie Graham anaesthetised Bulls Eye and successfully treated a serious and life-threatening maggot-ridden elbow infection whilst on a ground breaking mission to work with conservation staff at PDC’s new centre in the Hwange national park.

Tom is due to head another mission to Zimbabwe next spring, when a series of community clinics will include a strong message to local people on how deadly snares are for an animal they should be cherishing, not hastening towards extinction.

Clearance of snares is a regular challenge for PDC staff, and the organisation markets a range of artifacts wrought from the wire that claims so many lives. The joint WVI / PDC project will cost £12,000. Can you donate, in Bulls Eye’s memory?