African Wild Dog Conservancy (AWD Conservancy)

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Started in 2001 by Dr. Bob Robbins and Dr. Kim McCreery, the African Wild Dog Conservancy (AWD Conservancy) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to working with local communities, and national and international stakeholders to conserve wild dogs through scientific research and education.

The AWD Conservancy´s objectives are the following:
• Establish and support long-term conservation programs involving local communities in research and education
• Facilitate development programs aimed at improving the lives of local people by building partnerships with community-based organizations and NGOs


The African Wild Dog Conservancy´s community conservation project is in the biodiversity hotspots of northeastern and coastal Kenya, a rich mosaic of protected areas and community lands under extreme threat. Our approach differs from a number of other projects, because we have taken the time to learn why many community-based conservation efforts have not succeeded:

The AWD Conservancy´s community-based project in Kenya has the following design features:
• The project was started with the support of local people with vision who recognize that the well-being of wildlife, plants, and people is interconnected, and that healthy ecosystems improve livelihoods.
• Baseline information on attitudes and concerns is being collected to track project success, document and learn from mistakes, and to adapt as needed.
• Time is being taken to build good-working relationships with local people based on trust, recognizing that there will be bumps in the road, and that conservation and development are not always compatible. We are striving to interweave traditional skills and knowledge, and cultural and religious perspectives with conservation science, training, and education.

This pioneering project investigates the conservation status, ecology, and effects of cultural beliefs, traditional practices, and human activities on wild dogs in this region. A key component in sustaining wildlife and promoting a healthy environment is to empower local communities through hands-on training and to help community-based organizations establish education programs.

Project Objectives:
• Collect and analyze data on abundance and distribution, prey preferences with special reference to domestic livestock, habitat use, demographics, genetics, and disease
• Train local people in applied field techniques
• Conduct trend survey of local attitudes and concerns about wild dogs in particular, and carnivores in general
• Identify and prioritize threats to wild dogs
• Create an internship program and work with community-based organizations to develop wildlife conservation education programs
• Establish a sightings database for all large mammals

Results from the project will be used to develop an African Wild Dog Conservation Action Plan in partnership with local, national, and international stakeholders, and to establish a long-term monitoring program with the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Bob Robbins or Kim McCreery are the Founders of the African Wild Dog Conservancy (AWD Conservancy).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.