The Ethiopian wolf known as Canids simensis is native to the Ethiopian Highlands. It is one of the world’s rarest canids, and Africa’s most endangered carnivore which is distinguished by its long and narrow skull, and its red and white fur. Unlike most large canids, which are widespread, generalist feeders, the Ethiopian wolf is a highly specialized feeder of Afro alpine rodents with very specific habitat requirements.
The species’ current range is limited to seven isolated mountain ranges at altitudes of 3,000–4,500 m, with limited adult population, more than half of them in the Bale Mountains. It feeds on grasses, rats, birds, hares, and hyrax. It can rarely be seen in the Semien mountain national park. However, the Red Fox is abundantly found in Bale mountains national park.
The Ethiopian wolf is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), on account of its small numbers and fragmented range. Threats include increasing pressure from expanding human populations, resulting in habitat degradation through overgrazing, and disease transference and interbreeding from free-ranging dogs. Its conservation is headed by Oxford University’s Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program, which seeks to protect wolves through vaccination and community outreach programs.
The Ethiopian Wolf or Red Fox is a member of a dog family. It is characterized by vibrant red color with under marking and thick black and busy tail. Its ear is pointed. The Red Fox reaches to a height of 60cm at the shoulder. The Ethiopian wolf is one of four Canids’ species in Africa, readily distinguished by its larger relatively longer legs, distinctive reddish coat and white markings.
Ethiopian wolf is this distinctive carnivore rarest canid in the world and the most endangered African carnivore with limited adult individuals surviving. Until recently, two national parks protected the wolves’ Afro alpine habitat, Simien Mountains and Bale Mountains, but with the extension and creation of new protected areas, the range of wolf range under some form of protection increased.
Jacqueline Conciatore, African Wildlife Foundation’s (AWF) Writer & Editorial Manager said: “To make the greatest conservation impact, AWF uses a range of strategies to protect species in priority landscapes. Though our work is organized around iconic wildlife such as elephants, rhinos, and large carnivores, we design our programs to benefit local human communities as well as all indigenous wildlife and habitats. Among the key species we focus on is one of the world’s rarest canids, the Ethiopian wolf, Africa’s most endangered carnivore.”
With a somewhat regal bearing, the Ethiopian wolf is the size of a coyote and looks like a red fox, sporting a yellow orange or reddish coat, white throat patch, and bushy tail. It has a narrow nose, long legs, and pointed ears, described Jacqueline.
As to the writer, the wolves are social animals, living in packs that typically include extended family members of male and female. All pack members help with raising and protecting pups. Wolf mothers give birth in dens dug under boulders, inside crevices or in other protected spots. These dens can have multiple entrances and a network of tunnels, and the adults regularly shift pups from one den to another.
For food, the Ethiopian wolf highly depends on high-altitude rodents, especially the big-headed mole-rat, which tunnels to foraging spots but feeds above ground. The Ethiopian wolf is a loner when hunting, but even here it may rely on others for help.
As to Jacqueline the wolves do not prey upon the geladas’ young. Researchers have found the wolves capture rodents at twice the rate when hunting in a gelada group. It is not clear why they have greater success; perhaps the geladas flush rodents out of their burrows by disturbing vegetation. Or, it could be the wolves blend in with the scattered geladas, and the rodents simply do not notice them.
AWF reported that Ethiopian wolves are highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks, and in the past few years, they have experienced devastating rabies and distemper outbreaks. Thus, the foundation has launched Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program, which administers rabies and distemper vaccines to the wolves, but also to area domestic dogs, who can carry rabies and pose a significant disease threat if not vaccinated. To date, the program has vaccinated tens of thousands of dogs.
In partnership with the Ethiopian Wild Life Conservation Authority, the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program also recruits local community members to act as Wolf Monitors and Wolf Ambassadors who track wolf populations and share conservation messages in communities. The monitors are very dedicated and work through all kinds of conditions to follow the wolf packs and keep up with their status and life events. This work is critical to ensuring a rapid response in the case of disease outbreaks.
AWF has worked with the Adisge community near Simien Mountains National Park by incorporating the Classroom Africa program. In exchange for a conservation commitment from Classroom Africa program, African Wildlife Foundation rebuilt the community’s badly underresourced school.
Classroom Africa fosters a conservation ethic among young people through ecoclubs and field trips to national parks and other protected areas. The goal is to develop a new generation of local conservation leaders who will be passionate about protecting wildlife. The foundation also has invested in high-end eco-lodges in the Simien and Bale Mountains’ parks that help create jobs from nature-based tourism.
Animals also need to be given special attention in order to save them from Covid-19. There had been animal species that were on the verge of extinction, but were saved by the effort of famous primatologist and anthropologist. For instance, it was evident that the mountain Gorilla and the close relatives the chimpanzees were brought back from the brink of extinction. However, many in the circle of conservation fear decades of gain might be at risk due to the pressure and disruption posed by the current pandemic.
The situation of conservation in Ethiopia cannot be possibly so different. It is empirically observable that the country has lost most of its wildlife, natural habitats and biodiversity over the past century due to illegal hunting, trafficking, animal organs trade, human settlement, agriculture expansion and human/wildlife conflict.
The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWLCA) manages parks, improve park infrastructure, management and strategically promote tourism.
Yigazu, Directorate Director of EWLA for his part said that protection against wild animals during this time of pandemics is the primal focus of the authority. Various sanitation programs are underway. The tourists and the guides are not allowed to be in contact with the wild animals. Either feeding or touching them is prohibited, as to him.
He added that trainings have been provided to the tour guides at Bahirdar and Arbaminch regarding the symptoms and transmission modes of Covid-19. A social media campaigns were also made via telegram group to the workers. It is providing the workers and tourists with protective instruments. The necessary equipment were disseminated to Awash, Abijata, Halaydage, Asebot and Nechssar parks as well as Babile and Sankille sanctuaries.
The Director stressed that the authority’s relentless effort is to prioritize the safety of the endangered endemic lives. Avoiding touching wild animals especially monkeys and apes is the best mechanism to minimize the transmission of the virus.
The Ethiopian herald June 2,2020
BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
