Predator Conservation Trust

In association with Safaritalk the Predator Conservation Trust is launching a new campaign to finance the purchase of specially made anti-snare collars for the painted dogs of Zimbabwe.

Painted Dogs are one of the most endangered carnivores in Africa, and the premature death of even a single one is a sad loss. Sadly painted dogs fall victim to poachers snares (see the topic "The horror of snares" for more details).



Greg Rasmussen of Painted Dog Conservation worked with a radio collar supplier to develop an anti-snare collar to protect the dogs necks from snares. It has a plate made from aluminium which runs along the base of the collar with 3 rows of rivets, 17 in total, protruding from it. These stop the snare sliding across the collar and onto the dogs neck stopping it from cutting into the dogs neck, and the rivets also help the dog break the wire snare and escape.


Jealous, a member of the Painted Dog Conservation team is seen here fitting a dog with its new anti-snare collar.



Without these collars, dogs can suffer wounds like the one below, or more likely - they will be killed by the snare.




This collar saved the life of the dog that was wearing it. The collar has taken a beating from the rubbing of the snare but did its job and saved the painted dog.



A painted dog wearing an anti-snare collar.



Anti-snare plates are in use at the moment but there is an urgent requirement for more - ideally every dog the Painted Dog Project follow or have reason to come into contact with would have a collar fitted to protect them from snares.

The anti-snare plates cost 340 US dollars each (around £180), and each one can help save the life of a Painted Dog. Please help us purchase more of these plates to save the lives of more painted dogs. You can donate using Paypal by visiting our Donate page