Why is there an absence of Ethiopian Wolves in captivity?

[BerdNerd]

I couldn’t find anything on ZooChat directly talking about this issue, but I’m sorry in advance if there is something already talking about this topic. Ethiopian Wolves are endangered and have an extremely small distribution range, so why are they not in captivity? They are in serious danger of dying out, and I think a zoo should keep a group of these animals to preserve the species, if the wild population of them ever die out. I thought at first maybe they can’t live in zoos, since they live at such a high altitude, it can’t be replicated in a zoo. But other Ethiopian species (Geladas, Nubian Ibex, Wattled Crane) have been kept in captivity successfully. I figure they would be a popular attraction for a zoo, due to their rarity and beauty, so anyone know why they don’t keep them in zoos?

 

[DavidBrown]

My understanding is that the Ethiopian government does not want to bring them into captivity. That is probably the main reason.

Unlike with herps or invertebrates where people regularly smuggle them out of their native range to establish captive populations, you can't really smuggle out a wolf without being noticed.

 

[Great Argus]

I couldn’t find anything on ZooChat directly talking about this issue, but I’m sorry in advance if there is something already talking about this topic. Ethiopian Wolves are endangered and have an extremely small distribution range, so why are they not in captivity? They are in serious danger of dying out, and I think a zoo should keep a group of these animals to preserve the species, if the wild population of them ever die out. I thought at first maybe they can’t live in zoos, since they live at such a high altitude, it can’t be replicated in a zoo. But other Ethiopian species (Geladas, Nubian Ibex, Wattled Crane) have been kept in captivity successfully. I figure they would be a popular attraction for a zoo, due to their rarity and beauty, so anyone know why they don’t keep them in zoos?

Export restrictions by the Ethiopian government.
Neither Nubian Ibex or Wattled Crane are endemic to Ethiopia, so they are easier to come by. I don't know the story behind Geladas.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I don't know the story behind Geladas.

Enough were exported prior to the Ethiopian government bringing in their "no export" policy for a captive population to be established; the same story goes for the (now all-but-extinct) captive population of Ethiopian Klipspringer.

Something similar is why we still have Galapagos Giant Tortoise in captivity despite the longstanding ban on wildlife exports from the Galapagos islands enforced by Ecuador.

 

[RatioTile]

These countries could benefit from adopting a “panda diplomacy” model to lease endemic species to zoos in major world capitals.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

These countries could benefit from adopting a “panda diplomacy” model to lease endemic species to zoos in major world capitals.

They seem to benefit more from the eco-tourism people visiting to see their unusual endemic wildlife provides (in a pre-COVID world, of course).

The US population of Nubian Ibex came from Israel.

~Thylo

 

[Maguari]

They seem to benefit more from the eco-tourism people visiting to see their unusual endemic wildlife provides (in a pre-COVID world, of course).

Yes, I think this is a powerful motivator. When I went our guide said Ethiopia only really attracts two kinds of tourists - the ones who want to look at wildlife and the ones who want to look at churches.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I wonder how the post-COVID decline in ecotourism will impact the conservation of the Ethiopian wolf and the Ethiopian highlands.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

I wonder how the post-COVID decline in ecotourism will impact the conservation of the Ethiopian wolf and the Ethiopian highlands.

I'll still visit I originally wanted to go this year in fact...

~Thylo

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I'll still visit I originally wanted to go this year in fact...

~Thylo

Good to hear !

 

[RatioTile]

They seem to benefit more from the eco-tourism people visiting to see their unusual endemic wildlife provides (in a pre-COVID world, of course).

The US population of Nubian Ibex came from Israel.

~Thylo

Yeah, I often prefer seeing animals in captivity. Seeing them in the wild is a lucky event, but if you want to reliably be able to see the same animal every time you go somewhere, and get close-up shots, you need to go to a zoo.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Yeah, I often prefer seeing animals in captivity. Seeing them in the wild is a lucky event, but if you want to reliably be able to see the same animal every time you go somewhere, and get close-up shots, you need to go to a zoo.

It isn't always quite so difficult to see animals in the wild, obviously the chances are going to vary widely according to the particular species and the location.

For me personally nothing beats seeing a species in the wild.

 

[Maguari]

Yeah, I often prefer seeing animals in captivity. Seeing them in the wild is a lucky event, but if you want to reliably be able to see the same animal every time you go somewhere, and get close-up shots, you need to go to a zoo.

Not necessarily - many wild animals can be seen very reliably and very well with a bit of research in advance - or in some cases by hiring a guide.

Obviously the specific case of Canis simensis has other factors - the cost of travelling to Ethiopia from Europe or North America is significantly greater than that of travelling to a regional zoo - but wildlife can be exceptionally reliable. The 8-day tour I saw my Ethiopian Wolves on only had half a day scheduled in wolf habitat, because they knew when and where to go to see them reliably (though as we got there late following a road problem, we ended up spending most of a day there to hit the afternoon activity period).

I love both ways of seeing animals. But there's a definite extra little thrill with a wild animal - even if it's a species you've seen in captivity dozens or hundreds of times, the wild ones are still special.

 

[birdsandbats]

I love both ways of seeing animals. But there's a definite extra little thrill with a wild animal - even if it's a species you've seen in captivity dozens or hundreds of times, the wild ones are still special.

This paragraph sums up my feelings on this as well.

 

[Austin the Sengi]

Not necessarily - many wild animals can be seen very reliably and very well with a bit of research in advance - or in some cases by hiring a guide.

Obviously the specific case of Canis simensis has other factors - the cost of travelling to Ethiopia from Europe or North America is significantly greater than that of travelling to a regional zoo - but wildlife can be exceptionally reliable. The 8-day tour I saw my Ethiopian Wolves on only had half a day scheduled in wolf habitat, because they knew when and where to go to see them reliably (though as we got there late following a road problem, we ended up spending most of a day there to hit the afternoon activity period).

I love both ways of seeing animals. But there's a definite extra little thrill with a wild animal - even if it's a species you've seen in captivity dozens or hundreds of times, the wild ones are still special.

I highly agree with the last sentence

 

[Valentinoamor]

I always forget that Ethiopian wolves exist. I wouldn't mind seeing them in captivity. Hopefully things change in the future and they get permission to important some into captivity.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I always forget that Ethiopian wolves exist. I wouldn't mind seeing them in captivity. Hopefully things change in the future and they get permission to important some into captivity.

I don't think you are the only one by any means who forgets about them. Afterall they are quite an obscure species.

I think many canid species in general tend to be largely forgotten about with the most prominent / well known being the gray wolf. I have no idea why this is exactly and it strikes me as very odd.

Considering the popularity of the domestic dog in households all around the world you would sort of expect people to be much more interested in wild canids.

However, with the exception of the wolf, foxes, coyotes and to a lesser extent the African painted dog they are still a very poorly known and studied family of carnivores.

 

[imaginarius]

These countries could benefit from adopting a “panda diplomacy” model to lease endemic species to zoos in major world capitals.

Panda diplomacy? Ha! More like major extortion. If they actually wanted to establish secure ex situ breeding populations to ensure the specie’s survival, they wouldn’t charge $1mil a year to “rent” one, with the stipulation that all cubs born automatically become property of the Chinese government. There’s a reason only three US zoos have them now. I wouldn’t be surprised if all three let their “deals” sunset in the next few years, like San Diego did, so no US zoos will have them and thus they can negotiate as a united front for a less one-sided bs policy in the future.

 

[TinoPup]

I don't think you are the only one by any means who forgets about them. Afterall they are quite an obscure species.

I think many canid species in general tend to be largely forgotten about with the most prominent / well known being the gray wolf. I have no idea why this is exactly and it strikes me as very odd.

I imagine it has to do with both the grey wolf and red fox being found throughout north america, europe, and asia. Along with them being local to so much of the world's population, the majority of biologists studying animals have historically come from europe and north america(unfortunately) so knowledge about them is likely to be more prevalent, especially compared to species that have fairly specific ranges like the ethiopian wolf, south american canids, etc.

 

[MRJ]

Yeah, I often prefer seeing animals in captivity. Seeing them in the wild is a lucky event, but if you want to reliably be able to see the same animal every time you go somewhere, and get close-up shots, you need to go to a zoo.

I'd endorse the comments by @Onychorhynchus coronatus, @Maguari and @birdsandbats, it is possible to see many species in the wild once you know where to look. Further there are just so many more species out there that are never seen in zoos, and never will be.