Hopes shattered for Wild Dogs: Video
Published by Wildcaster 1 year, 3 months ago Tags: africa, animal kingdom, blogumentary, bush knowledge, cites, conservation, documentary, dog, ecotraining, education, endangered species, experience, flickr, giraffe, GLTP, gonarezhou, Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, hippo, hunting, IUCN Red List, lions, malilangwe, mashable, narrowcasting, Open Content Alliance, pamushana, peace parks, photos, podcasting, polls, predators, rabies, teach, video, wild dogs, wildcasting, wildlife, wildlife documentary, zimbabwe.My hopes for the wild dogs have been shattered.
I found Stitch this morning at Joli dam biting mud, rolling around and chewing branches. She had full blown rabies.
Putting all the other dogs down has been hard, but putting Stitch down was extremely emotional. She was my last hope that, along with Whisky, the Mupanigawa pack could continue to be. Now it’s all over.
Whisky is alone. His calling and calling is so sad. And he’ll keep calling until I don’t know when. But I hope his calls are soon responded to and he can find a companion.
How likely this is I’m not too sure. But there are other wild dogs in neighbouring areas that could infiltrate onto the reserve. I just hope they too, haven’t been infected by the virus.
The worrying thing is a Civet was picked up dead near Khayeni this morning, another rabies suspect. So how far and wide has the virus spread?
I had to leave Whisky around midday, as there was nothing more I could do. He’s a great hunter and I’m sure will be able to look after himself.
In the cool weather of today I just drifted around the reserve to get my mind off things.
A few members of the Nduna pride were lying up near Nyamasikana pan. And well fed they were.
While out the vehicle taking photos of them they sure provided me with some interesting looks. No, not the “I want to eat you” looks.
At Lojaan dam my friendly hippo was there again and just had to display for me. He’s getting quite good at it. And I’m getting pretty good photographing him.
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18 Responses to “Hopes shattered for Wild Dogs: Video”
- 1 Trackback on Jul 5th, 2007 at 3:50 am
Such a shame. I guess i may have seen some of the older ones when the pack was smaller, i dont know. They were up the hill between the airstrip and Pamushana. The family we were with from Harare were thrilled to see the dogs as they had’nt seen any before. They numbered about 7 then,but that was when the reserve had that other disease beginning with A…… that no-one wanted to admit, so much burning going on.
Well, hopefully he will get himself some mates and start again.
Really interesting following their progress, thanks.
That’s such a shame - I hate seeing this type of thing happen. I take it that immunizing the pack against the disease wasn’t an option? I know that rabies vaccinations aren’t long-lived, but even a year’s coverage might be enough to prevent it from spreading to the packs until it burns out elsewhere. But I’m sure that you know more about it than I do… Still, it’s so sad - sorry for your loss.
Kim, man what can one say? My heart goes out to you and to all that have been with the dogs for the last year. You brought some very special moments into our homes. I wish there were words that could make things better, but I have none. Just the thought of Whiskey on his own… its heartbreaking. I feel a loss with all that has happend, but I know it’s nothing compared to what you must be going through. A huge hug from me to you on this terrible loss.
Paige
With the number of dogs in the wild being of concern, this is indeed a terrible tragedy. I do hope you are still able to make the film… if only to raise awareness of their plight. I wish there were a way of managing the rabies problem. Since habitat is scarce, then steps that would in some small way compensate for the habitat problem, could not really be regarded as interfering with nature, since nature has already been affected. Your dedication to the wild is all the more important in these circumstances and appreciated.
Kim,
i appreciate your efforts to bring to light how a disease is taking it’s toll…..I don’t know how this could have been avoided……from the film you have shown, I would be greatly interested to know two things 1.) how the vultures could sense the upcoming death of Stitch, from the fact that they hng around Stitch to collapse….
2.) To follow Whisky and see how it brings up a new pack, hopefully……Assuming that nature makes up in it’s own ways….
–Raj.
Kim –
I am so sorry. I sit here thousands of miles away mourning your — and Whiskey’s — loss. Although this has been so hard to watch, even at a distance, thank you for being there to document it.
I hope better days lie ahead.
Amy
Such a tragedy. Poor Whisky. Poor you. A sad day all around. Are you still going to keep track of Whisky? I really hope he connects with another pack soon. Thank you for sharing the story of the dogs, even with the sad events.
I am just wondering, can the neighboring packs be monitored and vaccinated to keep the virus from spreading any more than it has?
Junebug
Kim,
I am so sorry about the loss of Stitch, and about Whiskey being alone now. I hope you can continue following Whiskey’s progress, and that he will soon find more companions.
Thank you for sharing this story with all of us, hopefully rabies will be wiped out in the African wild, and there will be no more stories of tragedies such as this!
Thank you, you are doing a wonderful work in sharing these videos and still shots!
Sue Fitts
What a profoundly disappointing update.
I join the others here in expressing my sympathy for Stitch, Whisky and, of course, for you.
I’m glad the ladies of the Nduna pride were good enough to respect your heavy heart. And, maybe it’s the beautiful photo you’ve taken, but If I didn’t know better (and I don’t) I’d swear your friendly hippo was trying to lift your spirits.
Wishing you and Whisky the best,
Kimberley
Tom: That was a different pack. We called them the Hunyugwe pack. We think there might just one member remaining in that pack, but others all died.
Marty: We did immunize but it might have been too late. In future we plan to vaccinate all dogs every year if we can
I think we can still make a very strong film about the Mupanigawa pack. It’s coming!!!
Raj: the vultures weren’t actually expecting the dogs to die. They were just following hoping to pick up some titbits. But just their presence added an uncanny atmosphere.
I will continue to keep tabs on Whisky to see how he’s doing.
We will be inoculating whatever dogs and other predators/scavengers we can.
That hippo was more likely trying to get me to get the hell out of there. But the way he displays ‘for me’ everytime, I like to think of him as friendly.
Kim, I’m so sorry for what happened to the pack.
When I went on to your website this morning I expected to see something amazing, maybe a thing that gives us hope. Now, all hope for the dogs is gone.
I pray for Whisky the only dog remaining that he’ll find a second family.
Keep the good work up, Kim. And thank you for it.
Carolin
Hi kim,
I hope Whisky finds a new pack. It must be hard to hunt on his own.
Will you provide some food to help? I know the dogs like to kill and eat their food, but maybe since he knows you he might allow you to help if needed.
Regards,
Ivanova
Whisky’s a good hunter and should be able to look after himself. I will be keeping tabs on him to see how he’s faring and if need be help him out.
Hi Kim
What happened to the pack of dogs is a very sad sight, also to see Whisky all on his own calling!
I really hope that He will find a new pack and that it will produce new offspring!!
I tried to follow the story of the Dogs, but lost the story due to a busy scedule, and am really shocked on how the pack disintegrated from the last time I watched.
Are there any other packs in the reserve that Whisky can join? I would really like to see the strong Genes of Whisky to be spread among other dogs.
Hope everything goes well!!
God Bless
Jurgen
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Hi Kim,
I just had a special experience with the dogs at Kruger last week, filmed them for around 30 minutes. They are incredible creatures and this is devastating news, one can only keep on keeping on.
Grace and peace,
Mark