Artist Giffy Duminy has created a marvellous mural for the Endangered Wildlife Trust that depicts a larger-than-life African wild dog—the ultimate watchdog.
Limpopo, South Africa (13 February 2025) — Recently, master of transforming bland spaces into marvellous wildlife murals, artist Giffy Duminy, worked his magic in Limpopo to give the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s carnivore holding facility a makeover. Boasting a larger than life African Wild Dog, the mural now acts as a kind of ultimate watchdog.
A big part of what the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) does is saving carnivores. While most might associate this sentiment with lion conservation, EWT’s work extends to other species, including the cheetah and of course, the African Wild Dog.
According to the EWT team, the main threats these species face are habitat destruction and a lack of spaces in which they are free from human interaction or threats.
With many habitats fenced off, these animals are unable to reach other populations, which impacts genetic diversity and ultimately weakens the species’ health.
Then, of course, there is the illegal carnivore trade that sees these animals sold to be kept privately, killed for their fur and body parts and led to a life of captivity in zoos or other tourist attractions.
Giffy’s latest mural honours the hard and brave work these conservations undertake.
As the artist said in commending the team:
“You’re doing such awesome work with conserving one of the most endangered mammals in Africa, and I feel honoured to have contributed some art to your facility.”
In reflecting on the beauty of South Africa’s diversity and nodding to the reasons why we must protect it, he adds:
“South Africa has so much diversity to explore. One could spend their entire life travelling here and constantly find new places and creatures. I am grateful to have grown up here and that I actively explore it.”
Without the work of conservationists, environmentalists and ecologists, South Africa would hardly be the land of natural treasures that it still is. So, perhaps the next time we see art encouraging us to pick up our trash, or a mural reminding us of the species we must all push to protect, we might just remember that none of these efforts or acts are silos—they all make South Africa the home we know and love.
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