Serengeti General Management Plan

C. Ecosystem Management Programme
box below. Human-Wild dog conflicts include shooting and poisoning, especially around the
Gol Mountains.
Threats to Wild dogs Threat Level Response
Disease High Action 1.5.2
Human-Wild dog conflict Medium Action 1.5.1
Unviable population size Medium Action 1.5.1 & 3
Inbreeding Medium Action 1.5.1 & 3
Competition with predators Medium Action 1.5.1
The management actions designed to address these threats and enhance the conservation
status of the Wild dogs are as follows:
Action 1.5.1: Collaborate with TAWIRI, NCAA, communities and others to understand
the status of Wild dogs in the entire ecosystem
At present there is no clear understanding of the present distribution of Wild dogs in the Serengeti
ecosystem. The first step before moving forward with any re-introduction of Wild dogs
to SENAPA is to obtain a clear understanding of Wild dog status in the ecosystem and the
reasons for their absence within SENAPA.
Action 1.5.2: Support efforts to reduce threats to the natural re-introduction of
Wild dogs to SENAPA
Wild dogs range widely, and often come into contact with human activity. Over half the Wild
dogs found dead in Africa have been shot, snared, poisoned, killed by road traffic or infected
with diseases by domestic dogs outside protected areas (Woodroffe et al, 1997). This management
action will primarily build on existing activities to reduce the threat of disease from
surrounding domestic dog populations. This will be achieved through the control of rabies
and canine distemper in domestic dogs.
Based on the findings of Action 1.5.1, this management action may be expanded to reduce
threats to the potential natural re-introduction of Wild dogs to SENAPA from human-Wild dog
conflicts, such as poisoning and snaring. These activities will be done in collaboration with
the Outreach Department’s human-wildlife conflict mitigation activities (see Community Outreach
Programme Action 1.2.3).
Action 1.5.3: Explore the potential and practicalities for the re-introduction of Wild
dogs into SENAPA
Depending on the recommendations of Action 1.5.1, SENAPA management will seek endorsement
from TANAPA HQ for establishing a re-introduction programme for Wild dogs.
Provided that this endorsement is obtained, the major activities will include a feasibility study
of the possibility for Wild dog re-introductions within SENAPA; including understanding the
threat from predator competition and the minimum number of Wild dogs required for a successful
re-introduction. The feasibility study will also require the identification of possible
populations that can serve as source populations for re-introductions, especially populations
that are currently under threat.
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