ABOUT US
Our Vision
'Painted Wolf' is the literal translation of the Latin name for the African Wild Dog - Lycaon pictus.
The Bushlife Painted Wolf Conservancy is a branch of Bushlife Support Unit Trust, funded by Bushlife Conservancy a registered 501C3 in the USA. The Bushlife Painted Wolf Conservancy specialising in research and conservation of the endangered African Wild Dog.
Nick Murray has years of experience working with the PDC ( Painted Dog Conservation ). Now Nick is continuing to pursue his passion for the African Wild Dog ( Painted Wolf), through the Bushlife Painted Wolf Conservancy. He also intends to further his BSc Zoology to an MSc and helping protect this endangered species.
Our main aims are:
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Stop poaching in the protected Zambezi Valley Area
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Expand the radius of this protected area
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Conduct research on the Wild Dogs through studies such as collaring and den monitoring.
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Ensure the future of the Lycaon pictus species for generations to come.
HOW WE BEGAN
In 1997, husband and wife team – Nick and Des Murray – began working in Mana Pools National Park. Together they created what is known today as Bushlife Safaris.
Working in Mana Pools for well over 20 years, Nick Murray saw the wildlife populations of the Lower Zambezi Valley decrease rapidly over the last decade. As such, he soon realised the need for a co-ordinated anti-poaching effort in the Valley. In 2015, following many years of continuous work on the anti-poaching front, Nick was asked to assist National Parks as they increased anti-poaching efforts further.
The resultant MOU from Zimbabwe National Parks established Bushlife Support Unit, a task force which increased the scale and intensity of anti-poaching assistance given to National Parks. Bushlife Support Unit thereby works alongside National Parks to protect wildlife in the area.
In the midst of this, Nick had been closely studying the painted dogs in Mana Pools for over a decade. His affinity with the dogs has allowed him intimate access into their lives in Mana Pools, and Nick's own children have grown up watching the dogs flourish and fall.
By 2015, Nick knew that a more concerted effort needed to be made to protect the packs he had come to know so well.
In November of that year, a pack of nine wild dogs was poisoned at a spring on the Southern Boundary of the Zambezi Valley. In the aftermath of this example of wanton human destruction, the Painted Wolf Conservancy, via the Bushlife Support Unit, put huge efforts into patrolling and monitoring this area.
In early 2018, we received reports of a flourishing pack of sixteen wild dogs in this area, an enormous success, proving our efforts are already making a considerable impact.
Help us to continue doing the work we love!
