With only 400 still alive, Ethiopian wolves are one of the world’s most endangered species. An international group of animal biologists is working to save them from the brink of extinction.
“Rabies is the number-one killer for Ethiopian wolves and the most recent outbreak of the disease has halved the wolves’ existing gene pool,” said researchers. “The future of the species rests solely within this tiny population because no Ethiopian wolf has ever been held or bred in captivity anywhere in the world.”
“If we can upgrade the skill level of Ethiopian vets involved in the conservation program then the country will always have the expertise to manage its natural resources.”
The next step - collection of semen synchronised with rabies vaccination - will be taken together with scientists from Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.
Read more at The University of Western Australia