WEST Midland Safari Park will be hosting a special fundraising week, dedicated to supporting dogs in Africa who help to protect and conserve endangered rhinos and cheetahs.
Conservation Dogs runs at the Park from Saturday (September 9) until Sunday, September 17, where staff will aim to raise awareness of the vital roles dogs play in conservation programmes for wildlife.
All the funds raised during the event will go towards Save the Rhino International's Dog Squad and a research project to aid the work of the Cheetah Outreach's Livestock Guarding Dog (LGD) programme.
During the week, a variety of fun activities, quizzes and competitions will take place - including the chance to win an exclusive cheetah feed for two.
The Park's Conservation Tent will house interesting facts and information, and there will be an opportunity to purchase badges of the Park's cheetahs, rhinos or sponsored dogs. Additionally, the new Safari Academy is running hands-on crafts and games linked to Conservation Dogs during weekends.
Katie McDonald, research and conservation officer, said: "Dogs are the new 'best friends' of wildlife conservation.
"Increasingly, those working to protect threatened species are using dogs for a huge variety of tasks. These range from sniffing out illegally sourced products of animal origin, such as ivory, to disarming rhino poachers.
"During our Conservation Dogs campaign, we want to spread the word about how dogs are employed in conservation and raise funds to help two conservation initiatives.
"Cheetah Outreach's LGD programme supplies guard dogs to farmers in Africa. The dogs protect livestock from predators, such as cheetahs, reducing the farmers' need to remove carnivores from their lands.
"In Kenya, the Save the Rhino International Dog Squad uses dogs to track and disarm poachers who would otherwise kill black and white rhinos for their horns."
(^^ Quake and handler during a training exercise at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. Photo from Save the Rhino International)
She added: "Cheetahs are on the decline in Africa and the threat to rhinos from poaching is increasing.
"We want to support conservation efforts for these animals by championing the dogs whose special skills are helping to save the species."
( ^^ Ivan, the Anatolian sheepdog, is sponsored by West Midland Safari Park and is named after the Park's director. He is part of Cheetah Outreach's Livestock Guarding Dog programme.)
To support the fundraising, several brave keepers will be taking part in the Great Birmingham Run in October.
Rosie Wilkes, from the Park's wildlife team, said, “Through conservation weeks at WMSP, we have a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for some really great causes.
"As the last week is focussed on how dogs are being used to support conservation work, we have organised a fun and challenging dog walk with the keepers and their canine companions.
"Additionally, some of the staff have decided to embark on an even bigger challenge, which is a half marathon (the Great Birmingham Run). This is to represent the hard work and immense challenges that these dogs can face in their daily work and also raise additional funds and more importantly, awareness."
Artist Zaza Shelley will also produce limited edition prints of the Park's animals, including cheetahs and and rhinos - with proceeds going to the two charities. To buy the prints, visit zazashelley.com.
For more information about West Midland Safari Park, visit wmsp.co.uk or call 01299 402114.
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