Effectiveness of African wild dog Lycaon pictus reintroductions in South Africa. CEE Review 07-009

Published source details Gusset M., Stewart G.B., Bowler D.E. & Pullin A.S. (2008) Effectiveness of African wild dog Lycaon pictus reintroductions in South Africa. CEE Review 07-009. CEE (Collaboration for Environmental Evidence) Systematic Reviews, SR33.
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Summary

A claimed conservation success (or failure) might be attributable to the evaluation approach used. In this study, the effectiveness of African wild dog Lycaon pictus reintroductions in South Africa were re-evaluated using a systematic review approach in order to cross-validate management recommendations stemming from a previous African wild dog recovery programme evaluation.

A systematic review, including an exhaustive literature search (including via internet search engines) and meta-analysis not employed in the original assessment, was undertaken. Relevant people and organisations were also contacted to assess whether any additional survival data existed.

The dataset used in the original evaluation (all wild dog reintroductions and translocations known to have been undertaken in South Africa since 1995) was confirmed to be complete by the additional systematic search effort. Both evaluations suggested that wild dog reintroductions in South Africa are successful in the short-term, with high survival rates of released animals and their offspring. Meta-analysis corroborated the importance of pre-release socialisation in enhancing post-release survival at the pack level, as identified in the original evaluation. The original evaluation also identified some additional factors that affect individual survival of reintroduced African wild dogs.

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