The Ethiopian Wolf: Simien Fox
The leaves rustling from the paws hitting the ground, the creature chases its prey, a mole rate, pounces and grabs the rodent with its teeth. This is one such thing that the Ethiopian wolf, also known as the Simien fox, would be found doing. The Ethiopian wolf is in the canine family. The most common place that it is found is in the mountains of Ethiopia. It is a very endangered species. This animal is known for its odd appearance, and extreme endangerment. The Ethiopian wolves get the nickname Simien fox from its appearance. They are about the size of a house dog. The physical aspects of the wolves tend to be more fox like. They have a longer jaw than most wolves, and their legs tend to be longer. They can weigh up to forty-four pounds, and
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be up to one-hundred centimeters long, which compared to many other canine specie is small. The males, on average, are twenty percent larger than the females of the species in the body weight. They have an orange-brown fur coat, and a pale ginger inner fur layer (Macdonald). There are six locations where Ethiopian wolves are primarily found.
These locations are the Semien Mountains, the Bale Mountains, North Wollo, the South Wollo highlands, Arsi Mountains and Guassa-Menz. There is no other county where the Ethiopian wolves are found (“Ethiopian”). Even though they are all in the same country, all the groups are separated from one another and have no contact. The largest group of wolves, in the Semien Mountains, is about 350 wolves (Morell 2). Though wolves are often seen as vicious predators, Ethiopian wolves tend to eat smaller prey. Their diet mostly consists of different types of rats, such as rats varying from the Giant Mole Rat to the common grass rat. Other things that the wolves eat would be eggs, goslings and younger hoofed animals. Very rarely, but on occasion, the wolves will be seen scavenging from the dead bodies of other animals. The Ethiopians wolves are considered carnivores because they eat meat. Their size most likely correlates with why they eat such small prey compared to other types of wolves (“Ethiopian …show more content…
Wolf”). Much like other species of wolves, the Ethiopian wolves have a gestation period of 60-62 days.
The mothers give birth in a den to grey pups with no teeth and whose eyes are shut (“Ethiopian Wolf”). In each pack, only the dominant pair of wolves can mate and have offspring (Macdonald). The lifespan of the Ethiopian wolves is actually unknown because the animals are hard to study due to where they are located (“Ethiopian Wolf”). Ethiopian wolves are the most endangered canid in the world. The number of wolves that scientist believe is left would be 400 wolves. The threats to the wolves would be both human and natural. Due to farming, habitat loss because of humans is a large issue threatening these wolves. They are often seen as a pest and killed on site (“Ethiopian Wolf”). Another big threat would be the slow birth rate. Because only the dominant male and female can reproduce, that limits the amount of new pups that are born substantially causing it to be where more wolves are dying than being born (Macdonald).
Though there are conservation programs set out to save the wolves, their outlook is very low and they will most likely be extinct within the next century, based on current statistics (“Ethiopian Wolf”). The low birth rate and human interaction makes it very difficult to save the wolves. Another problem with helping them is the lack of information scientists have on the
wolves.
Ethiopian wolves are very interesting and unique creatures. Though they differ from the typical wolf, they are still very interesting. The wolf tends to resemble more of a fox than a wolf. The place that they live in would be different areas in Ethiopia. Their diet consists of mostly small creatures, such as rats. Not very much is known about the life cycle of the wolves because studying them is difficult. Threats to the wolves include human interaction, and low birth rates. There are efforts to help keep the wolves from going extinct, though at this rate they seem to be doomed to become extinct very soon. This creature is a very amazing animal, though it seems they won’t be around very much longer.
be up to one-hundred centimeters long, which compared to many other canine specie is small. The males, on average, are twenty percent larger than the females of the species in the body weight. They have an orange-brown fur coat, and a pale ginger inner fur layer (Macdonald). There are six locations where Ethiopian wolves are primarily found.
These locations are the Semien Mountains, the Bale Mountains, North Wollo, the South Wollo highlands, Arsi Mountains and Guassa-Menz. There is no other county where the Ethiopian wolves are found (“Ethiopian”). Even though they are all in the same country, all the groups are separated from one another and have no contact. The largest group of wolves, in the Semien Mountains, is about 350 wolves (Morell 2). Though wolves are often seen as vicious predators, Ethiopian wolves tend to eat smaller prey. Their diet mostly consists of different types of rats, such as rats varying from the Giant Mole Rat to the common grass rat. Other things that the wolves eat would be eggs, goslings and younger hoofed animals. Very rarely, but on occasion, the wolves will be seen scavenging from the dead bodies of other animals. The Ethiopians wolves are considered carnivores because they eat meat. Their size most likely correlates with why they eat such small prey compared to other types of wolves (“Ethiopian …show more content…
Wolf”). Much like other species of wolves, the Ethiopian wolves have a gestation period of 60-62 days.
The mothers give birth in a den to grey pups with no teeth and whose eyes are shut (“Ethiopian Wolf”). In each pack, only the dominant pair of wolves can mate and have offspring (Macdonald). The lifespan of the Ethiopian wolves is actually unknown because the animals are hard to study due to where they are located (“Ethiopian Wolf”). Ethiopian wolves are the most endangered canid in the world. The number of wolves that scientist believe is left would be 400 wolves. The threats to the wolves would be both human and natural. Due to farming, habitat loss because of humans is a large issue threatening these wolves. They are often seen as a pest and killed on site (“Ethiopian Wolf”). Another big threat would be the slow birth rate. Because only the dominant male and female can reproduce, that limits the amount of new pups that are born substantially causing it to be where more wolves are dying than being born (Macdonald).
Though there are conservation programs set out to save the wolves, their outlook is very low and they will most likely be extinct within the next century, based on current statistics (“Ethiopian Wolf”). The low birth rate and human interaction makes it very difficult to save the wolves. Another problem with helping them is the lack of information scientists have on the
wolves.
Ethiopian wolves are very interesting and unique creatures. Though they differ from the typical wolf, they are still very interesting. The wolf tends to resemble more of a fox than a wolf. The place that they live in would be different areas in Ethiopia. Their diet consists of mostly small creatures, such as rats. Not very much is known about the life cycle of the wolves because studying them is difficult. Threats to the wolves include human interaction, and low birth rates. There are efforts to help keep the wolves from going extinct, though at this rate they seem to be doomed to become extinct very soon. This creature is a very amazing animal, though it seems they won’t be around very much longer.