The
Ethiopian Wolf
Description
Current Status: The
Ethiopian wolf is one of the rarest and most endangered canid in the world
and is currently protected by Ethiopian law. Total population under 1,000
individuals. The Bale Mountains National Park supports the only known
population of any size estimated at 500 to 600 individuals.
Name: Ethiopian
wolf, Simien jackal, Simien fox, or Abyssinian wolf
(Canis Simensis)
Physical Profile: The
Ethiopian Wolf resembles coyotes in both size and structure. The Ethiopian
Wolf stands 2 feet high from the shoulder down. Head and body length is
around 4 feet, and its tail length is approximately 12 inches. Males are
usually larger than females. Males weigh 30-40 pounds, while females weigh
20-30 pounds. The Ethiopian Wolf has long legs and a long muzzle. Their
ears stand straight up and piont forward. They have a bright reddish coat
with white on the throat, neck, and underparts. The underside of the tail
also is white on the inner half and black towards the outside half. They
have short white hairs on the inside of their legs with an thick insulation
providing underfur that helps protect against freezing tempatures. Coat
and other markings change with age. Females are usually not as brightly
colored as the males.
Geographical Range: They
seem to be limited to the Mountains of Ethiopia. Bale and Arssi Mountains
of southeast Ethiopia, The Simien Mountains, Northeast Shoa, Gojjam and
Mt. Guna.
Habitat: Open
Moorlands, also seen on heather moorlands.
Diet: Their
prey ranges in size from rabbits to grass rats. They hunt small prey
and scavenge.
Lifestyle: They
hunt alone by day, they gather in groups of 2 to 15 in the mournings, afternoons
and evenings. The average size of a Ethiopian Wolf pack is about
7 wolves. The adults and young adults sleep together in a group,
while the pups sleep in dens. All members of the pack regurgitate food
for the young. Mostly all the members help with the raising of the
pups. Play-fighting among pups in the first few weeks begins to
establish rank between siblings.
There is
no record of this animal being successfully bred in captivity.
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