The Painted Dog Fund’s goal is to double the number of painted dogs by 2055
Securing a Future for Painted Dogs
Painted dogs, also known as African wild dogs and painted wolves, are beautiful animals with a unique social structure and deep bonds within their packs; they are one of the only wild species to care for their old and sick. Working as a pack they are efficient hunters and critical predators in sub-Saharan Africa.
Unfortunately, painted dogs have experienced an almost 99% decline in their populations in the past century; they are now very endangered and face the real risk of extinction. Conservationists have developed effective solutions for stabilizing and expanding painted dog populations, but they need support to bring those solutions to life.
The Painted Dog Fund is the only fund in existence totally focused on the conservation of this incredible species. 100% of your donations go to projects that secure the future of the painted dog.
Types of Project the PDF Supports
The Painted Dog Fund (PDF) is a joint initiative of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) and the Painted Wolf Foundation (PWF). It identifies where there are gaps in conservation and constraints to protecting painted dogs such as lack of funding, limited collaborations between conservationists, low awareness of the species, and a diluted rather than targeted approach to conservation of the species.
The Painted Dog Fund has a strategy to save the painted dog from extinction. Increased and targeted investments through the Painted Dog Fund will significantly improve the outlook of this enigmatic species. The Fund has three pillars of investment:
Protect Painted Dogs
Invest in the conservation of existing painted dog rangelands and support proven measures to protect painted dogs in these areas.
Recover Territory
Invest in rehabilitation, protection, and conservation of appropriate former painted dog rangelands to allow their expansion into safe and well-managed areas. The Painted Dog Fund supports the conservation of prey species, effective management of diverse landscapes, and full engagement with communities to ensure the sensitive reintroduction of the species.
Support Collaborations
Invest in initiatives that disseminate ideas and learning to benefit painted dog conservation as a whole and support field-based collaborations between conservation organizations, communities, and land management initiatives.
Recover Territory
Invest in rehabilitation, protection, and conservation of appropriate former painted dog rangelands to allow their expansion into safe and well-managed areas. The Painted Dog Fund supports the conservation of prey...
Support Collaborations
Invest in initiatives that disseminate ideas and learning to benefit painted dog conservation as a whole and support field-based collaborations between conservation organizations, communities, and land management initiatives.
Management of the Painted Dog Fund
The Painted Dog Fund is a partnership between WCN and the Painted Wolf Foundation (PWF), but is managed by PWF.
PWF is charged with implementing the Fund’s strategy and monitoring the projects that Painted Dog Fund invests in, ensuring they deliver the best value to both donors and painted dogs. PWF is focused on finding and developing projects and initiatives that will have the greatest impact on reaching our goal of doubling painted dog numbers by 2055 and thus taking them from the edge of extinction.
Learn more about the Painted Dog Fund’s governance and granting
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Photography Credits: Susan McConnell, Steve Mandel, (c) Mozambique Wildlife Alliance, Nicholas Dyer