'Best in the Country:' Renowned Painted Dog Researcher praises OKC Zoo Exhibit

The Oklahoma City Zoo received high praise from a renowned conservationist for the care and habitat it provides to endangered species.

On Thursday, Dr. Greg Rasmussen, the founder of Painted Dog Research in Zimbabwe, spoke with staff and volunteers about the efforts to protect the Painted Dog population and how the Oklahoma City Zoo plays a role.

Danger of Extinction

Dr. Rasmussen says for generations the African Painted Dog has either been slaughtered by ranchers or has fallen victim to vehicle traffic. Now, the population is on the verge of extinction.

“They’ve reduced from half a million to a million right down to 3 or 4 thousand in Africa - highly endangered,” he says.

His field-based conservation and research organization has also made efforts to educate the people who live around the animals. He says the Painted Dogs’ reputation is primarily based on fear and prejudice passed down for generations.

“Every word spoken about them was rubbish,” Dr. Rasmussen said. “They were ruthless predators, savage, aggressive.”

His own opinion he says was based on his observations - particularly one painted dog he tracked. For days he says the dog cared for a wounded member of the pack, even bringing it food and licking its wounds.

“I was like woah. So, this is a savage ruthless killer that looks after its sick and its weak,” he recalls. “That was the first case ever of a dog in the wild or any wild animal looking after its sick and its weak. Now we know it wasn’t a singular event.”

Partnering with Oklahoma

Painted Dog Research is one of the many global conservation groups the OKC Zoo supports. That support is provided not only monetarily through programs like “Round Up for Conservation,” but also through education.

Dr. Rasmussen says the first step in helping the dogs is showing visitors why they should care. 

“It’s the caring. It’s the changing the heart that’s what changes the mind. Where the heart goes the mind follows.”

When designing the African Painted Dog exhibit, the zoo relied on Rasmussen and his decades of research. He says the finished product did not disappoint.  

“It is the best in the country. The dog facility here is absolutely outstanding.”

He says it’s a combination of space, care and enrichment.

Jennifer D’Agostino, the zoo’s Chief Animal Programs Officer is one of those providing that care here. She even joined his team in Zimbabwe helping the dogs’ wild counterparts.

She worked with the first team in the country to supplement feed a struggling pack.

“I was really excited to be a part of that and to help out with that in the field conservation effort,” says D’Agostino. “That pack ended up going on to have all their puppies survive and had a couple of liters after that. Those liters have now split off and have their own packs and have their own liters.”

She will travel back to Zimbabwe with the zoo in August.

“We want to make sure that what we’re doing has a direct impact on the animals that do live in the wild and the people that live in the area as well. So, having those partnerships I think highlights that what we do here in Oklahoma really does affect on a global level.”