Rabies vaccine to protect the Ethiopian wolf

The wolves' livelihood is shrinking. In the densely populated country of Ethiopia, people are also moving into the high mountains to use the land for agriculture. They drive their cattle to pastures or collect firewood, thereby changing the native flora. The wolves' natural habitats are becoming increasingly scarce, their prey is becoming fewer and fewer, and the wolves are trying to avoid the farmers by moving ever higher into the mountains.

But the greatest threat to the survival of the Ethiopian wolves is invisible: farmers and their dogs are penetrating the wolf's habitat and bringing deadly diseases with them. Canine distemper and rabies break out again and again and have devastating effects. The highly contagious diseases cause nerve damage, encephalitis, paralysis and lead to painful death.

Outbreaks in 1990, 2003, 2009, 2014 and most recently in 2016 resulted in up to 75% of the Ethiopian wolf population dying. These large losses pose an immense threat to the long-term survival of the last Ethiopian wolves. In addition, the spread of rabies endangers the health of the local population.