Threatened species of Canis simensis
Name(s):
Threatened species of Ethiopian wolf
Abyssinian wolf
Simien fox
Simien jackal
Ethiopian jackal
Red jackal
Nature
[Canis simensis] is threatened in the main by habitat loss and fragmentation. Other human factors include overgrazing, persecution, warfare, and road kills. Direct competition and aggression by domestic dogs are a threat especially as they are vectors of disease, notably rabies. As populations get smaller, hybridization with dogs becomes a greater threat. Following hybridization, a population may be affected by a reduction in fitness (in either fertility or viability) known as outbreeding depression.
Background
The Ethiopian wolf is a very localized endemic species and is confined to five isolated pockets of afroalpine grasslands and heathlands in Ethiopia.
Other language names: Amharic: [ky], [kebero]. Orominiac: [jedalla farda], [arouyaé].
Incidence
The global population of the Ethiopian wolf is estimated at 400 adults. Probably less than 250 are breeders. The current total estimate indicates a decline of at lest 25% in the last three years, distributed in 5-7 populations of less than 100 breeders each.
The IUCN consideres [Canis simensis] as "Critically endangered".
Broader
Organization(s)
Reference(s)
Type
(S) Suspect problems