This remarkable survivor is the African golden wolf, a highly adaptable predator commonly found across North and parts of East Africa. It has thrived in a range of harsh environments, particularly arid and semi-arid regions, where water is scarce and temperatures can be extreme. This wolf is perfectly suited to desert life, capable of enduring long periods without direct access to water by obtaining moisture from its prey and the fruits it consumes.
The African golden wolf is an opportunistic hunter with a broad and varied diet. As a skilled predator and scavenger, it feeds on everything from insects and small reptiles to rodents and birds, and it won’t hesitate to go after larger prey like young antelope or even gazelles if the opportunity arises. However, this adaptable carnivore also supplements its meals with fruit, berries, and roots when animal prey is scarce. In areas near human settlements, they are known to scavenge from garbage and feast on discarded food or animal carcasses, which shows just how versatile and resourceful they can be.
Despite their adaptability, African golden wolves face serious challenges. The biggest threat to their survival is habitat loss, driven by expanding human activity. As cities, villages, roads, and farmlands spread across once-wild landscapes, these wolves lose critical hunting grounds and denning sites. The fragmentation of their natural habitat forces them closer to human settlements, where conflicts often arise. People sometimes view them as threats to livestock and livelihoods, leading to retaliatory killings. Additionally, as they scavenge closer to urban areas, they become more vulnerable to diseases transmitted by domestic animals, further endangering their populations.
Distribution
Algeria
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Guinea
Kenya
Libya
Mali
Mauritania
Morocco
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
TunisiaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
