Ethiopian Wolf
The Ethiopian wolf is one of the rarest and most endangered canid in the world and is currently protected by Ethiopian law. Total population under 1,000 individuals. The Bale Mountains National Park supports the only known population of any size estimated at 500 to 600 individuals. They seem to be limited to the Mountains of Ethiopia. Bale and Arssi Mountains of southeast Ethiopia, The Simien Mountains, Northeast Shoa, Gojjam and Mt. Guna. Their prey ranges in size from rabbits to grass rats. They hunt small prey and scavenge. They hunt alone by day, they gather in groups of 2 to 15 in the mournings, afternoons and evenings. The average size of a Ethiopian Wolf pack is about 7 wolves. The adults and young adults sleep together in a group, while the pups sleep in dens. All members of the pack regurgitate food for the young. Mostly all the members help with the raising of the pups. Play-fighting among pups in the first few weeks begins to establish rank between siblings.
red wolf
Red Wolves are only one of two species of wolves in the world. The other species is the larger Gray Wolf. In 1973 they were declared an endangered species and in 1980 the USFWS officially declared the Red Wolf extinct in the wild. However the USFWS captured 17 red wolves prior to 1980 and has used an extensive breeding programs in over 38 zoos and nature centers around the US to bring their numbers back to around 265 individuals as of August 2005. In 1987 the Red Wolf was reintroduced first into the wilds of North Carolina and it is estimated that there are over 100 Red Wolves in the wild now. Another 165 or so are still in the captive breeding programs. An adult red wolf weighs between 50-80 pounds and is about 4 feet long from the tip of its tail to its nose. Red Wolves eat rabbits, deer, raccoon's and rodents. Red Wolves live in packs of 5 to 8 individuals.
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf eats large hoofed mammals, like elk, deer, moose and caribou. They are also known to eat beaver, rabbits and other small prey. They are also scavengers and often eat animals that have died due to other causes like starvation and disease. There are an estimated 7,000 to 11,200 gray wolves in Alaska and more than 5,000 in the lower 48 states. Around the world there are an estimated 200,000 in 57 countries, compared to up to 2 million in earlier times. Wolves live, travel and hunt in packs of 4-7 animals on average. Packs include the mother and father wolves, called the alphas, their pups and several other young animals. The alpha female and male are the pack leaders that track and hunt prey, choose den sites and make the pack's territory. Wolves develop close relationships and strong social bonds. They often have deep affection for their family and may even sacrifice themselves to protect the family. Pups are born blind and defenseless. The pack cares for the pups until they mature at about 10 months of age.