Painted Dog Conservation shaping conservationists at bush camp

Providence Moyo

22 primary schools and six secondary schools in three Matabeleland North districts namely,  Hwange, Lupane and Tsholotsho are gathered in Hwange for the 19th edition of the four day-long Iganyana Bush Camp which is expected to end tomorrow. 

The camp is facilitated by Painted Dog Conversation, a Hwange based  organisation whose dedication is to conserve the endangered  African wild dog and other species. The school children  are viewing animals at Hwange National Park as they are accommodated  at the organisation’s centre located near the park which is a wildlife rehabilitation  centre focused on  helping  both humans and dogs.

Speaking to Community Podium,  the organisation’s  Education  Manager Wilton Msimanga said the main objective of this camp  is to inculcate positive behaviour towards painted dogs and  wildlife at large amongst minors with optimism that they grow to champion the safety  of the animals.

“We are delighted to dedicate our time to the minors because they are the future. The future of wildlife is also in their hands so we involve minors to create a conducive  environment in which painted dogs  can thrive. For long, we have been accommodating  children and some of the minors’ parents have been here before. The aim is to create a conversation conscious generation  that will pass knowledge to the next generation”. 

Msimanga took the opportunity to challenge  communities  to identify  specific environmental issues and solve them.

“Each and every community has an environment to look after and those schools that are away from wildlife protected areas can identify the challenges that need attention in the community.”