Due to the huge distance between Madikwe and Shamwari (1400km) the most practical method of transporting the wild dogs and without any doubt, the safest method for the dogs is by air. This is where the Madikwe Collection and Federal Air stepped in and offered their help. This came in the form of a huge sponsorship which included the plane to transport the dogs as well as the team needed to ensure their safety. This initiative was taken on because the two sponsors involved are acutely aware of the importance of maintaining the Madikwe Wild dog population and ensuring their future.

A Federal Air Cessna Grand Caravan was flown to Shamwari by Carl Trieloff and Troy Reiser along with Declan, the ecologist, a few journalists to capture the action and other spectators (including our Peter Channing - never one to miss out). The wild dogs were sedated and loaded onto the plane and after a three and a half hour flight arrived safely in Madikwe. Groggy and disorientated they were placed in a holding boma and allowed to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings.

The second step in the process was to introduce these five females to the three males that were translocated from Venetia Game Reserve and have been in a holding boma for some time now. After a week in adjoining bomas the two packs were successfully introduced and to date there has been nothing but progress as the dogs have now established their hierarchy and will soon be ready for release. The eight wild dogs will remain in the holding boma for about a month or so before being released into the greater Madikwe Game Reserve.

Madikwe Collection News September 2007

Unique effort to ensure the future of the Madikwe wild dogs

The Madikwe Collection partnered with Federal Air in a very important and exciting initiative this month. Along with the expertise of Declan Hofmeyr, the Madikwe Field Ecologist and guidance of WAG (Wild dog Advisory Group), we were involved in the relocation of five young female wild dogs from Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape to Madikwe Game Reserve.

Due to the huge distance between Madikwe and Shamwari (1400km) the most practical method of transporting the wild dogs and without any doubt, the safest method for the dogs is by air. This is where the Madikwe Collection and Federal Air stepped in and offered their help. This came in the form of a huge sponsorship which included the plane to transport the dogs as well as the team needed to ensure their safety. This initiative was taken on because the two sponsors involved are acutely aware of the importance of maintaining the Madikwe Wild dog population and ensuring their future.

A Federal Air Cessna Grand Caravan was flown to Shamwari by Carl Trieloff and Troy Reiser along with Declan, the ecologist, a few journalists to capture the action and other spectators (including our Peter Channing - never one to miss out). The wild dogs were sedated and loaded onto the plane and after a three and a half hour flight arrived safely in Madikwe. Groggy and disorientated they were placed in a holding boma and allowed to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings.

The second step in the process was to introduce these five females to the three males that were translocated from Venetia Game Reserve and have been in a holding boma for some time now. After a week in adjoining bomas the two packs were successfully introduced and to date there has been nothing but progress as the dogs have now established their hierarchy and will soon be ready for release. The eight wild dogs will remain in the holding boma for about a month or so before being released into the greater Madikwe Game Reserve.

This project will play an integral role in maintaining the strong genes of the Madikwe wild dogs. Once wild dogs leave their pack as youngsters they break off to form single-sex packs and travel long distances (sometimes hundreds of kilometres) in the hope of finding an unrelated single-sex dispersal group of wild dogs with whom they can bond and form a new pack. Due to urbanisation and the limited size of reserves these meetings now have to be simulated to ensure that no in breeding occurs.

Thanks to the efforts of the Madikwe Collection and Federal Air this venture was made possible and a new functional pack of African wild dogs will roam Madikwe Game Reserve in the near future.