Golden Wolf (Canis anthus)

Appearance

The Golden wolf, also referred as wolf is a medium-sized canine, with a headroom of 50 cm and approaching a body length of 65 to 105 cm. The tail adds approximately 25 cm to it. The coat is rough and not very long. The fur color ranges from pale yellow to orange brown, with its dark color points. The seasons which can differ and winter coat can be even grayish. Weights are between eight and fifteen kilograms.

Distribution

Of the three species of wolfs, the Golden, the Black-Backed wolf and the Side-Striped wolfl is the Golden wolf the one with the largest distribution and one that comes even outside Africa. He lives in Northern and Eastern Africa, South-East Europe and South Asia to Myanmar.

Habitat

Golden wolfs prefer dry habitats with an open character. Short grasslands, savannas, semi-deserts, bush savannas and light forests. Stony slopes and valleys. Their draws a couple its territory, which is marked with urine and fragrances by both, male and female.

Food and hunting behavior

Although the wolf is a good hunter, he usually does not kill larger prey. But he often lives on what others leave, such as lions. When a carcass remains, which have not be cleaned to the bone, the wolfs take the rest on their behalf. They buried surplus flesh, digging a pit with their front legs and cover the meat with soil by using their nose. Though a meat eater, he takes a large portion of plant foods, especially vegetables and fruits (melons). They are opportunistic foragers with a varied diet. This ranges from bird eggs, poultry, insects, lizards and frogs, to small and medium-sized mammals. When the opportunity arises, they scavenge to.

Reproduction

Male and female form a monogamous pair, wherein one or two adultss from a previous litter play a roll as “helper”. These animals do not participate in reproduction but assist in the rearing of the next litter. Litters are earlier in Africa than in West Europe. With a number of pups which ranges from 1 - 9. However, somewhere between two and four on average. They can reproduce to an age of approximately 8 years.

Pup development

The gestation takes 63 days to complete, after which the puppies are born with a weight of over 200 grams in a den in the parental territory. The eyes open after about ten days. Weaning takes about 8 weeks. Their first solid food is vomited by their parents. In three months they eat solid food independently. Both parents provide food and helpers provide extra protection during their parents hunts. In eleven months the pups mature. When lucky they are able to achieve an age of about 9 years. (in captivity until 14-16 years).

Behavioral / Social System / Day night rhythm

Both male and female are important in the raising of the pups and the enforcement of their territory. When a parent is killed, the survival of the whole of the family is at risk. To reduce that risk they have helpers. These helpers are submissive to the parents and probably therefore a wolfs hunt is concieved as a pack. But no, this group is not comparable with a real pack like wolf or wild dog. The helpers indirectly contribute to a better survival of the pups by taking care of the security of the den. This allows the parents to jointly spend more time hunting. The female is responsible for the den and behaves aggressively towards other females to prevent them from sharing the male and his services. Against each other they behave kindly. In human inhabited areas, wolfs are real nocturnal, but may be active elsewhere. They keep up vocally contact by howling, what reinforces their band.

Enemies

Where larger carnivores exist, wolf will ever be the victim of competition. But often near human settlements he dodges this danger to life considerably.


Jakhals, verkeersslachtoffer

Traffic has become a major cause of death, besides the campaigns to combat predators with poisoned bait. Hunting wolfs occasionally take place, especially during drive hunts for wild boar.

Relationship with humans

Wolfs behave predominantly useful by eating the waste around settlements, preventing outbreaks of disease causing species and also keep the appearance of small mammals, hares and rabbits short. Which has a beneficial effect on the crop yield. On the other hand, they can also cause damage to crops such as maize, sugar beet, or melon. Sometimes specialize certain individuals and families in the killing of lambs or sheep. The only effective remedy is oftern locking up life-stock in a safe environment during the night. And like all mammals, but especially the canines, the wolf can also be carrier of rabies. A danger that in Europe is completely brought under control by regular bait vaccine campaigns.

Status and threats

The wolf is generally present in its area of distribution and is not threatened at the moment.

NABCS

The NABCS guides in collaboration with universities in Algeria and Tunesia, students undertaking a PhD at wolf and the relationship with other carnivores. It is, in particular, a good specie to gain experience with free ranging carnivores and field examinations. Wherein determining population size, catching and handling of predators, application of radio-collars, and tracking can be practiced. And besides, there can be learned from a species that succeed to maintain its ground in a changing habitat and society.


Camera trap pictures of our students: Yamna Karssene, Tunesia and Ahmed Eddine in Algaria

Literature

Arnold, J., A, Humer, M. Heltai, D. Murariu, N. Spassov, and K. Hackländer. 2012. Current status and distribution of golden wolfs Canis aureus in Europe. Mammal Review 42(1): 1-11.
Sillero-Zubiri, C. 2009. Golden Jackel (Canis aureus). Pp. 417-418 in: Wilson, D.E. and Mittermeier, R.A., eds. Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 2. Hoofed Mammals. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
Khidas, K. 1990. Contribution à la connaissance du chacal doré. Facteurs modulant l'organisation sociale et territoriale de la sous espèce algérienne . Mammalia T54: n3: 361-376
Oubellil, D. 2011. selection de l'Habitat et ecologie alimentaire du chacal doré dans le parc national du Djurdjura. Memoire de Magister . Tizi Ouzou
Golani, I, & Keller C. 1975. A longitudinal field study of the behaviour of a pair of golden wolfs. in Fox: The wild canids. new york.