The Abyssinian Wolf, Watcher of the Ethiopian Highlands
Alone on the highlands of Abyssinia, the Ethiopian wolf scans the horizon. This slender predator, perfectly adapted to life at high altitude, is now one of the most endangered mammals on the African continent. Threatened by habitat fragmentation and diseases transmitted by domestic dogs, only about 500 individuals remain in the wild.
Pack of Abyssinian Wolves on Patrol in the Bale Mountains (Canis simensis), Ethiopia
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Abyssinian wolves feed almost exclusively on rodents. Their habitat is limited to the high plateaus and mountains of Ethiopia, where rodent density is particularly high. In the Bale Mountains, where this photo was taken, up to 6,000 rodents can be found per square kilometer.
This diet has shaped their behavior: unlike other wolf species that hunt large prey in packs, Abyssinian wolves hunt alone.
Yet each morning, before spreading out to search for food, clan members carry out a joint patrol across their territory.
On this particular day, six wolves from the Meguiti clan were roaming their land, ensuring no intruders had trespassed.
Ethiopian wolves at play (Canis simensis), Ethiopia
Two adults ethiopian wolves clash in a burst of movement — a game, perhaps, or a reminder of rank — under the watchful, curious eye of a young pup. These moments of energy, bonding, and social learning are the heartbeat of Abyssinian wolf life. In this dusty flurry, we witness a society in motion.
Tenderness towards the cub, Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), Ethiopia