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Functions:

1. Compilation, synthesis and dissemination of canid related information through:
   1. Action Plans
   2. Canid bulletins
   3. Canid News, an electronic, peer-reviewed journal
   4. Canids-L, an Internet mailing list exclusively devoted to Canid biology and conservation
      
2. Establishment of a Canid Conservation Database, which will maintain an updated list of canid references and information on current research and conservation projects.
   
3. Holding of regular meetings of CSG members alongside international conferences.
   
4. Serving as the IUCN Red List Authority for the Canidae, responsible to evaluate the category of threat of all canid species.
   
5. Regionalised Approach - CSG is a global network with Regional Section Chairs for: Sub-Saharan Africa; North Africa & Middle East; North & Central Asia; South Asia & Australasia; Europe; North & Central America; South America.
   
6. Species Working Groups - Bringing together the experts of a particular threatened species: African wild dog; Arctic fox; Ethiopian wolf; Dhole; Kit & swift fox .
   
7. Topical Working Groups - Addressing specific problems across species: Disease & Epidemiology; Ecology & Research; Genetics; Harvesting & Pest Control; International Policy; Reintroduction & Translocation.

Accomplishments:

Coordination of Scientific Work on Endangered and Vulnerable Canids

The CSG helps raise sponsorship for, and in some cases undertakes directly, a variety of projects around the world. The CSG meets irregularly at international congresses, of which the most recent was at the 1997 International Theriological Congress in Acapulco. The next meeting of the full CSG is scheduled for the 1998 Euro-American Mammalogy Congress in Santiago de Compostela, Spain (19-24 July 1988). CSG also participates in the Canid/Hyaena Taxon Advisory Group meetings and have organized species specific workshops, such as the 1992 Arusha meeting on African wild dogs and, most recently, a PVHA on Lycaon in collaboration with the CBSG in Pretoria.

CSG has recently surveyed over 500 people to gather basic information about as many canid projects as possible. The replies will be collated into a dossier which will provide information on who studies which species and where. This will be published in a format which allows cross-referencing and which can be easily updated every couple of years. Copies will be available for purchase at approximately cost price. This dossier will allow us to pinpoint species and areas of their biology which need further research, and to allow canid scientists easy access to baseline information concerning their field of interest.

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The African Wild Dog -- Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan

In 1997, CSG, again in conjunction with WildCRU, brought together 14 scientists from Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the USA and the UK to prepare and publish the African Wild Dog Action Plan. This comprehensive 166 page report is a comprehensive review of the ecology of African wild dogs throughout Africa and a detailed action plan for their conservation. It includes discussions of the role of captive breeding in wild dog conservation efforts, research and monitoring needs, country-by-country action plans, scientific field methods, and includes an extensive bibliography. [We plan to post all the information from this report to this web site.]

The First Canid Action Plan

In 1990, the founding members of Canid Specialist Group, David Macdonald and Joshua Ginsberg, published Foxes, Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs -- An Action Plan for the Conservation of Canids. This report contains distribution maps for each species, biological data, and an assessment of their status and any action required to safeguard the species' coexistence with humans. [We are in the process of posting all the information from this report to this web site.] As a result of this report, those species identified as most endangered in the plan have received increased scientific and conservation attention.

Virtually all the work of the CSG is undertaken by volunteers.

Sponsors:

The CSG is most grateful for the support it has received from Roebuck Eyot, the Sir Peter Scott Fund and the following foundations and organizations: