Successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered Ethiopian wolf

Abstract Wildlife rehabilitation is widely practiced to help injured animals recover and return to the wild, particularly benefiting endangered species that have small local populations. Here, we report the first case of a rehabilitated Ethiopian wolf that was successfully released back in the Simie...

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Main Authors: Sandra Lai, Getachew Asefa, Muktar Abute, Girma Eshete, Don‐Jean Léandri‐Breton, Fekede Regassa, Claudio Sillero‐Zubiri, Jorgelina Marino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Conservation Science and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70075
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author Sandra Lai
Getachew Asefa
Muktar Abute
Girma Eshete
Don‐Jean Léandri‐Breton
Fekede Regassa
Claudio Sillero‐Zubiri
Jorgelina Marino
author_facet Sandra Lai
Getachew Asefa
Muktar Abute
Girma Eshete
Don‐Jean Léandri‐Breton
Fekede Regassa
Claudio Sillero‐Zubiri
Jorgelina Marino
author_sort Sandra Lai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Wildlife rehabilitation is widely practiced to help injured animals recover and return to the wild, particularly benefiting endangered species that have small local populations. Here, we report the first case of a rehabilitated Ethiopian wolf that was successfully released back in the Simien Mountains. Through this case study, we documented the clinical treatment provided, recovery, and behavior of this individual during captivity, and post‐release monitoring in the wild using a GPS collar. After 51 days of captivity, during which a bone fracture in the hind leg caused by a gunshot was treated, the wolf was released back. After remaining with his pack members for 22 days, the wolf dispersed and settled in an unoccupied territory, where he paired with a female and successfully sired a litter. This study provides important insights on rehabilitation and post‐release monitoring that will inform conservation management of the Ethiopian wolf.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series Conservation Science and Practice
spelling doaj-art-d2be7bba5d554bc485f76354efc503f12025-08-20T03:28:14ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542025-07-0177n/an/a10.1111/csp2.70075Successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered Ethiopian wolfSandra Lai0Getachew Asefa1Muktar Abute2Girma Eshete3Don‐Jean Léandri‐Breton4Fekede Regassa5Claudio Sillero‐Zubiri6Jorgelina Marino7Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney UKEthiopian Wolf Conservation Programme Dinsho EthiopiaEthiopian Wolf Conservation Programme Dinsho EthiopiaEthiopian Wolf Conservation Programme Dinsho EthiopiaDepartment of Natural Resource Sciences McGill University Ste‐Anne‐de‐Bellevue Quebec CanadaEthiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority Addis Ababa EthiopiaWildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney UKWildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney UKAbstract Wildlife rehabilitation is widely practiced to help injured animals recover and return to the wild, particularly benefiting endangered species that have small local populations. Here, we report the first case of a rehabilitated Ethiopian wolf that was successfully released back in the Simien Mountains. Through this case study, we documented the clinical treatment provided, recovery, and behavior of this individual during captivity, and post‐release monitoring in the wild using a GPS collar. After 51 days of captivity, during which a bone fracture in the hind leg caused by a gunshot was treated, the wolf was released back. After remaining with his pack members for 22 days, the wolf dispersed and settled in an unoccupied territory, where he paired with a female and successfully sired a litter. This study provides important insights on rehabilitation and post‐release monitoring that will inform conservation management of the Ethiopian wolf.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70075CanidaeCanis simensiscaptivityconservation translocationdispersalGPS
spellingShingle Sandra Lai
Getachew Asefa
Muktar Abute
Girma Eshete
Don‐Jean Léandri‐Breton
Fekede Regassa
Claudio Sillero‐Zubiri
Jorgelina Marino
Successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered Ethiopian wolf
Conservation Science and Practice
Canidae
Canis simensis
captivity
conservation translocation
dispersal
GPS
title Successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered Ethiopian wolf
title_full Successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered Ethiopian wolf
title_fullStr Successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered Ethiopian wolf
title_full_unstemmed Successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered Ethiopian wolf
title_short Successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered Ethiopian wolf
title_sort successful first rehabilitation and release of an endangered ethiopian wolf
topic Canidae
Canis simensis
captivity
conservation translocation
dispersal
GPS
url https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70075
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AT girmaeshete successfulfirstrehabilitationandreleaseofanendangeredethiopianwolf
AT donjeanleandribreton successfulfirstrehabilitationandreleaseofanendangeredethiopianwolf
AT fekederegassa successfulfirstrehabilitationandreleaseofanendangeredethiopianwolf
AT claudiosillerozubiri successfulfirstrehabilitationandreleaseofanendangeredethiopianwolf
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