Photo credit: National Geographic
The Ethiopian Wolf, Canis simensis, is listed as ‘ENDANGERED’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The wolves are found only in the Highlands of Ethiopia at altitudes above 3,500 m. They live in family packs and prey primarily upon small mammals, many of which are also endemic to the Afroalpine ecosystem.
Less than 500 wolves remain in seven distinct populations, with the majority living in the Bale Mountains National Park. Encroached upon by high altitude agriculture, their Afroalpine habitats continue to shrink, and climate change may push this agriculture frontier even higher. Pastoralists taking their livestock and their dogs into the wolves’ range are responsible for recurrent disease outbreaks of rabies and distemper in the wolf population, which may result in eventual local extinctions.
Conservation measures focus on a mass campaign of dog vaccinations in and around wolves’ range to prevent disease transmission. Intensive wolf monitoring, ongoing research, environmental education and protected area support complete a multi-pronged strategy to secure the long-term survival of this species.
The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme is dedicated to saving this species. Read about their invaluable work here!
Geographic Range of the Ethiopian Wolf
Credit: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
To learn more about the Ethiopian Wolves, click here. Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ by clicking their logo below.
To learn more about the Bush Warriors “Species of the Day” feature, please click here and read up on our initiative to raise awareness about the loss of earth’s biodiversity.
