African Painted Dog Day
Feat. Painted Dog Conservation's Wilton Nsimango
Want to learn more about African Painted Dogs? Join the Utica Zoo on Friday, May 24 from 10 am until 4:30 pm as we host international speaker and conservationist, Wilton Nsimango of Painted Dog Conservation Zimbabwe.
Nsimango has come to the Utica Zoo in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and we are excited to welcome him back this year! Painted Dog Conservation’s mission “is to create an environment where painted dogs can thrive.” They are on the front lines of protecting this unique, endangered species so that their populations can grow back to what they once were.
Painted Dog Conservation Day Features:
- Presentations and Keeper Talks on Painted Dogs
- Informational Displays and Activity Table
- Chances to Win Prizes and Giveaways
All Activities are Included With Admission!
$1 from all admission sales on 5/24 will be donated to Painted Dog Conservation!
Event Schedule:
10:00 to 4:00 – Conservation Shop with Snare Wire Art, Junior Ranger Station, Chalk Quiz Trail
10:30 – Lion Enrichment
11:30 – African Painted Dog Talk and Enrichment
1:00 – Wilton Nsimango Guest Speaker Talk
2:00 – Hyena Enrichment
3:00 – African Painted Dog vs African Lion Talk at Lion Habitat
Do you want a chance to win a Utica Zoo Family Membership and support global conservation efforts!?
The painted dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores with less than 7,000 individuals persisting in the wild. Zimbabwe is one of the last remaining strongholds for the species with the potential to support a growing painted dog population. Still, despite adequate ecological resources, painted dogs in Zimbabwe face tremendous threats from snare wire entrapment and vehicle collisions, which have been identified as significant threats to the species overall by the IUCN. Painted dog packs are extremely social, working together to care for puppies, assist weak or injured pack members, and hunt for food. They rely on each other for survival, so the loss of just one dog to a vehicle collision or snare-related injury can devastate an entire pack.
Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) and Painted Dog Research Trust in Zimbabwe are working together to improve this situation and you can help!
For every $5 donated, you will be entered to win a Utica Zoo Family Membership!
Utica Zoo is proud to provide a fundraising platform to help PDC reach their conservation goals. Donations are tax-deductible contributions to Utica Zoo, a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit (EIN: 16-0915407).
Photos from Wilton Nsimango's Past Visits
