INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Zoo announced on Tuesday that two African painted dog puppies had been born and they are in good health. The two puppies, a male and a female, were born on July 24th and have been named Jua and Nia respectively.
The African painted dog, also known as the Cape hunting dog, is a critically endangered species, with a population of only 6,000 remaining in the wild. They are hunted and killed by farmers who view them as a threat to their livestock.
The Indianapolis Zoo is one of only a handful of zoos in the United States that breeds and cares for African painted dogs. The two new puppies are especially important to the species’ conservation efforts because they come from two different, unrelated, and genetically valuable pairs.
The puppies are currently being cared for by their mother, Rukiya, and the zoo staff is monitoring their progress closely. They are expected to become more active and curious in the coming weeks, as they start to explore their surroundings.
While the birth of the two puppies is certainly good news, it is important to remember the larger picture: the African painted dog is still critically endangered and needs our help. The Indianapolis Zoo is doing its part by breeding and caring for these puppies, but the rest of us can also make a difference by supporting conservation efforts and raising awareness about the threats facing these beautiful animals.
The two new puppies haven’t quite made it onto the Zoo’s publically-listed “animal encounters,” yet rest assured that they will soon enough. Visitors are excited to get a glimpse of these adorable endangered animals that they may never see in the wild.
It is time that we stop talking about cute animals and start taking action. The conservation of African painted dogs requires the cooperation of people all around the world. After all, it is only because of humans that these animals are endangered in the first place.
Instead of just cute photos and videos, let us all work together to protect the African painted dog before they disappear forever. And if you happen to be in the Indiana area anytime soon, go check out Jua and Nia at the Indianapolis Zoo. You might learn something about the real impact we as humans can have on the world.
