Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme

THE ETHIOPIAN WOLF, THE ETHIOPIAN WOLF,

AFRICA’S MOST ENDANGERED CARNIVORE AFRICA’S MOST ENDANGERED CARNIVORE

EWCP and the Wolves

Zegeye KibretFebruary 18, 2011

ICS, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Afroalpine highlands of Ethiopia constitute 80% of Africa’s

high ground over 3000m asl

These mountains are magnificent and harbor unique species found

nowhere else in the world

The Ethiopian Wolf• Endemic to Ethiopia.

• Lives in mountain grasslands and scrub above 3000 metres.

• World’s most endangered canid, Africa’s most endangered carnivore.

• No wolves in captivity.

• Unlike most canids, the Ethiopian Wolf is a specialist when it comes to diet.

• Forages alone, defends territory as a pack

2There are less than 450 Ethiopian wolves There are less than 450 Ethiopian wolves

left in the entire world today.left in the entire world today.

Occur in just Occur in just seven isolated seven isolated mountain mountain pockets above pockets above 3000m.3000m.

The largest The largest population of population of wolves is found wolves is found in the Bale in the Bale Mountains Mountains (approx 250).(approx 250). Extinct

Extinct

Approx. 250 individuals

7025

15

15

60

5

•Live in a group called a Pack

•Are territorial

•The pack is led by alpha male and female

pair

They prey primarily on rodents, such as field mice and They prey primarily on rodents, such as field mice and mole rats.mole rats.

In the Bale Mountains, the endemic Giant mole rat is their In the Bale Mountains, the endemic Giant mole rat is their favourite preyfavourite prey

Adult wolves bring food to the pups

• Once a year the alpha female from a pack

gives birth to 2 to 7 pups.

• They emerge from the den after 3 weeks

• The rest of the pack helps to feed the

pups until they can hunt for themselves.

• At 6 months the pups are independent

and must find their own food.

Threats• An ever-increasing human population, moving further (higher) into the Afroalpine

• The resultant expansion of crops and livestock farming which means less habitat and food available for wolves

• A possible increase in direct human-wildlife conflict

• Livestock grazing?

THREATS TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE WOLVES

Domestic Dogs

•Disease transmission

•Direct conflict

•Hybridization

• Disease is the most immediate threat to the Ethiopian wolves.

• In 2003 in the Bale Mountains National Park, 70% of Web Valley’s wolves died of rabies.

• In 2008 and 2009, a total of 120 wolves in Morebawa and the

Web Valley were lost to rabies, transmitted from domestic dogs.

THREATS TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE WOLVES

The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme

•The programme was started in 1995.

•It is the longest running conservation programme in Ethiopia and the

only programme concerned with saving the Ethiopian wolves.

•A non-profit organisation that relies entirely on donations to cover

running costs.

•Operate out of the Bale Mountains National Park, with programmes

also running in Arsi, and in the 5 northern wolf populations of

Ethiopia

•Currently employ more than 30

local wolf monitors, education officers,

veterinary officers and support staff.

WHAT DOES EWCP DO TO HELP SAVE THIS HIGHLY ENDANGERED AND UNIQUE

ANIMAL?

Our goal and tools

To conserve the Ethiopian wolf and its Afroalpine

habitatDisease ControlTo minimise the risk of rabies or distemper affecting any Ethiopian wolf population

Capacity BuildingTo increase Ethiopia’s ability to manage its natural resources sustainably

Outreach and EducationTo increase the public’s awareness and willingness to conserve Ethiopian wolves and their habitat

Research•Ecology•Conservation Science•Provides support for decision making

Monitoring:•How many wolves, where and population trends•Support for decision making

Monitoring• 10 wolf monitors, spend a total of 17 days in the field each

month.

• Generate long term data sets (life histories, breeding success etc) on which conservation decisions can be based.

• Early warning for disease outbreaks.

• Monitor effectiveness of disease intervention.

Domestic dog vaccinations:

EWCP has a vet team who work hard to

vaccinate domestic dogs in and around the

Bale Mountains National Park against rabies.

By doing this, we hope to decrease the threat

of rabies to Ethiopian wolves, as this deadly

disease is easily spread from the dogs to the

wolves. Since 1996, over 62 000 dogs have

been vaccinated by the EWCP teams.

•100 wolves vaccinated in 2008 and 2009 in response to rabies outbreaks

•Contained rabies to immediate outbreak area

•Ensured that at least a breeding pair survived in each pack

Rapid response to rabies outbreaks

EWCP Education and Outreach

Education and Outreach programme:

•School programmes and door-to-door visits within villages.

•Training of new teachers in conservation management at the teacher training colleges.

•Reaches more than 15 000 students, teachers, administrators and community members a year

•Establishment of Nature Clubs within schools and villages.

•Establishment of wildlife libraries within schools

•Annual Wolf Day, raising awareness in Arsi and Bale.

•Annual Rabies Day

Healthy wolves mean healthy mountains!

By protecting the wolves we also protect other biological resources:

• Water• Soils• Vegetation• The wolves’ rodent prey• And all the other animals and people

that depend on the healthy afroalpine environment and their ecosystem processes.

Thank you for your time.Thank you for your time.

Please, we need your support to save these very special Please, we need your support to save these very special animals! animals!

www.ethiopianwolf.org ewcp@zoo.ox.ac.ukwww.ethiopianwolf.org ewcp@zoo.ox.ac.uk