THE PROGRAMME ► Population management

Objective: To prevent the reproduction of dog-wolf hybrids; to manage small wolf populations as a metapopulation.

Manage dog-wolf hybrids
Dog-wolf hybrids occur when female wolves and male dogs mate. If the fertile hybrid remains within the wolf population, the dog genes may spread to threaten the genetic integrity of the wolf population. EWCP captures and sterilizes dog-wolf hybrids as soon as they are positively identified, and monitors behaviours post intervention.(Picture: sterilized hybrid with radio collar next to a 'pure' wolf)

Metapopulation management
Soon Ethiopian wolf populations may need to be actively managed to ensure their viability, and demographic and genetic integrity. It may be desriable to reintroduce wolves to areas where they became extinct or intervene when populations are threatened by demographic stocasticity.

Work led by Dada Gottelli (Zoological Society of London) confirmed very low levels of genetic variability at the species level and revealed that the more vulnerable northern populations are actually the main reservoirs of genetic diversity (see Research). The studies unveiled three groups of genetically closed populations that may constitute management units. Based on strong demographic data, models can be used to predicte population persistence under various population management scenarios, towards the development of a metapopulation management plan. One possibility is to reintroduce wolves to Mt Choke in Gojjam, where they became extinct around 100 years ago.