Six endangered African Painted Puppies were given their first hands-on health check following their birth in March at Perth Zoo. 

The health check revealed the Zoo has five new males and one female African Painted Puppy - a valuable addition to their struggling species.

The new arrivals are the result of a successful new breeding pair comprising of Perth Zoo-born adult female ‘Muhumhi’ and male ‘Gibby’ who came from South Australia. 

Painted Dogs are endangered and considered the most persecuted large carnivore in Africa. Wild populations are threatened by poachers, habitat destruction and human wildlife conflict. 

The Zoo puppies have recently started to explore beyond their birthing den, making an impact in the Zoo’s African Savannah. 

Perth Zoo’s work for the species extends well beyond the South Perth gates all the way to Africa, and the Western Australian community has been instrumental in helping save them.

Thanks to local donations, Perth Zoo helps fund an anti-poaching patrol unit and snare removal from the African landscape which causes the painful deaths of many Painted Dogs.

More information about how the community can support Perth Zoo’s programs to save African Painted Dogs from extinction can be found at https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/african-painted-dog-project 

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:

“The birth of six African Painted Puppies is cause for celebration and testament to the world renowned expertise here at Perth Zoo.

“The team co-ordinates the regional zoo breeding program for all Australian and New Zealand zoos, with the aim of breeding a healthy zoo population of African Painted Dogs to insure against wild extinction.

“With less than 6,500 of these animals in the wild, there is a real risk of this species going extinct in our lifetime, making zoo breeding programs more important than ever.”