18 February 2010 08:46:26 AM
Molopo River - South Africa
Geoffrey York
In a vast wilderness of thorn trees and grasslands on the edge of the Kalahari desert, Peter Knipe farms a menagerie of thousands of animals, from goats and cattle to impalas and giraffes. His most exotic import, however, is a friendly looking dog named Neeake.
Raised with a herd of goats since he was a puppy, Neeake has bonded with the goats so loyally that he guards them with his life. He scans the horizon constantly, searching for predators, keeping the cheetahs and leopards at bay.
Neeake, a Turkish breed known as an Anatolian shepherd, is the latest experiment by Africa's conservationists as they search for new ways to halt the dramatic decline of African wildlife. Because of Neeake, and other dogs like him, the farmers of Molopo River don't need to shoot or trap the cheetahs. The dogs protect the livestock, and the cheetahs survive.
"We've had zero losses where we use the dogs," Mr. Knipe says. "They're great protectors. Since we've gotten the dogs, everyone here has become cheetah-friendly."
Lions and cheetahs, two of the iconic creatures of Africa, are in serious decline across the continent. Cheetahs, the world's fastest mammal, numbered about 100,000 worldwide a century ago, yet only about 7,500 survive today. Lions, the king of beasts, have fallen from 200,000 in the 1970s to fewer than 40,000 today. Both are classified as "vulnerable" on the global list of endangered species.
Other species, such as elephants, have recovered their numbers in most regions of Africa, but remain under threat from poachers. And then there are lesser-known animals such as the African wild dog, which has declined from 500,000 to less than 6,000 today.
To preserve them from the ravages of human encroachment, experts are turning to a wide range of innovative ideas.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/conservation-strategy-to-save-africas-big-cats-teaches-old-dogs-new-tricks/article1469331/
Back to 'Story Archive' home
^ To The Top ^