Revealed: Wild Dog Trafficking
Category: Wild Dogs
By: zimbabwewilddogs
From: http://zimbabwewilddogs.wildlifedirect.org

A short documentary was released in 2010 by colleagues from the Painted Dog Conservation Project in Hwange, Zimbabwe. The documentary, put together by Dr Greg Rasmussen, reveals for the first time the true extent of the trade in African wild dogs.

This highly endangered species is not listed on CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) because of a misconception that there is no commercial trade in wild dogs. This documentary demonstrates otherwise, and makes a compelling case for putting wild dogs on CITES. It also highlights the horrific conditions faced by many wild animals in China’s zoos.

The film shows how there are 200-300 wild dogs currently in China, most obtained illegally and living in appalling conditions.  It shows that many of these originate from the wild, where dogs are effectively stolen from the wild and put into captive breeding centers to pass off their offspring as captive bred. It’s truly shocking.

Please have a look at the film (it’s only about 20 minutes long), and pass the link on to friends and colleagues.  A lot of hard work by Greg and his team went into making this film in order to bring the problem to light.  http://www.youtube.com/user/journeymanpictures#p/c/2C32A4BDEAD6466A/3/x_oQRe-L0m0

It only goes to show how vital are all our conservation efforts on the ground with the wild dogs, and how much we need your support to continue to try and protect this incredible and highly threatened species.
Thanks,

Rosemary

Rosemary, a wildlife conservationist grew up in Zimbabwe. She's now working for the African Wildlife Conservation Fund to promote the conservation of the enigmatic, fragile and highly endangered African wild dogs in this wonderful country. They work specifically in the Save Valley Conservancy and Gonarezhou National Park. The project is hosted by Chishakwe Ranch.

Straight from his website: 
Greg Rasmussen founded Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) after years of living and working closely with painted dogs in the field. While on the job, Greg suffered severe injuries when his plane crashed into the African bush, but his persistent work has continued nonetheless. Greg is joined by Peter Blinston, PDC's Manager, who has helped translate Greg's vision and research into effective programming.

Greg presently serves as PDC’s Director.  British-born, he spent much of his childhood in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia).  After college, he began work on an African wild dog research project in Hwange NationalPark and became so committed to the painted dogs that he sold all his belongings and moved permanently to Zimbabwe to live and work for their protection.

Greg was tracking radio-collared rhino from his microlight aircraft when his plane crashed in 2003.  Alone, severely injured, and hundreds of miles from the nearest settlement, Greg withstood extreme temperatures and exposure to predators while he waited for help.  The story of his survival and eventual rescue has been featured in a Discovery Channel documentary and also told in Thrown to the Lions, an episode in the television series “Alive.” READ MORE