Since the first wolf carcass tested positive for rabies in late July 2014, the Emergency Response Team, organized by EWCP with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority and the Bale Mountains National Park, has been working relentlessly.
In August 2014 the team vaccinated 44 wolves from 7 packs in the Sanetti plateau, the centre of the epizootic. As a result, more than half of all the Sanetti wolves are now protected. In September and October 2014, the vaccination expanded to Web Valley and East Morabawa in order to protect these core populations from an eventual infection through habitat corridors connecting them with the Sanetti plateau (20 animals vaccinated in 5 packs, adding to the protection delivered during the previous oral vaccine trails).
The last carcass, found in October the 20th, was that of an adult female living west of the Sanetti epicentre, with estimated time of death of late September. No more carcasses have been found since then.
The team, however, will not stop searching for carcasses, keeping a close eye on all the wolf families. We cannot rest until we are sure that the epizootic is over…
We are grateful for any the support you may provide,
Claudio Sillero and Eric Bedin