Painted Dog Research Trust

What Painted Dog Research Trust does

Painted Dog Research Trust (PDR) is a Zimbabwe-based nonprofit conservation organization founded in 2014 by Dr. Greg Rasmussen, building on his earlier work with Painted Dog Conservation (established 2002). PDR operates a field-based conservation ecology center near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, focused on data-driven trans-boundary research, community-based education, and species protection for the endangered African painted dog (Lycaon pictus). The organization's core technical work includes the development and deployment of satellite tracking anti-snare collars and long-term population monitoring across the KAZA (Kavango-Zambezi) dispersal corridor, which links painted dog populations of five neighboring countries.

PDR's product and service portfolio spans three areas: (1) conservation research and educational programming including university student mentorship, anti-snare collar deployment, and field data collection; (2) merchandise sold through its own e-commerce site and zoo gift shops, including snare wire art (handcrafted sculptures made by indigenous Zimbabwean artisans from confiscated poaching snares, priced $20-$40), stickers ($5), patches ($10), and snare wire art hippo/giraffe/rhino variants; (3) educational materials including the children's book 'A Dog Called Circus' by Dr. Rasmussen ($20-$40). The organization holds stated revenue streams across donations, merchandise sales, skills exchange programs, and educational resources.

PDR's business model is donation-led with diversified support. Primary revenue flows from individual donations, U.S. Awareness and Fundraising Tours, and merchandise sales. The organization operates a US subsidiary (Painted Dog Research USA, Inc., Illinois) to handle North American fundraising. Dr. Rasmussen personally travels to approximately 70 zoos worldwide annually to deliver presentations, build partnerships, and raise funds. Key partnerships include Columbus Zoo, Disney Animal Kingdom, Los Angeles Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Living Desert Zoo, Niabi Zoo, and the Endangered Wolf Center, plus academic affiliations with University of Oxford (WILDCRU) and University of Zimbabwe. The organization has been nominated for the 2023 Indianapolis Prize and received the Whitley Award (2001) and Wildlife Society Award (2000).

Name

Painted Dog Research Trust

Legal name

Painted Dog Research Trust

Website

https://painteddogresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Painted Dog Research Trust is a Zimbabwe-based nonprofit founded in 2014 by Dr. Greg Rasmussen that conducts field-based, data-driven conservation research on endangered African painted dogs. The organization operates from Victoria Falls and serves global donors, 70+ zoo partners, and university students through research, anti-snare collar technology, and educational merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Wildlife & Animal Care Volunteering (EDAIAGAE)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation research
• Painted dog conservation
• Field-based ecology
• Anti-snare collar tracking
• Conservation education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria Falls

HQ country

Zimbabwe

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream through donations, fundraising tours, and U.S. awareness tours. Dr. Rasmussen travels internationally to deliver presentations at zoos and organizations to raise funds.
2. Merchandise and Art Sales: Sale of snare wire art crafted by local Zimbabwean artisans, books, stickers, and patches. Art pieces transform confiscated snares into works of art, with proceeds supporting conservation research.
3. Skills Exchange and Support Services: Professionals and individuals can participate in skills exchange programs, spending time in Zimbabwe sharing expertise while gaining field experience. Support services include equipment donations and professional services.
4. Educational Programs Revenue: Revenue from children's book 'A Dog Called Circus' and educational materials. Proceeds support PDR Bush Camps which educate local secondary students about conservation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Painted Dog Research Trust operates a field-based conservation ecology center near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, conducting data-driven trans-boundary research on endangered African painted dogs. The organization funds its research and community-based conservation initiatives through donations, fundraising tours, merchandise sales (snare wire art, books, stickers, patches), skills exchange programs, and educational outreach including PDR Bush Camps for local students.

Product overview

Painted Dog Research Trust is a field-based conservation ecology organization that offers a portfolio of merchandise products and educational resources to support painted dog conservation. The product portfolio includes Snare Wire Art (handcrafted sculptures made from confiscated poaching snares by indigenous Zimbabwean artisans in hippo, giraffe, rhino, and painted dog designs), children's books including 'A Dog Called Circus' by Dr. Greg Rasmussen, and branded merchandise (stickers and patches). All products are sold through the organization's e-commerce platform to raise funds for field research, anti-snare collar development, habitat restoration, education outreach, and student mentorship programs at their conservation ecology center near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Snare Wire Art - Painted Dog Handcrafted sculpture (6 in/15 cm long and 4.5 in/11 cm tall) made by indigenous Zimbabwean artisans from confiscated poaching snares, representing a painted dog. Proceeds support conservation research and provide livelihood for local communities.
• Snare Wire Art - Painted Dog Leaping Leaping painted dog sculpture (6 in/15 cm tall and 4.5 in/11 cm long) crafted by local artisans from repurposed poaching snares. Proceeds support conservation efforts.
• Snare Wire Art - Painted Dogs Playing Sculpture of two painted dogs standing at play (8 in/21 cm long and 7.5 in/19 cm tall) created from confiscated wire snares by local artisans. Supports conservation research.
• Snare Wire Art - Hippo Hippo sculpture (6 in/15 cm long and 3 in/8 cm tall) handcrafted by indigenous artisans from repurposed poaching snares. Proceeds support conservation initiatives.
• Snare Wire Art - Giraffe Giraffe sculpture handcrafted by local artisans from confiscated wire snares to support painted dog conservation efforts.
• Snare Wire Art - Rhino Rhino sculpture (6 in/15 cm long and 4.5 in/11 cm tall) made by indigenous artisans from repurposed poaching snares. Supports conservation research.
• Book - A Dog Called Circus 32-page children's book written by Dr. Greg Rasmussen and illustrated by Jeff Wells about painted dog conservation. Proceeds support PDR Bush Camps which educate local secondary students about conservation.
• Signed Copy of A Dog Named Circus Signed edition of the children's book about painted dog conservation by Dr. Greg Rasmussen. Priced at $40.00 signed / $20.00 regular, with proceeds supporting PDR Bush Camps.
• Painted Dog Research Sticker Painted Dog Research branded sticker, 3 inches wide by 2.2 inches high, durable for outdoor use on phone cases and water bottles. Priced at $5.00.
• Painted Dog Research Patch Iron-on embroidered patch, 4 inches wide by 2.8 inches high, featuring the Painted Dog Research logo. Priced at $10.00.

Quantifiable outcome

• Country-wide shooting of painted dogs in Zimbabwe stopped in 2000
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Columbus ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal science partnership with Columbus Zoo (Columbus, Ohio, US) supporting painted dog conservation through funding, equipment, and expertise. Dr. Rasmussen delivers presentations at the zoo to raise awareness and support.
• Disney Animal KingdomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal science partnership with Disney Animal Kingdom (Orlando, Florida, US) supporting conservation research and awareness for painted dogs.
• Endangered Wolf CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka, Missouri, US) supporting global conservation efforts for painted dogs.
• Living Desert ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal science partnership and regular host venue for U.S. Awareness Tours and fundraising events at Living Desert Zoo (Palm Springs, California, US).
• Los Angeles ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Los Angeles Zoo (Los Angeles, California, US) supporting conservation research and education programs.
• Niabi ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Niabi Zoo (Coal Valley, Illinois, US) including hosting presentations, Wine & Paint events, and college collaborations. Niabi Zoo also serves as the US business office location.
• Oklahoma City ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Oklahoma City Zoo (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US) hosting presentations and fundraising events.
• Yorkshire Wildlife ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with Yorkshire Wildlife Park (Doncaster, England, UK) supporting painted dog conservation.
• Department of Biological Sciences, University of ZimbabwecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Rasmussen is a research associate and lecturer at University of Zimbabwe. Partnership focuses on student mentorship and training tomorrow's conservationists.
• Natural History Museum ZimbabwecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Natural History Museum Zimbabwe supporting conservation research and education initiatives.
• Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WILDCRU), University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Rasmussen is affiliated with WILDCRU at Oxford University, providing academic research support and collaboration for data-driven conservation efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Painted Dog Conservation: The sister and predecessor organization also founded by Dr. Greg Rasmussen in 2002 to integrate painted dog conservation with community benefit in Zimbabwe. Same founder, same species, overlapping geographic footprint near Hwange National Park, making it the most direct peer.
• Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), University of Oxford: Dr. Rasmussen's affiliated academic research unit at Oxford focused on field-based, data-driven wildlife conservation research. Direct comparison: both operate as research-driven wildlife conservation organizations producing peer-reviewed science on large carnivores.
• Panthera: Wild cat conservation nonprofit that, like PDR, focuses on scientifically rigorous field research and protection of large carnivores across Africa. Comparable in operating model (research + partnerships + fundraising) and in engaging big-cat/wild-dog zoo networks.
• Endangered Wildlife Trust: South Africa-based nonprofit conducting field conservation science on African carnivores including African wild dogs. Highly comparable mission, scientific orientation, and species focus, operating across southern Africa near PDR's Zimbabwe base.
• Cheetah Conservation Fund: Specialist conservation nonprofit working on a single large carnivore species through research, education, and community programs. Highly comparable operating model to PDR: science-led, species-specific, with educational outreach and zoo partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest global wildlife nonprofit with active African carnivore and KAZA corridor programs. Not a direct scientific peer at the field level, but competes for the same donor dollars and policy attention as PDR.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation nonprofit working across multiple species and habitats including large carnivores. Broader mandate and larger scale than PDR, but overlapping geographies (especially KAZA corridor countries) and donor pool make it a relevant reference.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Large, established zoological institution and conservation NGO operating field programs across Africa including work on wild dogs. Operates the Bronx Zoo and global zoo network that overlaps with PDR's 70-zoo partner base, including comparable zoo-led public engagement.

Regional players

• Conservation Lower Zambezi: Zambia-based conservation NGO operating adjacent to PDR's Zimbabwe field site along the Lower Zambezi. Comparable trans-boundary conservation work in similar landscapes and engagement with the same regional partner ecosystems.
• Zambezi Society: Zimbabwean conservation nonprofit focused on the Zambezi Basin and adjacent protected areas. Overlapping operational geography and conservation priorities (wildlife, anti-poaching, community engagement) make it a regionally comparable organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/painteddogresearchtrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/painteddogrt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/painted-dog-research-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Painted Dog Research Trust