C4C People: John Lemon - PDC Inc

John Lemon
Chairman, Painted Dog Conservation Inc - PDC (Perth)
Chairman, Zambian Carnivore Programme 
Curator Operations, Perth Zoo.

John Lemon has been working with the conservation of Painted Dog; also known as African Wild Dog, since 2000. He is the chairman of Zambian Carnivore Programme and the Curator Operations of Perth Zoo. He was a founding member of Painted Dog Conservation Inc (PDC) Perth in 2003. PDC Inc is a Partner Organisation with Creating for Conservation.

Born in Dubbo, John’s love of animals was apparent throughout his childhood years. He worked at a Pet Supply company in Dubbo part-time while at school. John's qualifications and *tertiary study includes a Masters in Captive Vertebrate Management (CSU).  In 1989 he joined the Western Plains Zoo, holding the position of Divisional Supervisor, specialising in African Carnivores and Primates. During the next twelve years he also held the positions of Australasian Primate Society President, Australasian Species Co-coordinator and Studbook Keeper for Cheetah.

John’s passion for Cheetah and Painted Dogs lead him to travel the world gaining work experience at other Institutions which included; De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre South Africa, San Diego Wild Animal Park U.S.A, Fossil Rim Wildlife Centre Texas U.S.A, White Oak Conservation Centre Florida U.S.A, Honolulu Zoo Hawaii U.S.A, New Zealand Zoo's and Australian Zoological Institutions.

“I had a burning passion to do more for Conservation. I was awarded the New South Wales Zoo Friends Fellowship to undertake field work in Zimbabwe in 2000 with the Painted Dog Research Project. I returned to the project in 2001 with my own funding. During 2002, aware that the plight of the dogs was worsening, I resigned from Western Plains Zoo to work full time for the Project in the capacity of Project Officer Painted Dog Conservation. During 2003 I completed the largest rehabilitation holding facility for the dogs in the World, as well as rescuing several dogs from lethal Snares, delivering  human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Education to Rural Communities and conducting Anti-poaching Patrols.”

As a result of his work John was a finalist in the 'Audi Terra Nova Awards' South Africa for contribution to conservation, 2003.

In November 2004, John was involved in the translocation of four dogs from Bulawayo to the rehabilitation facility for acclimatisation before movement to ‘Starvation Island’ in Lake Kariba. And later, in May 2005 he was involved in a world first release of a pack of rehabilitated dogs onto 'Starvation Island' in Lake Kariba to learn the fine art of hunting before release into the wild proper. He and his team  also relocated two smuggled dogs, being held in South Africa, back to Zimbabwe for later release.

In 2006 John was involved in the translocation of 16 dogs from Pilanesburg South Africa to the rehabilitation facility in Zimbabwe for later release.

Spreading their reach in July 2007 PDC Inc. commenced work in Namibia to underpin a new project, assisting with the darting and collaring of a yearling male for research. This animal was the fourth dog in ten years to be collared and the second pack in known history. Throughout 2008 PDC continued work in Namibia including building the new base camp for the project in Bushmanland in November.

Other initiatives include working with the African Wild Dog Project in Zambia (Now Zambian Carnivore Programme) which is also supported by PDC Inc. in conducting anti-poaching patrols, village dog vaccination programmes and community development work.

The PDC and Creating for Conservation Partnership

PDC Inc works in partnership with Creating for Conservation as the benefits of the program assist in furthering the education of children in rural communities in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the future conservationists that will take our work of today into the future. C4C is making a real difference on the ground where the need is at its greatest.

“Conservation Education is important to me because it is the process of influencing people’s attitudes, emotions, knowledge, and behaviours about wildlife and wild places. This is done through the efforts of skilled educators and interpreters, who use a variety of techniques, methods, and assessments to reconnect people with the natural world.”

PDC Inc’s mission is the:

• provision of resources and facilities to support research into the African Painted Dog (Lycaon pictus)
• conservation of the African Painted dog with particular emphasis on threat prevention
• education of the wider community on Painted dogs and related wildlife issues
• treatment and care of sick or injured Painted dogs and the rehabilitation of such dogs back into their natural environment
• Increasing in the range states the population of the African Painted Dog

Read more about Painted Dog Conservation Inc. here: www.painteddogconservation.iinet.net.au

*John Lemon Studies
Post Graduate Certificate, Captive Vertebrate Management (Charles Sturt University, CSU.)
Graduate Diploma Captive Vertebrate Management (CSU)
Masters Captive Vertebrate Management (CSU)
Conservation Biology & Biodiversity (UNSW)
Awarded Zoo Studies Scholarship (CSU)
Certificate IV in Business Management (West Coast TAFE WA)
Certificate III Captive Animals (Western Sydney Institute TAFE)
Certificate IV Captive Animals (Western Sydney Institute TAFE
Foundations of Leadership (AIM/University Western Australia)

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Painted Dog Conservation is hosting
'An Evening with Anna Tolan'

A Fundraising Dinner in Perth

3rd November 2012
Details here