Population Increases - African Wildlife

Rabies Threatens Rare
Ethiopian Wolf Population
Since September
2003, at least 38
Ethiopian wolves
have died from rabies in
the Bale Mountains.
Another 20-25 are missing
and presumed dead. This
area is home to 300 of
these endangered wolves.
Scientists believe there are
less than 450 left on earth.
This rabies outbreak
devastated the Web Valley
population of the Bale
Mountains in southeastern
Ethiopia. Over 75% of this
key population died from
the disease. Only 20 of the
original 80 wolves remain
alive.
The disease appears
to have been brought to
the area by domestic dogs.
The people in the Bale
Mountains own an average
of 2.1 dogs per household.
The average is high
because many families
have dogs to protect
livestock.
In November, the
Ethiopian authorities
authorized a wolf
vaccination campaign in
response to the outbreak. A
total of 70 wolves have been
vaccinated. Domestic dogs
that need the vaccine are
also inoculated.
AWF helped fund a
study on the effects of the
domestic dog population on
Ethiopian wolves in 1996-97.
This study included rabies,
canine distemper, and other
dog diseases. As a result of
this study, the Ethiopian Wolf
Conservation Programme
(EWCP) developed a
vaccination program for
domestic dogs.
Since 1996, an
estimated 1,475 dogs out of
a total population of 1,878
have been inoculated. This
70% coverage is good news,
but until complete coverage
is achieved, the chance of a
rabies outbreak still exists.
And, unfortunately, this is
exactly what happened at
the end of 2003.
A rabies outbreak has reduced a critical population of Ethiopian
wolves by 75 percent.
GIS Takes Wildlife to the Next Level
continued from page 3
results can be overlaid on
water source data in a GIS
to efficiently analyze the
relationship between
seasonal zebra movements
and the availability of water.
(The map on page 3
illustrates this.)
Just like Dr. Muoria’s
program, much of AWF’s
conservation work on the
ground centers around two
questions: Where are the
critical wildlife migration
routes? And when are they
used? We want to know
where and when AWF
should intervene to mitigate
conservation threats.
With support from the
Rockefeller Foundation and
USAID, AWF created GIS
laboratories in Nairobi,
Kenya and Kasane,
Botswana in 2002. Working
with AWF GIS specialists,
AWF field staff can now
address such questions
with greater speed and
precision. By juxtaposing
conservation targets and
threats using GIS, land
managers and planners
have refined their
For more of this story
about threats to
Ethiopian wolves, go to
www.awf.org/ethiopianwolf/.
Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme
understanding of
conservation challenges.
This enables them to target
interventions more
effectively.
With GIS, AWF is
gradually transforming its
approach to landscapelevel
wildlife conservation.
GIS work will begin with
wild dogs in Samburu
Heartland and carnivores in
Four Corners. And, Grevy’s
zebra work aside, perhaps
Dr. Muoria can also use GIS
to map trouble spots for his
vehicle.
African Wildlife News 7
Mountain Gorilla
Population Increases
continued from page 1
Craig R. Sholley
Locally-made handicrafts are sold at the new
community gift shop in Rwanda.
to improve their health. IGCP also works
with the local people to develop new
business opportunities.
One of these opportunities is the new
community gift shop in Rwanda. The shop
opened in December and sells locallymade
handicrafts and food items. Eighty
percent of the profits will go back into the
community for projects to benefit the local
people. The remaining 20% will be
reinvested in the shop.
Another IGCP project is the buffalo
wall in the Virunga Massif. The main
objective is to keep the wildlife from
raiding crops bordering the national park.
Currently 16 miles of wall has been built in
Rwanda and 13 miles in DRC.
The people of the community
appreciate that the park is helping protect
their crops and livelihood. This is truly a
community project – constructed by the
people to benefit the people.
AWF has been working with the
mountain gorilla population for 25 years.
Funding research to protect these
magnificent animals is vital. Despite the
good news of a growing population,
mountain gorillas are still critically
endangered. They face many threats,
including habitat destruction, poaching,
hunting, and disease.
“We must not be complacent. The
slow rate of reproduction among mountain
gorillas makes the challenge of keeping
these precious creatures alive ever so
great,” said Patrick Bergin, AWF’s
president and CEO. “The population is still
extremely fragile.”
AWF members like you enable us to
conduct important research, train rangers,
and build partnerships with local
communities. Your support is critical in
protecting mountain gorillas and other
endangered wildlife. Thank you!
To read more of this article about
mountain gorillas, go to
www.awf.org/gorillaupdate/.