Hello my brothers and sisters in our free wildlife class. I hope you are healthy and continuing with your daily responsibilities and I also wish you good health and the fulfillment of your nation-building responsibilities. So as usual today let's go back to class and learn a little bit about our wildlife which is a very rare resource to find in other parts of the world.
And today I would like to know the animal that is currently endangered in the world, and not only that but you will not find this animal outside the African continent.
Directly today we will see an animal named * "AFRICAN WOLF" * INTRODUCTION
The African wolf is a breed of dog that has many interesting traits especially from its socialist group. They are well-known animals for their unity and cooperation especially when they are on the hunt. But these animals have been subjected to many challenges and even to the point of being confined to an endangered species. But it is easy to distinguish these wolves from other breeds of dogs such as domestic dogs and wild ones.
So I ask you dear reader of this article to be with me from the beginning to the end of this free class as you will learn a lot about these animals which are the pride of Africa but also here in Tanzania as we still have these animals.
BEHAVIOR AND BEHAVIOR OF WILD AFRICAN DOGS
1. They are highly social and cohesive animals and are said to be at the highest level among animals that live together.
2. They have feathers of different colors and especially how they look on his body. These colors on the body of the African wolf include red, black, white, brown and yellow which each animal has its own color scheme and never the same animal.
3. The color of their fur helps these animals to hide in the environment in which they live and thus makes it difficult to be seen by enemies or animals dangerous to them.
4. They have big ears, long noses, long legs and four toes on each foot.
5. A group of wolves can count 10-30 animals.
6. They live to help each other a lot especially when their partner is sick but they also help each other even during childcare.
7. The African wolf communicates with each other through various means such as touch, voice and gestures as well.
8.Before the start of the hunt they gather in one group and become closer together to achieve success in their prey.
9. If one person disappears from the group and returns later the others kill him as it comes with another smell so he has to run away and go start a new life.
Do you know?
1.Wolves have four toes on each foot and is this one of the biggest differences between these animals and other carnivorous species?
2. Are wolves among the animals that eat the prey while they are still breathing?
KIMO, LIGHT WEIGHT OF AFRICAN WOLF DOGS
Height = height is up to 30 inches or more (approximately 3 feet)
Height = reaches 30-56 inches (equivalent to 3-5 feet)
Weight = reaches a weight of up to 18–25 kg.
ENVIRONMENT
Wolves are animals that are able to survive in a wide range of environments such as grasslands, deserts and forests.
GROWTH
Wolves are among the carnivorous animals and prefer to hunt medium-sized animals such as antelope, pongo, antelope and wild boar.
BIRTH
Immediately after mating the female wolf stays pregnant for about 70 days (equivalent to two months and ten days). She then gives birth from 2 to 20 babies (2-20 babies) and is left to fend for herself within a few weeks until they can be independent. They rely on their peers in the group for food.
African wolf cubs begin to mingle in the herd two to three months after birth and this time they are assisted by the whole herd in terms of food and protection as well as until they become self-sufficient and this is where they leave and join the herds. other or establish their own group. And it is said that the more they look after children, the more likely they are to grow up.
The life of African wolves in their natural habitat is 10 to 12 years (10-12).
CONSERVATION AND NUMBER OF WILD AFRICAN DOGS
According to figures from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), African wolves are endangered. As I mentioned above these animals are not found anywhere else in the world other than the African continent and only a few countries in Africa will also be able to see these animals.
These animals have been very protected from extinction especially here in Tanzania but there are still concerns about the increase in these animals and this is due to the low motivation to contribute to the conservation of these animals. But research has shown that the number of these animals is declining day by day.
Statistics currently show that the number of African wolves on the African continent does not exceed 7,000. This is very sad as it is a very small number compared to other wildlife.
THREATS AND ENEMIES FOR AFRICAN WOLVES ESPECIALLY HERE IN TANZANIA
1. The biggest threat to African wolves is pastoralists who have been killing these animals for fear of being eaten by their livestock. Breeders have been killing these animals at an alarming rate, eventually leading to the extinction of these animals.
2. Diseases, these are also a second challenge or threat to these animals and this is due to environmental degradation which also leads to interactions between African wolves and humans as well as domesticated animals.
3. Environmental degradation and encroachment on the habitat of these animals as it has led to these animals remaining with a very small area around them. This has led to the failure to spread to many areas as the loops of their circuits are currently closed mainly due to environmental degradation and human activities.
4. There are enemies like hyenas and lions that have also been harassing African wolves but this happens if lions or hyenas find the wolf alone and not in a herd. Because the wolves in the herd are fearless and are so brave that they are able to kill even the lions.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP AFRICAN WILD DOGS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN TANZANIA
1. Ensuring the existing areas are well protected but also adding areas that will allow wolves to roam the vast area and connect the areas of these animals that have been closed as it will even increase the likelihood of breeding of these animals.
2. The relevant authorities should ensure that they work with communities around protected areas and even communities that are far away to reduce or completely eliminate the issue of poaching due to ongoing conflicts between wildlife and humans.
3. Introduce a variety of techniques that will help protect small herds of wolves especially from diseases that appear to be the second threat to these animals.
4. Regular research should be done to identify areas that are most affected by environmental degradation and affect the growth of these animals in order to expand the field for the dispersal and breeding of these wolves.
5. Regular monitoring of the direction of these animals but also knowing some of the other emerging diseases is likely to be a very serious threat and slow down the growth of these animals.
6. Pastoralist communities living near national parks should seek alternative land with good land that allows grass for their livestock to reduce or eliminate the suffering of these animals for what is described as retaliation for the consumption of their livestock.
7. The government through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Wildlife Conservation Authority should work together to establish special areas for raising these animals so that they can breed and increase their numbers and then release them into the reserve.
CONCLUSION
These animals have been declining at an alarming rate and causing massive collisions in the heads of humans, especially those who value wildlife conservation. There was a time when the Serengeti national park departments worked hard to take care of these animals and breed them so that the numbers could increase and thankfully they succeeded. But at present and statistics show that the numbers of these animals are still declining sharply and that much effort is needed to save these animals.
And citizens, let us work together to save these animals for present and future generations.
Tags:
African Wolf