Ethiopian Wolves

A carnivorous mammal of the Canidae family, the Ethiopian wolf is also known by many other names. Also called the Abyssinian fox, Abyssinian wolf, red jackal, red fox, Simien jackal or Simien fox, the Ethiopian wolf is thought to be related to wolves more than the foxes that it actually resembles more.

The Ethiopian wolf resides in the Afro-alpine regions of Ethiopia. Found at altitudes of about 3,000 meters or 10,000 feet, the Ethiopian wolf sits at the top of the food chain in its native ecosystem. The Ethiopian wolf is an endangered animal, and only about seven clusters of its population remain in the world. Its numbers include about 550 adults, with most of them found in theBale Mountains of the southern area of Ethiopia. A small population of Ethiopian wolves are found in the Simiem Mountains, located on the northern part of the country, as well as other nearby areas.

There are efforts made to save the Ethiopian wolf’s remaining numbers. Zoologist Claudio Sillero-Zubiri at the University of Oxford is one such person who is exerting efforts to preserve the wolf, and has worked on an oral rabies vaccine to protect them from diseases that they may get from other dogs found in the area.