Painted dogs, also known as wild dogs, face extinction as a result of increased illegal hunting by poachers, a conservation centre has revealed. The Painted Dogs Conservation Centre in Dete, which is located at the foot of the Hwange National Park, said snares set up by poachers, mostly villagers, have become a huge threat to the population of painted dogs. "This impacts many species, but the painted dogs are particularly vulnerable because they cover relatively huge distances each day compared to most species and consequently encounter many more snares," said the Painted Dogs Conservation Centre Anti-Poaching Unit manager Enock Zulu. Zulu said poaching activities seemed to have increased significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic struck early last year.