Livestock guard dog a worthy investment

THE Cheetah Conservation Fund’s livestock guarding dogs are at the core of its efforts to address the human-wildlife conflict that threatens the survival of the cheetah.

The programme uses two rare Turkish breeds, the Anatolian Shepherd and the Kangal, which have been relied upon for thousands of years to guard livestock in Turkey. In Namibia, the dogs serve farmers in a similar role, protecting small stock from cheetahs and other predators.

Thew dogs are raised and bred at CCF Namibia headquarters at Otjiwarongo, then placed with Namibian farmers.

The dogs protect livestock from cheetah attacks, barking loudly whenever they see a cheetah or predator, scaring the big cats away. Farmers with guard dogs no longer need to kill cheetahs to protect their livestock and their livelihood.

How successful has the programme been? Very.

According to the CCF, most farmers have reported an 80% to 100% reduction in livestock kills by cheetahs and other predators.

Since 1994, the Cheetah Fund has placed more than 600 dogs with Namibian farmers when the programme began, and is on track to deliver another 50 puppies in 2017. The dogs are credited with saving hundreds of cheetah lives since the programme began, as well as the lives of other predators and small stock. With more and more puppies born every year, the programme is set to grow even bigger.

“The puppies bond with their herds and protect the herds from predators. Most farmers with dogs from CCF report dramatic reductions of livestock losses due to cheetahs and other predators,” said CCF in a statement.

In turn, this helps the farmers implement improved livestock management techniques and encourages the farmers to co-exist with cheetahs instead of removing cheetahs from farmland.

Farmers are so eager to adopt puppies and use this livestock management technique, there is a long waiting list for dogs.

Farmers are invited to become conservation partners and assist in covering half or all of the annual costs in caring for and raising these working dogs.

Each dog costs CCF over N$500 a year in care. These costs include food, vaccinations, new-owner support, veterinary care and long-term monitoring.

Donations will also support training programmes for the farmers and contribute to the continued observation and care of guarding dogs after they have been placed on livestock farms.

As a gesture of support, a delegation representing the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (Tika) visited the CCF headquarters early this month, to view a shelter and enclosure the agency recently donated to the guarding dog programme. The structure was designed to house three adult breeding dogs and their puppies. The visiting delegation included Serdar Çam, Tika president; Deniz Cakar, ambassador of the Republic of Turkey; and Cüneyt Esmer, Tika Namibia country director.

They toured CCFv facilities, visiting the new structure and stopping to take photos with many of the working dogs and a litter of six- week-old puppies. The guests also viewed cheetahs, the species that the dogs are charged with protecting, at the adjacent cheetah sanctuary.

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