Two Rare Kangal Puppies Join the CCF Lifestock Guarding Dog Programme
(c) Cheetah Conservation Fund
(Otjiwarongo, Namibia) - After several years of looking for new Kangal dog bloodlines to increase its breeding programme, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) recently welcomed two Kangal puppies donated by Anne Hupel from Bonnie Blue Flag Kangals in France. The two puppies, Firat (male) and Feliz (female), were transported from France to Namibia by Patrick Couzinet, a French CCF supporter and an active member of Leadership for Conservation in Africa, of which CCF is also a member.
The puppies provide new bloodlines for CCF’s successful Livestock Guarding Dog Programme and will grow up in CCF’s goat kraal. CCF is one of the few places in the world using this rare breed of dogs for what they were bred to do for the past 5,000 years in Turkey, protect livestock from predators, like the Anatolian Shepherd --a breed more commonly used in other countries for the same purpose and that has been a part of CCF's programme for over 15 years,
“Kangals and Anatolians are very intelligent breeds of dogs; we are very excited that the recent puppy donations will give us a greater opportunity to work with even more Namibian farmers through our Livestock Guarding Dog Programme,” said CCF Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Marker.
The puppies provide new bloodlines for CCF’s successful Livestock Guarding Dog Programme and will grow up in CCF’s goat kraal. CCF is one of the few places in the world using this rare breed of dogs for what they were bred to do for the past 5,000 years in Turkey, protect livestock from predators, like the Anatolian Shepherd --a breed more commonly used in other countries for the same purpose and that has been a part of CCF's programme for over 15 years,
“Kangals and Anatolians are very intelligent breeds of dogs; we are very excited that the recent puppy donations will give us a greater opportunity to work with even more Namibian farmers through our Livestock Guarding Dog Programme,” said CCF Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Marker.
The puppies have joined female Kangal Aleya, who arrived at CCF in September through the generosity of German breeder Kristina Peez of Sivas Guardian Angels and CCF’s resident breeding females, Cazgir from the SPOTS Foundation in the Netherlands and Hediye from Turkmen Kangal Dogs. All four puppies will be used for breeding. Having Firat, the male, will allow CCF to use natural breeding with its Kangal females. Meanwhile CCF will continue to conduct artificial insemination (AI) to increase the bloodlines of this breed with sperm donated to CCF last year by Turkmen Kangal Dogs from the US. CCF’s first successful AI was performed on an Anatolian Shepherd with sperm donated by Rare Breeds Ranch and ICSB Grass Valley, also from the US. The three female puppies born in August will also be used for breeding.
CCF developed the Livestock Guarding Dog Programme in 1994, breeding livestock guarding dogs specifically for the protection of sheep and goat flocks when they are grazing out in the veldt and vulnerable to predator attacks. To date, CCF has placed more than 375 Livestock Guarding Dogs with commercial and communal farmers. The programme is open to any Namibian farmer interested in a dog. From the initial application, CCF conducts farm visits and assesses the conditions that the dog will be living under. Once approved, the farmers are invited to Puppy Day at CCF, where they attend courses on caring for the dogs. CCF follows up with the farmers several times during the course of the first year and once a year after that, to make sure that the dog is in good health and behaving correctly and that the farmer is happy with the dog. In addition, during the visits CCF provides any necessary advice to the farmers, as well as basic medical care such as de-worming and vaccinations, free of charge. To apply for one of CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dog, please contact CCF at (067) 306 225 (Namibia only). |
EDITOR'S NOTES:
Cheetah Conservation Fund PO Box 1755, Otjiwarongo - Namibia
Tel : (067) 306225 Fax: (067) 306247 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cheetah.org
- The Cheetah Conservation Fund is a Namibian non-profit trust dedicated to the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystems.
- Since 1990, the organisation has developed education and conservation programmes based on its bio-medical cheetah research studies, published scientific research papers and has presented educational programmes to over 250 000 outreach school learners and over 1500 farmers. In addition, CCF has donated over 375 Anatolian Shepherd livestock guarding dogs to commercial and communal farmers as part of their innovative non-lethal livestock management programme.
- Research into cheetah biology and ecology has greatly increased our understanding of the fastest land animal and education programmes for schools and the farming community help change public attitudes to allow predator and humans to co-exist. However, despite the many successes of CCF programmes, the cheetah is still Africa's most endangered big cat.
Cheetah Conservation Fund PO Box 1755, Otjiwarongo - Namibia
Tel : (067) 306225 Fax: (067) 306247 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cheetah.org