Nature gives back to Erindi

NATURE has given back what it took from the Erindi Game Reserve last year.

At the end of November, 13 wild dogs were struck and killed by lightning while seeking shelter from the rain under a camelthorn tree.But in February, an adult female wild dog gave them six new puppies. The game reserve says employees noticed that the remaining adult wild dogs were behaving differently in early February, but could not reach their den because of heavy rains. They feared that the puppies might not survive the rain and cold weather, but were overjoyed last week when the six puppies were found alive and well, with their eyes already open.’We have invested a lot of time, energy and funds into sustaining our pack of African wild dogs at Erindi and the entire team was devastated after the loss in November,’ the owner of the nature reserve, Gert Joubert, said in a statement.To celebrate the birth of the puppies, the Erindi Game Reserve is offering a special package deal exclusive to Namibians.More details on this special can be obtained at www.erindi.com or by phoning 081 145 000.Once common in all areas of Africa, except in rain forests and deserts, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is extinct or nearly extinct in 32 countries of their former range and the remaining population is too small to remain viable, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.Threats to the African wild dog include loss of habitat and human persecution.The Erindi Game Reserve is situated between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo.