Three endangered wild dogs in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park have been fitted with new tracking collars, giving conservation teams the upper hand in protecting one of South Africa’s most threatened species.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa (05 August 2025) – Over the course of the last two months, a small team gathered in the bush to give wild dogs a better shot at survival.
Thanks to a collaring mission led by Wildlife ACT, three African Wild Dogs across two packs in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park now don satellite tracking collars. The act may seem small, but it has a big impact. One that could make all the difference for a species under serious threat.
The stats are upsetting. Fewer than 700 African Wild Dogs are left in South Africa. That is why every pack, every pup, every individual matters. Collaring is a vital way to ensure their protection. It helps in different ways…
It’s hard to protect what you can’t see. Wild dogs cover quite a distance and are secretive by nature. With GPS and VHF collars, conservationists can keep an eye on their movements in real-time, gain important insight into how they use the land, where they roam, how they interact, and when they might need some help. Without overstepping or encroaching.
Monitoring makes it possible to detect early signs of danger – a snare, a disease outbreak, or a sudden shift in pack behaviour can all be tracked with collars.
“These collars form a vital part of a broader, science-led monitoring programme designed to safeguard one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores.” Wildlife ACT shares.
In areas like Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, where resources are limited and terrain is tough, the data from these collars really does become a game-changer.
The first collar in the wild dogs project went to a member of the Mfukuzweni Pack in early June. By the end of the month, a second and third collar were fitted to Msasaneni Pack members. All done by Wildlife ACT’s field team, together with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, wildlife vets Dr Rowan Leeming and Dr Jennifer Lawrence, and with support from Science-Based Ingredients (SBI).
It’s not glamorous work, but it’s vital and it’s done by people who care.
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And when it works, it’s a win for all of us because losing wild dogs would mean losing one of the most intelligent, social, and iconic species on the continent.
Sources: Linked above.
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