Endangered African painted dogs are at the risk of local extinction due to poachers hunting other wildlife at Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. The painted dogs are victims of rampant poaching by local and international syndicates hunting for wildlife such as buffaloes and elephants. Although poachers have no interest in painted dogs themselves, they become victims of snares or poisoned water sources meant for other game. The destruction of their habitants is also cited as one of the reasons why the painted dogs face extinction. "It’s not about the painted dogs only. Local people don't hunt wild dogs, no one eats them here. The killing of one animal by poachers means a lot to us. As a community even without donor support, we have the responsibility to guard these precious animals," says Lawrence Ncube, a resident of Hwange.