Nomad Africa - April 2018

Maasai Mara, AWF is strengthening the
conservation of cheetah and lion popu-
lations estimated at 54 and 363, respec-
tively. The project collects high-quality
data through monitoring and identifica-
tion that informs threat-abating man-
agement throughout the entire
ecosystem. Through its comprehensive
community programme, which includes
community education and school out-
reach, the project has reduced the num-
ber of cheetahs and lions lost in the
landscape.

Saving the endangered Ethiopian wolf
Along with feline predators, AWF contin-
ues to support the conservation of
Africa’s most endangered canid – the
Ethiopian wolf – of which only about 450
individuals remain in the wild in Ethiopia.
The main populations occur in Bale
Mountains National Park and Simien

Mountains National Park as the species

is restricted to the grasslands and heath-

lands at 3,000-4,000m being highly de-

pendent on high altitude afroalpine

rodents.

AWF has supported the Ethiopian Wolf

Conservation Programme to expand

conservation activities to Simien Moun-

tains National Park, home to a popula-

tion of about 75 wolves. In partnership

with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation

Authority, local community members

were selected and trained as monitors

and wolf ambassadors.

Population fragmentation is not the only

threat for the wolves. Canine distemper

virus caused an average decline of 52

percent of the adult wolf population and

rabies outbreaks continue to be another

key mortality cause. At Bale Mountains

in the north, the Ethiopian Wolf Conser-

vation Programme recently addressed a

rabies outbreak that killed about 30

wolves. Vaccinations of both the wolves

and domestic dogs have been done to

avert such incidents in the future.

AWF will continue to build partnerships

to ensure a future for Africa’s carnivores

and their ecosystems. As a member of

professional organisations such as the

IUCN Species Specialist Groups, AWF

contributes its experiences and lessons

to the conservation community and ad-

vises the respective governments – mul-

tiplying the impact of its work on the

ground and internationally.

Issue 11 | ...Celebrating the world’s richest continent | http://www.nomadafricamag.com | 97

Nathan Gichohi is African Wildlife

Foundation's Senior Programs Offi-

cer for Species Conservation. The

foundation was established to focus

on Africa’s unique conservation

needs.

i ABOUT THE WRITER