Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation

89 Pages·2012·2.73 MB·English

Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation
Canid Specialist Group
IUCN/Species Survival Commission
Early morning greeting of Ethiopian wolves in the Bale Mountains National Park © A.L. Harrington.
Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation
Canid Specialist Group
IUCN/Species Survival Commission

Produced at the strategic planning for
Ethiopian wolf conservation meeting
Lalibela, Ethiopia
February 2011
The strategic planning for Ethiopian wolf conservation meeting held in Lalibela, on 22-24 February 2011, was
jointly convened by the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, and the
Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme.
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN.
Support for the strategic planning for Ethiopian wolf conservation in Lalibela was provided by grants from the
Born Free Foundation, the Wildlife Conservation Network, Saint Louis Zoo and the Frankfurt Zoological Society.
The IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group is supported by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of the University
of Oxford and the Born Free Foundation.
Published by: IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group
Copyright: © 2011 IUCN, International Union for the Conservation of Nature
Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written
permission of the authors or the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, provided the source is fully acknowledged.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for sale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written
permission of the copyright holder.
Citation: IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. 2011. Strategic plan for Ethiopian wolf Conservation. IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist
Group. Oxford, United Kingdom.
Cover photo: © Martin Harvey
Design and layout: Teresa Fuertes
Printed in Revive recycled paper by Information Press Ltd, Eynsham, Oxford, UK.
Available online at: www.ethiopianwolf.org/SPEWC.pdf
Contents
Participants vi
Preface vii
Acknowledgements viii
List of Abbreviations viii
Foreword ix
Executive summary x
Part I: Ethiopian Wolf Status Review
1
1. 1. Species description
2
2. 2. Values
5
3. 3. Historical account
7
4. 4. Current distribution, demography and genetics
9
5. 5. Habitat and resource assessment
19
6. 6. Threats
21
7. 7. Conservation and management
33
8. 8. Ethiopian wolf populations: Status summary dossiers
39
9. 9. Bibliography
47
Part II: Strategic Planning Process for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation
51
Part III: National Action Plan for the Conservation of the Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis)
59
Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation | v
Participants:
Strategic planning for Ethiopian wolf conservation
Name Organisation/Affiliation Email address or contact details

Alemayehu Lemma Addis Ababa University,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine [email protected]
Thadaigh Baggallay Frankfurt Zoological Society [email protected]
Karen Laurenson Frankfurt Zoological Society [email protected]
Zelealem Tefera Frankfurt Zoological Society [email protected]
Wolde Zebene Frankfurt Zoological Society [email protected]
Getachew Assefa Frankfurt Zoological Society [email protected]
Chemere Zewdie Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprises [email protected]
Teshome Cheru Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprises, 0913319332
Yeneneh Teka EWCA [email protected]
Stephen Brend Born Free Foundation Ethiopia [email protected]
Berhanu Mohammed Amhara National Regional State,
Culture and Tourism Bureau [email protected]
Assegid Shiferaw Ministry of Agriculture [email protected]
Fekede Ragassa EWCA [email protected]
Addisu Assefa EWCA, Bale Mountains National Park [email protected]
Anteneh Tesfaye Borena Sayint National Park
Mark Stanley Price Wildlife Conservation Research Unit
(WildCRU), University of Oxford [email protected]
Claudio Sillero University of Oxford, WildCRU/EWCP/
Canid Specialist Group [email protected]
Anne-Marie Stewart University of Oxford, WildCRU/EWCP [email protected]
Chris Gordon University of Oxford, WildCRU/EWCP [email protected]
Jorgelina Marino University of Oxford, WildCRU/EWCP [email protected]
Zegeye Kibret EWCP [email protected]
Edriss Ebu EWCP 0911 064898
Dejene Deme EWCP [email protected]
Fekadu Lemma EWCP/FZS [email protected]
Gebeyehu Rskay EWCP [email protected]
Tesfa Milashu Aboi Gara community representative
Akalework Efrime Abuna Yoseph community representative
Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation | vi
Preface
Large carnivores often find themselves at odds with living side by side with wildlife as to the benefits of
peoples’ interests, and as a result are threatened with protecting Ethiopia’s unique flora and fauna. With
extinction. The Ethiopian wolf or ky kebero could be perseverance and dedication conservationists have
the next such carnivore to lose its place on earth. It is sought to protect the wolves and their habitats from
now the rarest of all canids, with only 450 surviving in encroachment and disease.
half a dozen mountains in Ethiopia. Furthermore, this
species is the most endangered carnivore in Africa. The conservation strategy and National Action Plan
What can be done to save this enigmatic icon of the (NAP) presented herewith, is the result of a meeting
Ethiopian highlands? of stakeholders in Lalibela in February 2011, and is
based on critical information and comprehensive
The Ethiopian wolf is protected by Ethiopian law, but knowledge about the Ethiopian wolf and its
this by itself cannot guarantee that the Afroalpine environment. Because of this, the plan is authoritative,
habitats where the wolves live are safe. With the realistic, and innovative, a solid base for providing the
main wolf populations found in the Bale Mountains Ethiopian wolf with a future.
National Park and Simien Mountains National Park,
Ethiopian conservationists are well placed to ensure However, the conservation strategy represents more
the survival of these magnificent animals. Other small than just a blueprint for the survival of the Ethiopian
populations in Arsi, Menz and Wollo are increasingly wolf. Though this animal is a natural icon of the
receiving formal protection offering a good prognosis Ethiopian highlands, it is only one of many endemic
for the future. Ultimately, it is the demand for arable species found there. The goal of the National Action
land, pasture and firewood that keeps putting Plan is to protect and manage a whole unique
pressure on the Afroalpine habitats of Ethiopia, and Afroalpine ecosystem, for the benefit of plants and
this process is made more urgent by climate change. animals, and the local peoples whose future depends
More immediately though, it is the domestic dogs upon the health of the land.
that shepherds bring to the highlands that pose the
most urgent threat to Ethiopian wolves. Dogs carry The Ethiopian government, the conservation
rabies and canine distemper, both lethal for their wild community and the people living in and around
relatives, often causing widespread mortality among Afroalpine habitats must now cooperate fully to
Ethiopian wolves. implement this National Action Plan. The struggle to
save the Ethiopian wolf is a long-term task, requiring
Conservation actions must be built on sound constant vigilance, cooperation and dedication.
knowledge, a fact all too often ignored by conservation This action plan represents an affirmation of the
organizations. For over two decades, Ethiopian and determination of the Ethiopian people that this iconic
international scientists have devoted great effort to species will not vanish from our land.
chronicling the life of Ethiopian wolves, helping us to
Dr Kifle Argaw
understand the processes that threaten their survival.
Director General
National park authorities and conservationists have
Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority
worked hard to offer protection to the remaining wolf
populations, while educating the highland people
Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation | vii
Acknowledgements
Many people contributed to the compilation of this like to extend our appreciation to Mark Stanley-Price,
strategic plan, and we are grateful to all of them for of the IUCN/SSC Species Conservation Planning Sub-
their input and comments. In particular, Jorgelina Committee, who did an excellent job of facilitating the
Marino, Anne-Marie Stewart, Chris Gordon and meeting and ensuring that we achieved our objectives
Claudio Sillero worked hard writing, reviewing and within a limited timeframe. We are particularly grateful
editing the various chapters. We are grateful to Kifle to the members of the IUCN/SSC Species Conservation
Argaw for writing the preface to this plan, to Simon Strategy Task Force for their excellent guidelines, which
Stuart for kindly agreeing to write the foreword, and to we followed during this planning process.
Teresa Fuertes for her tireless efforts in handling the
layout and design of this plan. The strategic planning meeting was made possible
through a generous donation from Saint Louis Zoo.
This plan was inspired by the EWCA Ethiopian Large We would also like to thank the Born Free Foundation,
Carnivore Working Group and forms part of a series of the Wildlife Conservation Network and the Frankfurt
action plans for the large carnivores of Ethiopia. Thank Zoological Society for their continuous support to
you to all members of the working group. We would protect Ethiopian wolves and the Afroalpine ecosystem.
List Of Abbreviations
ARD
BERSMP
Agriculture and Rural Development
BFF-ET
Bale Eco-Region Sustainable Management Programme
BMNP
Born Free Foundation Ethiopia
BoA
Bale Mountains National Park
CCA
Bureau of Agriculture
CDV
Community Conservation Area
EPA
Canine distemper virus
EWCA
Environmental Protection Agency
EWCP
Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority
FVM
Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme
FZS
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
IBD
Frankfurt Zoological Society
IBREAM
Institute of Biodiversity
IUCN
Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals
MoARD
International Union for Conservation of Nature
NGO
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
NRM
Non-governmental organisation
OFWE
Natural Resource Management
PA
Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise
WCN
Protected Area
WildCRU
Wildlife Conservation Network
Wildlife Conservation Research Unit
Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation | viii
Foreword
The Strategic Plan for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation landscape. However, despite the successes of those
represents the latest stage in the conservation of working towards its conservation to date, there are
Canis simensis
Africa’s rarest canid, the ky kebero or Ethiopian growing threats that could not have been anticipated
wolf , an Ethiopian Highlands flagship back in the 1980s. In particular, the human population,
species. The origins of this important publication living by subsistence means, is increasing and moving
can be traced back to the late 1980s when Claudio higher up the mountains, encroaching ever further
Sillero first moved to Ethiopia to work on the wolves into Afroalpine habitat. These people do not have
at the invitation of Chris Hillman, then a well-known many alternatives to meet their essential needs, and
figure in Ethiopian conservation. Since then, the already many highland endemics are being affected
Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme and the by unsustainable farming and harvesting activities.
Ethiopian government have worked together with And increasing human populations bring with them a
their conservation partners to build the programme, more immediate threat in the guise of their domestic
pioneering new research and field techniques, and dogs that transmit deadly diseases to the wolves. The
gradually expanding the work beyond the Bale future of the Ethiopian wolf, as with so many species,
Mountains National Park to incorporate all seven is going to depend on reconciling the needs of people
extant populations. The Ethiopian wolf, listed as and nature, and ensuring economic development
Endangered by the IUCN, numbers less than 450 and conservation do not undermine each other. The
individuals and is recognised as one of the world’s Strategic Plan for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation, and
most endangered carnivores. Teetering on the edge of its associated National Action Plan, address these new
extinction, it almost certainly would have succumbed challenges, and I am hopeful that it will achieve further
to disease, hybridisation, and habitat loss were it not success, not only for the Ethiopian wolf, but also for
for the ongoing work of dedicated conservationists. the surrounding human communities.
Dr Simon Stuart
I have never been fortunate enough to visit the Bale
Chair
Mountains, or to see the Ethiopian wolf. But I am
IUCN Species Survival Commission
struck by the many photos I have seen of the animal
– a strikingly beautiful species in a magnificent
Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation | ix
Executive Summary
© A.L. Harrington.
Canis simensis
The Ethiopian wolf, , is not only the the Bale Mountains, while elsewhere the wolves are
rarest canid in the world, but also holds the unenviable found in significantly smaller, less robust populations
position of being Africa’s most endangered carnivore. subject to loss of genetic viability and extinction.
Found in only six isolated habitat fragments in the
highlands of Ethiopia, the wolves have become victims In 1997, the IUCN Canid Specialist Group compiled
of their own specialization. Feeding predominantly a detailed action plan outlining a strategy for the
on high altitude rodents, and therefore relying heavily conservation and management of Ethiopian wolves.
on intact Afroalpine habitats to support their rodent This plan called for improved management and
prey, Ethiopian wolves are increasingly under pressure expansion of protected areas, the control of domestic
from human expansion into their highland enclaves. dog populations in wolf habitats, a greater focus on
Encroaching agriculture brings with it various other environmental education, and the need for further
threats, such as habitat degradation through cattle and research into the remaining wolf populations. Now,
crop farming, diseases carried by domestic dogs, and 14 years later, it was felt the time was right to review
the possibility of direct persecution in retribution for the status of Ethiopian wolves, to evaluate current
real or perceived livestock predation. conservation measures, and to reassess priorities
with regards to their management and future
With less than 500 adult wolves surviving today, conservation.
conservation actions to ensure the persistence of this
species are crucial. The species is less common and has The Strategic Planning Meeting for Ethiopian Wolf
a more reduced range now than in the past. It is listed Conservation was held in Lalibela, Ethiopia, from the
as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened 23rd to the 25th of February 2011. The meeting was
Species. The largest population of wolves is found in attended by 25 representatives from various national
Strategic Planning for Ethiopian Wolf Conservation | x