Six African Painted Dog puppies born at Perth Zoo in March receive first health check

Perth Zoo’s endangered African Painted puppies have had their first health check-up and passed with flying colours.

The dogs were born in March to mum Muhumhi and dad Gibby, with the check revealing five new males and one female in the litter. The puppies have recently started exploring their new home — the zoo’s African Savannah.

Wild Painted Dogs are threatened by poachers, habitat destruction and conflict with humans.

As well as the breeding program, Perth Zoo also helps conservation efforts in South Africa by raising money through donations for an anti-poaching patrol unit and snare removal, which kills many Painted Dogs.

Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson praised the zoo for its work in helping save the species from extinction.

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

“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.”

For more information about the African Painted Dog project click here.