Misplaced Pages

#650349

119-455: Mammals in the park include lions and other large animals that can only be seen during the dry season. African wild dogs are present. The park was initially created for the protection of the giant eland but, as with the African elephant , this species disappeared from the park by the end of the 1980s. The park has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International . Some of

238-478: A mitochondrial DNA analysis showed a closer relationship to the gray wolf and the coyote than to other African canids, and C. simensis may be an evolutionary relic of a gray wolf-like ancestor's past invasion of northern Africa from Eurasia. Due to the high density of rodents in their new Afroalpine habitat, the ancestors of the Ethiopian wolf gradually developed into specialised rodent hunters. This specialisation

357-435: A charcoal-grey coat with a buff patch on the chest and abdomen. Litters consist of two to six pups, which emerge from their den after three weeks, when the dark coat is gradually replaced with the adult colouration. By the age of five weeks, the pups feed on a combination of milk and solid food, and become completely weaned off milk at the age of 10 weeks to six months. All members of the pack contribute to protecting and feeding

476-540: A close and extinct relative – once had a much larger range within Africa to admix with other canids. There is evidence of gene flow between the eastern population and the Ethiopian wolf, which has led to the eastern population being distinct from the northwestern population. The common ancestor of both African golden wolf populations was a genetically admixed canid of 72% grey wolf and 28% Ethiopian wolf ancestry. As of 2005 , two subspecies are recognised by Mammal Species of

595-471: A convergence zone of two biodiversity hotspots . This area largely consists of community lands inhabited by pastoralists. With the help of local people, a pilot study was launched confirming the presence of a population of wild dogs largely unknown to conservationists. Over the next 16 years, local ecological knowledge revealed this area to be a significant refuge for African wild dogs and an important wildlife corridor connecting Kenya's Tsavo National Parks with

714-643: A dead individual was found in June 1995 at 4,050 m (13,290 ft) on the Sanetti Plateau . A stable population comprising more than 370 individuals is present in Kruger National Park . The African wild dog have strong social bonds, stronger than those of sympatric lions and spotted hyenas; thus, solitary living and hunting are extremely rare in the species. It lives in permanent packs consisting of two to 27 adults and yearling pups. The typical pack size in

833-412: A departure, but departure becomes more likely when more individual dogs ‘sneeze’. These sneezes are characterized by a short, sharp exhale through the nostrils. When members of dominant mating pairs sneeze first, the group is much more likely to depart. If a dominant dog initiates, around three sneezes guarantee departure. When less dominant dogs sneeze first, if enough others also sneeze (about 10), then

952-435: A few females, which with the exception of the breeding female, are reproductively suppressed. Each pack has a well-established hierarchy, with dominance and subordination displays being common. Upon dying, a breeding female can be replaced by a resident daughter, though this increases the risk of inbreeding. Such a risk is sometimes circumvented by multiple paternity and extra-pack matings. The dispersal of wolves from their packs

1071-486: A higher proportion of males, second litters are half and half and subsequent litters biased towards females with this trend increasing as females get older. As a result, the earlier litters provide stable hunters whilst the higher ratio of dispersals amongst the females stops a pack from getting too big. Populations in the Okavango Delta have been observed ‘rallying’ before setting out to hunt. Not every rally results in

1190-613: A hunt, believing that doing so will give them the animal's boldness and agility. Nevertheless, the species does not figure prominently in San rock art , with the only notable example being a frieze in Mount Erongo showing a pack hunting two antelopes. The Ndebele have a story explaining why the African wild dog hunts in packs: in the beginning, when the first wild dog's wife was sick, the other animals were concerned. An impala went to hare , who

1309-516: A kill, solitary hyenas approach cautiously and attempt to take off with a piece of meat unnoticed, though they may be mobbed in the attempt. When operating in groups, spotted hyenas are more successful in pirating African wild dog kills, though the latter's greater tendency to assist each other puts them at an advantage against spotted hyenas, which rarely work cooperatively. Cases of African wild dogs scavenging from spotted hyenas are rare. Although African wild dog packs can easily repel solitary hyenas, on

SECTION 10

#1732876022651

1428-440: A kill, sometimes up to 90%. An analysis of 1,119 chases by a pack of six Okavango wild dogs showed that most were short distance uncoordinated chases, and the individual kill rate was only 15.5 percent. Because kills are shared, each dog enjoyed an efficient benefit–cost ratio . Small prey such as rodents , hares and birds are hunted singly, with dangerous prey such as cane rats and Old World porcupines being killed with

1547-421: A pursuit clocking at up to 66 km/h (41 mph) for 10–60 minutes. The average chase covers some 2 km (1.2 mi), during which the prey animal, if large, is repeatedly bitten on the legs, belly, and rump until it stops running, while smaller prey is simply pulled down and torn apart. African wild dogs adjust their hunting strategy to the particular prey species. They will rush at wildebeest to panic

1666-773: A quick and well-placed bite to avoid injury. Small prey is eaten entirely, while large animals are stripped of their meat and organs, leaving the skin, head, and skeleton intact. The African wild dog is a fast eater, with a pack being able to consume a Thomson's gazelle in 15 minutes. In the wild, the species' consumption is 1.2–5.9 kg (2.6–13.0 lb) per African wild dog a day, with one pack of 17–43 individuals in East Africa having been recorded to kill three animals per day on average. Unlike most social predators, African wild dogs will regurgitate food for other adults as well as young family members. Pups old enough to eat solid food are given first priority at kills, eating even before

1785-535: A skull for the British Museum . European writers traveling in Ethiopia during the mid-19th century (then called Abyssinia by Europeans and Ze Etiyopia by its citizens), wrote that the animal's skin was never worn by natives, as it was popularly believed that the wearer would die should any wolf hairs enter an open wound, while Charles Darwin hypothesised that the species gave rise to greyhounds . Since then, it

1904-452: A specimen from the coast of Mozambique . He named the animal Hyaena picta , erroneously classifying it as a species of hyena. It was later recognised as a canid by Joshua Brookes in 1827 and renamed Lycaon tricolor . The root word of Lycaon is the Greek λυκαίος ( lykaios ), meaning ‘wolf-like’. The specific epithet pictus ( Latin for ‘painted’), which derived from the original picta ,

2023-410: A tactic thought to aid in ambushing rodents out of their holes by using the cattle to hide their presence. Ethiopian wolves have also been observed forming temporary associations with troops of grazing geladas . Solitary wolves hunt for rodents in the midst of the monkeys, ignoring juvenile monkeys, though these are similar in size to some of their prey. The monkeys, in turn, tolerate and largely ignore

2142-755: A three-front strategy of education, wolf population monitoring, and rabies control in domestic dogs . The establishment of the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme in Bale soon followed in 1995 by Oxford University , in conjunction with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA). Soon after, a further wolf population was discovered in the Central Highlands . Elsewhere, information on Ethiopian wolves remained scarce; although first described in 1835 as living in

2261-411: Is ochre to rusty red, with dense whitish to pale ginger underfur. The fur of the throat, chest and underparts is white, with a distinct white band occurring around the sides of the neck. There is a sharp boundary between the red coat and white marks. The ears are thickly furred on the edges, though naked on the inside. The naked borders of the lips, the gums and palate are black. The lips, a small spot on

2380-503: Is consistent with fossil evidence suggesting that much of African canid fauna diversity resulted from the immigration of Eurasian ancestors, likely coincident with Plio-Pleistocene climatic oscillations between arid and humid conditions. According to a phylogeny derived from nuclear sequences, the Eurasian golden jackal ( Canis aureus ) diverged from the wolf/coyote lineage 1.9 million years ago, and with mitochondrial genome sequences indicating

2499-521: Is headed by Oxford University 's Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme , which seeks to protect the wolves through vaccination and community outreach programs. Alternative English names for the Ethiopian wolf include the red jackal , the Simenian fox , the Simien jackal , Ethiopian jackal , and Abyssinian wolf . The species was first scientifically described in 1835 by Eduard Rüppell , who provided

SECTION 20

#1732876022651

2618-415: Is ideal for agricultural activities. Its proximate threats include habitat loss and fragmentation ( subsistence agriculture , overgrazing , road construction, and livestock farming), diseases (primarily rabies and canine distemper), conflict with humans (poisoning, persecution, and road kills), and hybridisation with dogs. Rabies outbreaks, stemming from infected dogs, have killed many Ethiopian wolves over

2737-584: Is known to have possessed a unique genotype , but these genotypes may be extinct. The African wild dog is the bulkiest and most solidly built of African canids. The species stands 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 in) at the shoulders, measures 71 to 112 cm (28 to 44 in) in head-and-body length and has a tail length of 29 to 41 cm (11 to 16 in). Adults have a weight range of 18 to 36 kg (40 to 79 lb). On average, dogs from East Africa weigh around 20–25 kg (44–55 lb). By body mass, they are only outsized amongst other extant canids by

2856-442: Is largely restricted by the scarcity of unoccupied habitat. These packs live in communal territories, which encompass 6 km (2.3 sq mi) of land on average. In areas with little food, the species lives in pairs, sometimes accompanied by pups, and defends larger territories averaging 13.4 km (5.2 sq mi). In the absence of disease, Ethiopian wolf territories are largely stable, but packs can expand whenever

2975-488: Is likely to increase with current rates of human expansion. The dangers posed by fragmentation include increased contact with humans, dogs, and livestock, and further risk of isolation and inbreeding in wolf populations. Although no evidence of inbreeding depression or reduced fitness exists, the extremely small wolf population sizes, particularly those north of the Rift Valley, raise concerns among conservationists. Elsewhere,

3094-465: Is occasionally sighted in other parts of Senegal , Guinea and Mali . Its distribution is patchy in East Africa. It inhabits mostly savannas and arid zones, generally avoiding forested areas. This preference is likely linked to its hunting habits, which require open areas that do not obstruct vision or impede pursuit. It travels through scrubland , woodland and montane areas in pursuit of prey. A forest-dwelling population has been identified in

3213-401: Is one of five Canis species present in Africa, and is readily distinguishable from jackals by its larger size, relatively longer legs, distinct reddish coat, and white markings. John Edward Gray and Glover Morrill Allen originally classified the species under a separate genus , Simenia , and Oscar Neumann considered it to be "only an exaggerated fox". Juliet Clutton-Brock refuted

3332-753: Is one of the world's rarest canids, and Africa's most endangered carnivore . The species's current range is limited to seven isolated mountain ranges at altitudes of 3,000–4,500 m, with the overall adult population estimated at 360–440 individuals in 2011, more than half of them in the Bale Mountains . The Ethiopian wolf is listed as endangered by the 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

3451-477: Is ordinarily avoided because it leads to a reduction in progeny fitness ( inbreeding depression ) due largely to the homozygous expression of deleterious recessive alleles. Unlike most social carnivores, the Ethiopian wolf tends to forage and feed on small prey alone. It is most active during the day, the time when rodents are themselves most active, though they have been observed to hunt in groups when targeting mountain nyala calves. Major Percy-Cotton described

3570-451: Is reflected in the animal's skull morphology, with its very elongated head, long jaw, and widely spaced teeth. During this period, the species likely attained its highest abundance, and had a relatively continuous distribution . This changed about 15,000 years ago with the onset of the current interglacial , which caused the species' Afroalpine habitat to fragment, thus isolating Ethiopian wolf populations from each other. The Ethiopian wolf

3689-407: Is seen in coat colour, with northeastern African specimens tending to be predominantly black with small white and yellow patches, while southern African ones are more brightly coloured, sporting a mix of brown, black and white coats. Much of the species' coat patterning occurs on the trunk and legs. Little variation in facial markings occurs, with the muzzle being black, gradually shading into brown on

Manda National Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

3808-427: Is strictly limited to the dominant female, which may kill the pups of subordinates. After giving birth, the mother stays close to the pups in the den, while the rest of the pack hunts. She typically drives away pack members approaching the pups until the latter are old enough to eat solid food at three to four weeks of age. The pups leave the den around the age of three weeks and are suckled outside. The pups are weaned at

3927-881: Is usually displaced by free-ranging dogs and African golden wolves . It typically poses no threat to livestock , with farmers often leaving herds in wolf-inhabited areas unattended. Six current Ethiopian wolf populations are known. North of the Rift Valley , the species occurs in the Simien Mountains in Gondar , in the northern and southern Wollo highlands, and in Guassa Menz in north Shoa . It has recently become extinct in Gosh Meda in north Shoa and Mount Guna , and has not been reported in Mount Choqa for several decades. Southeast of

4046-460: Is well developed and human pressure acute. This revelation stressed the importance of the Bale Mountains wolf populations for the species' long-term survival, as well as the need to protect other surviving populations. A decade after the rabies outbreak, the Bale populations had fully recovered to pre-epizootic levels, prompting the species' downlisting to endangered in 2004, though it still remains

4165-699: The Bale Mountains National Park were negatively affected by the political unrest of the Ethiopian Civil War , though the critical state of the species was revealed during the early 1990s after a combination of shooting and a severe rabies epidemic decimated most packs studied in the Web Valley and Sanetti Plateau . In response, the IUCN reclassified the species from endangered to critically endangered in 1994. The IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group advocated

4284-475: The Harenna Forest , a wet montane forest up to an elevation of 2,400 m (7,900 ft) in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia . At least one record exists of a pack being sighted on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro . In Zimbabwe, it has been recorded at the elevation of 1,800 m (5,900 ft). In Ethiopia, several packs were sighted at elevations of 1,900 to 2,800 m (6,200 to 9,200 ft), and

4403-687: The Simien Mountains , the paucity of information stemming from that area indicated that the species was likely declining there, while reports from the Gojjam plateau were a century out of date. Wolves were recorded in the Arsi Mountains since the early 20th century, and in the Bale Mountains in the late 1950s. The status of the Ethiopian wolf was reassessed in the late 1990s, following improvements in travel conditions into northern Ethiopia. The surveys taken revealed local extinctions in Mount Choqa , Gojjam, and in every northern Afroalpine region where agriculture

4522-433: The gray wolf species complex . Females are usually 3–7% smaller than males. Compared to members of the genus Canis , the African wild dog is comparatively lean and tall, with outsized ears and lacking dewclaws . The middle two toepads are usually fused. Its dentition differs from that of Canis by the degeneration of the last lower molar , the narrowness of the canines and proportionately large premolars , which are

4641-466: The martial eagle , when they venture out of their dens. The African wild dog is primarily threatened by habitat fragmentation , which results from human–wildlife conflict , transmission of infectious diseases and high mortality rates; it has been exterminated in large parts of North and West Africa, and its population has greatly reduced in Central Africa, Uganda and much of Kenya . Surveys in

4760-524: The painted dog or Cape hunting dog , is a wild canine native to sub-Saharan Africa . It is the largest wild canine in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus Lycaon , which is distinguished from Canis by dentition highly specialised for a hypercarnivorous diet and by a lack of dewclaws . It is estimated that there are around 6,600 adults (including 1,400 mature individuals) living in 39 subpopulations, all threatened by habitat fragmentation , human persecution and outbreaks of disease. As

4879-775: The premolars , are small and widely spaced. The canine teeth measure 14–22 mm in length, while the carnassials are relatively small. The Ethiopian wolf has eight mammae, of which only six are functional. The front paws have five toes, including a dewclaw , while the hind paws have four. As is typical in the genus Canis , males are larger than females, having 20% greater body mass. Adults measure 841–1,012 mm (33.1–39.8 in) in body length, and 530–620 mm (21–24 in) in height. Adult males weigh 14.2–19.3 kg (31–43 lb), while females weigh 11.2–14.15 kg (24.7–31.2 lb). The Ethiopian wolf has short guard hairs and thick underfur, which provides protection at temperatures as low as −15 °C. Its overall colour

Manda National Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

4998-551: The red jackal , the Simien jackal or Simien fox , is a canine native to the Ethiopian Highlands . In southeastern Ethiopia, it is also known as the horse jackal . It is similar to the coyote in size and build, and 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 specialised feeder of Afroalpine rodents with very specific habitat requirements. It

5117-448: The tree line around 3,200 to 4,500 m, with some wolves inhabiting the Bale Mountains being present in montane grasslands at 3,000 m. Although specimens were collected in Gojjam and northwestern Shoa at 2,500 m in the early 20th century, no recent records exist of the species occurring below 3,000 m. In modern times, subsistence agriculture , which extends up to 3,700 m, has largely restricted

5236-558: The 1960s resulted in an increase in African wild dog sightings, only for their numbers to decline once the lions recovered. As with other large predators killed by lion prides, the dogs are usually killed and left uneaten by the lions, indicating the competitive rather than predatory nature of the lions' dominance. However, a few cases have been reported of old and wounded lions falling prey to African wild dogs. On occasion, packs of wild dogs have been observed defending pack members attacked by single lions, sometimes successfully. One pack in

5355-477: The 1990s and 2000s. Two well-documented outbreaks in Bale, one in 1991 and another in 2008–2009, resulted in the die-off or disappearance of 75% of known animals. Both incidents prompted reactive vaccinations in 2003 and 2008–2009, respectively. Canine distemper is not necessarily fatal to wolves, though a recent increase in infection has occurred, with outbreaks of canine distemper having been detected in 2005–2006 in Bale and in 2010 across subpopulations. During

5474-487: The 1990s, wolf populations in Gosh Meda and Guguftu became extinct. In both cases, the extent of Afroalpine habitat above the limit of agriculture had been reduced to less than 20 km . The EWCP team confirmed the extinction of a wolf population in Mt. Guna in 2011, whose numbers had been in single figures for several years. Habitat loss in the Ethiopian highlands is directly linked to agricultural expansion into Afroalpine areas. In

5593-410: The African wild dog differs significantly from that of other canids, consisting entirely of stiff bristle-hairs with no underfur. Adults gradually lose their fur as it ages, with older individuals being almost naked. Colour variation is extreme, and may serve in visual identification, as African wild dogs can recognise each other at distances of 50–100 m (160–330 ft). Some geographic variation

5712-750: The African wild dog's less hierarchical social structure. Furthermore, while elaborate facial expressions are important for wolves in re-establishing bonds after long periods of separation from their family groups, they are not as necessary to African wild dogs, which remain together for much longer periods. The species does have an extensive vocal repertoire consisting of twittering, whining, yelping, squealing, whispering, barking , growling , gurling, rumbling, moaning and hooing. African wild dog populations in East Africa appear to have no fixed breeding season , whereas those in Southern Africa usually breed during

5831-506: The African wild dog, as the Hunters Palette shows them wearing the animals' tails on their belts. By the dynastic period , African wild dog illustrations became much less represented, and the animal's symbolic role was largely taken over by the wolf. According to Enno Littmann , the people of Ethiopia 's Tigray Region believed that injuring a wild dog with a spear would result in the animal dipping its tail in its wounds and flicking

5950-414: The African wild dog, including African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, and painted lycaon. Though the name African wild dog is widely used, 'wild dog' is thought by conservation groups to have negative connotations that could be detrimental to its image; one organisation promotes the name 'painted wolf', whilst the name 'painted dog' has been found to be

6069-524: The April–July period. During estrus , the female is closely accompanied by a single male, which keeps other members of the same sex at bay. The estrus period can last as long as 20 days. The copulatory tie characteristic of mating in most canids has been reported to be absent or very brief (less than one minute) in African wild dog, possibly an adaptation to the prevalence of larger predators in its environment. The gestation period lasts 69–73 days, with

SECTION 50

#1732876022651

6188-837: The Arsi Mountains. The Ethiopian wolf has not been recorded to be exploited for its fur, though in one case, wolf hides were used as saddle pads . It was once hunted by sportsmen, though this is now illegal. Vehicle collisions killed at least four wolves in the Sanetti Plateau since 1988, while two others were left with permanent limps. Similar accidents are a risk in areas where roads cut across wolf habitats, such as in Menz and Arsi. Management plans for hybridization with dogs involve sterilization of known hybrids. Incidences of Ethiopian wolf-dog hybridization have been recorded in Bale's Web Valley. At least four hybrids were identified and sterilized in

6307-597: The Bale populations are fairly continuous, while those in Simien can still interbreed through habitat corridors. In the Simien Mountains National Park, human and livestock populations are increasing by 2% annually, with further road construction allowing easy access to peasants into wolf home ranges; 3,171 people in 582 households were found to be living in the park and 1,477 outside the park in October 2005. Although

6426-500: The Central African Republic's Chinko area revealed that the African wild dog population decreased from 160 individuals in 2012 to 26 individuals in 2017. At the same time, transhumant pastoralists from the border area with Sudan moved in the area with their livestock. The non-governmental organization African Wild Dog Conservancy began working in 2003 to conserve the African wild dog in northeastern and coastal Kenya,

6545-576: The Ethiopian wolf diverged from this lineage slightly prior to that. Further studies on RAD sequences found instances of Ethiopian wolves hybridizing with African golden wolves . In 2018, whole genome sequencing was used to compare members of the genus Canis . The study supports the African golden wolf being distinct from the golden jackal , and with the Ethiopian wolf being genetically basal to both. There are two genetically distinct African golden wolf populations that exist in northwestern and eastern Africa. This suggests that Ethiopian wolves – or

6664-727: The Ethiopian wolf is known from the Melka Wakena paleoanthropological site-complex in the Southeastern Ethiopian Highlands . It is the right half of a mandible and dated to between 1.6 and 1.4 million years ago. The authors of this study state that the ancestors of the Ethiopian wolf arrived in Africa from Eurasia at the same time as the ancestors of the African wild dog approximately 1.8 million years ago. The Ethiopian wolf has survived numerous climatic changes in its Ethiopian highland habitat, with its range repeatedly expanding and contracting with glacial cycles. In 1994,

6783-561: The Horn of Africa in an increasingly human-dominated landscape. This project has been identified as a wild dog conservation priority by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. Depictions of African wild dogs are prominent on cosmetic palettes and other objects from Egypt 's predynastic period , likely symbolising order over chaos and the transition between the wild and the domestic dog. Predynastic hunters may have identified with

6902-566: The Kruger National Park and the Maasai Mara is four or five adults, while packs in Moremi and Selous Game Reserves contain eight or nine. However, larger packs have been observed and temporary aggregations of hundreds of individuals may have gathered in response to the seasonal migration of vast springbok herds in Southern Africa. Males and females have separate dominance hierarchies, with

7021-796: The Okavango in March 2016 was photographed by safari guides waging "an incredible fight" against a lioness that attacked a subadult dog at an impala kill, which forced the lioness to retreat, although the subadult dog died. A pack of four wild dogs was observed furiously defending an old adult male dog from a male lion that attacked it at a kill; the dog survived and rejoined the pack. African wild dogs commonly lose their kills to larger predators. Spotted hyenas are important kleptoparasites and follow packs of African wild dogs to appropriate their kills. They typically inspect areas where wild dogs have rested and eat any food remains they find. When approaching wild dogs at

7140-486: The Rift Valley, it occurs in the Arsi and Bale Mountains . The Ethiopian wolf has been considered rare since it was first recorded scientifically. The species likely has always been confined to Afroalpine habitats, so it was never widespread. In historical times, all of the Ethiopian wolf's threats are both directly and indirectly human-induced, as the wolf's highland habitat, with its high annual rainfall and rich fertile soils,

7259-480: The World Volume Three (MSW3). The Ethiopian wolf is similar in size and build to North America's coyote; it is larger than the black-backed jackal and side-striped jackals as well as the African wolf and has comparatively longer legs. Its skull is very flat, with a long facial region accounting for 58% of the skull's total length. The ears are broad, pointed, and directed forward. The teeth, particularly

SECTION 60

#1732876022651

7378-514: The age of five weeks, when they are fed regurgitated meat by the other pack members. By seven weeks, the pups begin to take on an adult appearance, with noticeable lengthening in the legs, muzzle, and ears. Once the pups reach the age of eight to 10 weeks, the pack abandons the den and the young follow the adults during hunts. The youngest pack members are permitted to eat first on kills, a privilege which ends once they become yearlings. African wild dogs have an average lifespan of about 10 to 11 years in

7497-503: The area can adversely affect the vegetation available for the wolves' prey. Although no declines in wolf populations related to overgrazing have occurred, high grazing intensities are known to lead to soil erosion and vegetation deterioration in Afroalpine areas such as Delanta and Simien. Direct killings of wolves were more frequent during the Ethiopian Civil War , when firearms were more available. The extinction of wolves in Mt. Choqa

7616-423: The area of the park has since been expanded, further settlement stopped, and grazing restricted, effective enforcement may take years. As of 2011 , about 30,000 people live in 30 villages around and two within the park, including 4,650 cereal farmers, herders, woodcutters, and many others. In Bale there are numerous villages in and around the area, comprising over 8,500 households with more than 12,500 dogs. In 2007,

7735-575: The area. Although hybridization has not been detected elsewhere, scientists are concerned that it could pose a threat to the wolf population's genetic integrity, resulting in outbreeding depression or a reduction in fitness, though this does not appear to have taken place. Due to the female's strong preference to avoid inbreeding, hybridization could be the result of not finding any males who are not close relatives outside of dogs. Encounters with African golden wolves ( Canis lupaster ) are usually agonistic, with Ethiopian wolves dominating African wolves if

7854-519: The big-headed African mole-rat is absent, the smaller Northeast African mole-rat is targeted. In the Simien Mountains, the Ethiopian wolf preys on Abyssinian grass rats . Undigested sedge leaves have occasionally been found in Ethiopian wolf stomachs. The sedge possibly is ingested for roughage or for parasite control. It has also been observed to consume nectar from the flowers of Kniphofia foliosa . The species may scavenge on carcasses, but

7973-509: The birds found in the park are yellow penduline tit , Senegal eremomela , blackcap babbler , white-collared starling , bush petronia , rufous cisticola , Gambaga flycatcher and red-faced pytilia , among many others. This Chad location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Africa protected areas related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . African wild dog The African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ), also known as

8092-423: The blood at its assailant, causing instant death. For this reason, Tigrean shepherds used to repel wild dog attacks with pebbles rather than with edged weapons. The African wild dog also plays a prominent role in the mythology of Southern Africa's San people . In one story, the wild dog is indirectly linked to the origin of death , as the hare is cursed by the moon to be forever hunted by African wild dogs after

8211-499: The breeding season, the female's coat turns yellow, becomes woolier, and the tail turns brownish, losing much of its hair. Animals resulting from Ethiopian wolf-dog hybridisation tend to be more heavily built than pure wolves, and have shorter muzzles and different coat patterns. The Ethiopian wolf is a social animal, living in family groups containing up to 20 adults (individuals older than one year), though packs of six wolves are more common. Packs are formed by dispersing males and

8330-456: The case of larger species such as kudu and wildebeest, calves are largely but not exclusively targeted. However, certain packs in the Serengeti specialized in hunting adult plains zebras weighing up to 240 kg (530 lb) quite frequently. Another study claimed that some prey taken by wild dogs could weigh up to 289 kg (637 lb). This includes African buffalo juveniles during

8449-478: The cheeks and an ascending crescent below the eyes are white. The thickly furred tail is white underneath, and has a black tip, though, unlike most other canids, there is no dark patch marking the supracaudal gland . It moults during the wet season (August–October), and there is no evident seasonal variation in coat colour, though the contrast between the red coat and white markings increases with age and social rank. Females tend to have paler coats than males. During

8568-413: The cheeks and forehead. A black line extends up the forehead, turning blackish-brown on the back of the ears. A few specimens sport a brown teardrop-shaped mark below the eyes. The back of the head and neck are either brown or yellow. A white patch occasionally occurs behind the fore legs, with some specimens having completely white fore legs, chests and throats. The tail is usually white at the tip, black in

8687-574: The dhole having existed in the Middle East or North Africa. As of 2005 , five subspecies are recognised by MSW3 : Although the species is genetically diverse, these subspecific designations are not universally accepted. East African and Southern African wild dog populations were once thought to be genetically distinct, based on a small number of samples. More recent studies with a larger number of samples showed that extensive intermixing has occurred between East African and Southern African populations in

8806-469: The dominant pair; subordinate adult dogs help feed and protect the pups. Lions dominate African wild dogs and are a major source of mortality for both adults and pups. Population densities are usually low in areas where lions are more abundant. One pack reintroduced into Etosha National Park was wiped out by lions. A population crash in lions in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area during

8925-683: The dry season when herds are small and calves less protected. Footage from Lower Zambezi National Park taken in 2021 showed a large pack of wild dogs hunting an adult, healthy buffalo, though this is apparently extremely rare. One pack was recorded to occasionally prey on bat-eared foxes , rolling on the carcasses before eating them. African wild dogs rarely scavenge, but have on occasion been observed to appropriate carcasses from spotted hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, lions, and animals caught in snares . Hunting success varies with prey type, vegetation cover and pack size, but African wild dogs tend to be very successful: often more than 60% of their chases end in

9044-399: The estimate of households within wolf habitat numbered 1,756. Because of the high number of dogs, the risk of infection in local wolf populations is high. Furthermore, intentional and unintentional brush fires are frequent in the ericaceous moorlands wolves inhabit. Although wolves in Bale have learned to use cattle to conceal their presence when hunting for rodents, the level of grazing in

9163-482: The extinct Canis subgenus Xenocyon as ancestral to both the genus Lycaon and the genus Cuon , which lived throughout Eurasia and Africa from the Early Pleistocene to the early Middle Pleistocene . Others propose that Xenocyon should be reclassified as Lycaon . The species Canis ( Xenocyon ) falconeri shared the African wild dog's absent first metacarpal ( dewclaw ), though its dentition

9282-401: The ground is honeycombed with holes, and every rat is yards away before he has thrown up a pawful. The technique described above is commonly used in hunting big-headed African mole-rats , with the level of effort varying from scratching lightly at the hole to totally destroying a set of burrows, leaving metre-high earth mounds. Wolves in Bale have been observed to forage among cattle herds,

9401-457: The group will go hunting. Researchers assert that wild dogs in Botswana "use a specific vocalization (the sneeze) along with a variable quorum response mechanism in the decision-making process [to go hunting at a particular moment]". Because the African wild dog largely exists in fragmented, small populations, its existence is endangered. Inbreeding avoidance by mate selection is a characteristic of

9520-527: The hare rebuffs the moon's promise to allow all living things to be reborn after death. Another story has the god Cagn taking revenge on the other gods by sending a group of men transformed into African wild dogs to attack them, though who won the battle is never revealed. The San of Botswana see the African wild dog as the ultimate hunter and traditionally believe that shamans and medicine men can transform themselves into wild dogs. Some San hunters will smear African wild dog bodily fluids on their feet before

9639-402: The herd and isolate a vulnerable individual, but pursue territorial antelope species (which defend themselves by running in wide circles) by cutting across the arc to foil their escape. Medium-sized prey is often killed in 2–5 minutes, whereas larger prey such as wildebeest may take half an hour to pull down. Male wild dogs usually perform the task of grabbing dangerous prey, such as warthogs , by

9758-406: The hunting behaviour of Ethiopian wolves as thus: ... they are most amusing to watch, when hunting. The rats, which are brown, with short tails, live in big colonies and dart from burrow to burrow, while the cuberow stands motionless till one of them shows, when he makes a pounce for it. If he is unsuccessful, he seems to lose his temper, and starts digging violently; but this is only lost labour, as

9877-399: The impact of reduced numbers of suitable unrelated mates will likely have a severe demographic impact on the future viability of small wild dog populations. The African wild dog is a specialised pack hunter of common medium-sized antelopes . It and the cheetah are the only primarily diurnal African large predators. The African wild dog hunts by approaching prey silently, then chasing it in

9996-418: The interval between each pregnancy being 12–14 months typically. The African wild dog produces more pups than any other canid, with litters containing around six to 16 pups, with an average of 10, thus indicating that a single female can produce enough young to form a new pack every year. Because the amount of food necessary to feed more than two litters would be impossible to acquire by the average pack, breeding

10115-565: The largest relative to body size of any carnivore other than hyenas. The heel of the lower carnassial M1 is crested with a single, blade-like cusp, which enhances the shearing capacity of the teeth, thus the speed at which prey can be consumed. This feature, termed "trenchant heel", is shared with two other canids: the Asian dhole and the South American bush dog . The skull is relatively shorter and broader than those of other canids. The fur of

10234-419: The largest relative to body size of any living carnivoran with the exception of the spotted hyena . On the lower carnassials (first lower molars ), the talonid has evolved to become a cutting blade for flesh-slicing, with a reduction or loss of the post-carnassial molars. This adaptation also occurs in the two other hypercarnivorous canids – the dhole and the bush dog . The African wild dog exhibits one of

10353-484: The largest subpopulation probably consists of fewer than 250 individuals, the African wild dog has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1990. The species is a specialised diurnal hunter of terrestrial ungulates , which it captures by using its stamina and cooperative hunting to exhaust them. Its natural competitors are lions and spotted hyenas : the former will kill the dogs where possible whilst

10472-451: The latter are frequent kleptoparasites . Like other canids, the African wild dog regurgitates food for its young but also extends this action to adults as a central part of the pack's social unit. The young have the privilege of feeding first on carcasses. The African wild dog has been revered in several hunter-gatherer societies, particularly those of the San people and Prehistoric Egypt . The English language has several names for

10591-539: The latter enter their territories, and vice versa. Although African golden wolves are inefficient rodent hunters and thus not in direct competition with Ethiopian wolves, it is likely that heavy human persecution prevents the former from attaining numbers large enough to completely displace the latter. The Ethiopian wolf is not listed on the CITES appendices, though it is afforded full official protection under Ethiopia's Wildlife Conservation Regulations of 1974, Schedule VI, with

10710-585: The latter usually being led by the oldest female. Males may be led by the oldest male, but these can be supplanted by younger specimens; thus, some packs may contain elderly male former pack leaders. The dominant pair typically monopolises breeding. The species differs from most other social carnivorans in that males remain in the natal pack, while females disperse (a pattern also found in primates such as gorillas , chimpanzees , and red colobuses ). Furthermore, males in any given pack tend to outnumber females 3:1. Dispersing females join other packs and evict some of

10829-681: The middle and brown at the base. Some specimens lack the white tip entirely, or may have black fur below the white tip. These coat patterns can be asymmetrical, with the left side of the body often having different markings from the right. The African wild dog occurs foremost in Southern and East Africa. It is rare in North Africa and mostly absent in West Africa, with the only potentially viable population occurring in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park . It

10948-435: The most likely to counteract negative perceptions. Domestic dog [REDACTED] Gray wolf [REDACTED] Coyote [REDACTED] African wolf [REDACTED] Golden jackal [REDACTED] Ethiopian wolf [REDACTED] Dhole [REDACTED] African wild dog [REDACTED] Side-striped jackal [REDACTED] Black-backed jackal [REDACTED] The earliest written reference for

11067-415: The most varied coat colours among mammals. Individuals differ in patterns and colours, indicating a diversity of the underlying genes . The purpose of these coat patterns may be an adaptation for communication, concealment or temperature regulation. In 2019 a study indicated that the lycaon lineage diverged from Cuon and Canis 1.7 million years ago through this suite of adaptations, and these occurred at

11186-876: The northern highlands, human density is among the highest in Africa, with 300 people per km in some localities, with almost all areas below 3,700 m having been converted into barley fields. Suitable areas of land below this limit are under some level of protection, such as Guassa-Menz and the Denkoro Reserve, or within the southern highlands, such as the Arsi and Bale Mountains. The most vulnerable wolf populations to habitat loss are those within relatively low-lying Afroalpine ranges, such as those in Aboi Gara and Delanta in North Wollo. Some Ethiopian wolf populations, particularly those in North Wollo, show signs of high fragmentation , which

11305-798: The nose. A species-wide study showed that by preference, where available, five prey species were the most regularly selected, namely the greater kudu , Thomson's gazelle , impala , Cape bushbuck and blue wildebeest . More specifically, in East Africa, its most common prey is the Thomson's gazelle, while in Central and Southern Africa, it targets impala , reedbuck , kob , lechwe and springbok , and smaller prey such as common duiker , dik-dik , hares , spring hares , insects and cane rats. Staple prey sizes are usually between 15 and 200 kg (33 and 441 lb), though some local studies put upper prey sizes as variously 90 to 135 kg (198 to 298 lb). In

11424-630: The opportunity arises, such as when another pack disappears. The size of each territory correlates with the abundance of rodents, the number of wolves in a pack, and the survival of pups. Ethiopian wolves rest together in the open at night, and congregate for greetings and border patrols at dawn, noon, and evening. They may shelter from rain under overhanging rocks and behind boulders. The species never sleeps in dens, and only uses them for nursing pups. When patrolling their territories, Ethiopian wolves regularly scent-mark, and interact aggressively and vocally with other packs. Such confrontations typically end with

11543-490: The past. Some unique nuclear and mitochondrial alleles are found in Southern African and northeastern African populations, with a transition zone encompassing Botswana , Zimbabwe and southeastern Tanzania between the two. The West African wild dog population may possess a unique haplotype , thus possibly constituting a truly distinct subspecies. The original Serengeti and Maasai Mara population of painted dogs

11662-533: The pups, with subordinate females sometimes assisting the dominant female by suckling them. Full growth and sexual maturity are attained at the age of two years. Cooperative breeding and pseudopregnancy have been observed in Ethiopian wolves. Most females disperse from their natal pack at about two years of age, and some become "floaters" that may successfully immigrate into existing packs. Breeding pairs are most often unrelated to each other, suggesting that female-biased dispersal reduces inbreeding . Inbreeding

11781-426: The resident females related to the other pack members, thus preventing inbreeding and allowing the evicted individuals to find new packs of their own and breed. Males rarely disperse, and when they do, they are invariably rejected by other packs already containing males. Although arguably the most social canid, the species lacks the elaborate facial expressions and body language found in the gray wolf, likely because of

11900-430: The retreat of the smaller group. The mating season usually takes place between August and November. Courtship involves the breeding male following the female closely. The breeding female only accepts the advances of the breeding male, or males from other packs. The gestation period is 60–62 days, with pups being born between October and December. Pups are born toothless and with their eyes closed, and are covered in

12019-412: The same adaptations to a hypercarnivorous diet. L. sekowei had not yet lost the first metacarpal absent in L. pictus and was more robust than the modern species, having 10% larger teeth. The African wild dog has 78 chromosomes, the same number as those of species in the genus Canis . In 2018 whole genome sequencing was used to compare the dhole ( Cuon alpinus ) with the African wild dog. There

12138-468: The same time as large ungulates (its prey) diversified. The findings also suggest that the African wild dog is largely isolated from gene transfer with other canid species. The oldest African wild dog fossil dates back to 200,000 years ago and was found in HaYonim Cave , Israel. The evolution of the African wild dog is poorly understood owing to the scarcity of fossil finds. Some authors consider

12257-450: The separate genus in favour of placing the species in the genus Canis , upon noting cranial similarities with the side-striped jackal . In 2015, a study of mitochondrial genome sequences and whole genome nuclear sequences of African and Eurasian canids indicated that extant wolf-like canids have colonised Africa from Eurasia at least five times throughout the Pliocene and Pleistocene, which

12376-426: The species and has important potential consequences for population persistence. Inbreeding is rare within natal packs. Inbreeding may have been selected against evolutionarily because it leads to the expression of recessive deleterious alleles. Computer simulations indicate that all populations continuing to avoid incestuous mating will become extinct within 100 years due to the unavailability of unrelated mates. Thus,

12495-417: The species appears to be from Oppian , who wrote of the thoa , a hybrid between the wolf and leopard, which resembles the former in shape and the latter in colour. Solinus 's Collea rerum memorabilium from the third century AD describes a multicoloured wolf-like animal with a mane native to Ethiopia . The African wild dog was scientifically described in 1820 by Coenraad Jacob Temminck after examining

12614-646: The species to the highest peaks. The Ethiopian wolf uses all Afroalpine habitats, but has a preference for open areas containing short herbaceous and grassland communities inhabited by rodents, which are most abundant along flat or gently sloping areas with poor drainage and deep soils . Prime wolf habitat in the Bale Mountains consists of short Alchemilla herbs and grasses, with low vegetation cover. Other favourable habitats consist of tussock grasslands, high-altitude scrubs rich in Helichrysum , and short grasslands growing in shallow soils. In its northern range,

12733-503: The three species to warrant classifying them in a single subfamily. The African wild dog possesses the most specialized adaptations among the canids for coat colour and diet and for pursuing its prey through its cursorial (running) ability. It has a graceful skeleton, and the loss of the first digit on its forefeet increases its stride and speed. This adaptation allows it to pursue prey across open terrain for long distances. The teeth are generally carnassial -shaped and its premolars are

12852-480: The whole, the relationship between the two species is a one-sided benefit for the hyenas, with African wild dog densities being negatively correlated with high hyena populations. Beyond piracy, cases of interspecific killing of African wild dogs by spotted hyenas are documented. African wild dogs are apex predators , only fatally losing contests to larger social carnivores. When briefly unprotected, wild dog pups may occasionally be vulnerable to large eagles , such as

12971-401: The wild. When separated from the pack, an African wild dog becomes depressed and can die as a result of broken heart syndrome . Packs of African wild dogs have a high ratio of males to females. This is a consequence of the males mostly staying with the pack whilst female offspring disperse and is supported by a changing sex-ratio in consecutive litters. Those born to maiden females contain

13090-811: The wolf's habitat is composed of plant communities characterised by a matrix of Festuca tussocks, Euryops bushes, and giant lobelias , all of which are favoured by the wolf's rodent prey. Although marginal in importance, the ericaceous moorlands at 3,200–3,600 m in Simien may provide a refuge for wolves in highly disturbed areas. In the Bale Mountains, the Ethiopian wolf's primary prey are big-headed African mole-rats , though it also feeds on grass rats , black-clawed brush-furred rats , and highland hares . Other secondary prey species include vlei rats , yellow-spotted brush-furred rats , and occasionally goslings and eggs. Ethiopian wolves have twice been observed to feed on rock hyraxes , and mountain nyala calves. It will also prey on reedbuck calves. In areas where

13209-518: The wolves, although they take flight if they observe feral dogs, which sometimes prey on them. Within the troops, the wolves enjoy much higher success in capturing rodents than usual, perhaps because the monkeys' activities flush out the rodents, or because the presence of numerous larger animals makes it harder for rodents to spot a threat. The Ethiopian wolf is restricted to isolated pockets of Afroalpine grasslands and heathlands inhabited by Afroalpine rodents. Its ideal habitat extends from above

13328-443: The world's rarest canid, and Africa's most endangered carnivore . Domestic dog [REDACTED] Gray wolf [REDACTED] Coyote [REDACTED] African wolf [REDACTED] Golden jackal [REDACTED] Ethiopian wolf [REDACTED] Dhole [REDACTED] African wild dog [REDACTED] Side-striped jackal [REDACTED] Black-backed jackal [REDACTED] The earliest known fossil of

13447-413: Was a medicine man. Hare gave Impala a calabash of medicine, warning him not to turn back on the way to Wild Dog's den. Impala was startled by the scent of a leopard and turned back, spilling the medicine. A zebra then went to Hare, who gave him the same medicine along with the same advice. On the way, Zebra turned back when he saw a black mamba , thus breaking the gourd. A moment later a terrible howling

13566-413: Was heard: Wild Dog's wife had died. Wild Dog went outside and saw Zebra standing over the broken gourd of medicine, so Wild Dog and his family chased Zebra and tore him to shreds. To this day, African wild dogs hunt zebras and impalas as revenge for their failure to deliver the medicine that could have saved Wild Dog's wife. Ethiopian wolf The Ethiopian wolf ( Canis simensis ), also called

13685-498: Was later returned to it, in conformity with the International Rules on Taxonomic Nomenclature. Paleontologist George G. Simpson placed the African wild dog, the dhole and the bush dog together in the subfamily Simocyoninae on the basis of all three species having similarly trenchant carnassials . This grouping was disputed by Juliet Clutton-Brock , who argued that other than dentition too many differences exist among

13804-427: Was likely due to persecution. Although people living close to wolves in modern times believe that wolf populations are recovering, negative attitudes towards the species persist due to livestock predation. Wolves were largely unmolested by humans in Bale, as they were not considered threats to sheep and goats . However, they are perceived as threats to livestock elsewhere, with cases of retaliatory killings occurring in

13923-629: Was scarcely heard of in Europe up until the early 20th century, when several skins were shipped to England by Major Percy Powell-Cotton during his travels in Abyssinia. The Ethiopian wolf was recognised as requiring protection in 1938, and received it in 1974. The first in-depth studies on the species occurred in the 1980s with the onset of the American-sponsored Bale Mountains Research Project. Ethiopian wolf populations in

14042-675: Was still relatively unspecialised. This connection was rejected by one author because C . ( X .) falconeri ' s lack of the first metacarpal is a poor indication of phylogenetic closeness to the African wild dog, and the dentition was too different to imply ancestry. Another ancestral candidate is the Plio-Pleistocene Lycaon sekowei of South Africa on the basis of distinct accessory cusps on its premolars and anterior accessory cuspids on its lower premolars. These adaptions are found only in Lycaon among living canids, which shows

14161-567: Was strong evidence of ancient genetic admixture between the two species. Today their ranges are remote from each other; however during the Pleistocene era the dhole could be found as far west as Europe. The study proposes that the dhole's distribution may have once included the Middle East , from where it may have admixed with the African wild dog in North Africa . However, there is no evidence of

#650349