LGD Puppies to Tanzania

Today we loaded 6 puppies into a truck headed for Tanzania’s Ruaha Carnivore Project, which is part of Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit WildCRU. This is the second consecutive year Ruaha has participated in CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dog program. All 6 puppies, 3 males and 3 females, are Kangal dogs. Their father is Firat, who was imported from France and mother Karibib who came from Germany are both purebred Kangal dogs and are integral in our breeding program.

Kangal dogs have a long history of protecting livestock from predators. In their native country, Turkey, they have guarded small herds from wolves and bears for thousands of years. Since CCF started placing Livestock Guarding Dogs, in Namibia in 1994, farmers have seen predation rates from all predators reduced by 80 to 100 percent. Because the farmers feel more secure in their livelihoods, they are less likely to do harm to cheetahs and other predators. The goal of placing puppies in other organizations across Africa is to extend the program. It is the hope that organizations will create their own Livestock Guarding Dog program and further extend the safe habitat for cheetahs.