Introduction
Restoring Red Wolves back into the ecosystem will enhance diversity as they will fulfil the predator role. Red Wolves will also control prey populations such as deer and rabbits; These species are a main part of their diet. The Red Wolf species is an ‘umbrella species’; This means that an ecosystem that conserves Red Wolves will most likely maintain a variety of different wildlife and plants (Wheeler, K., Hutt, C. and Schrader, G., 2008).
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
The Red Wolf is within the genus Canis along with seven other recognised species. The genus Canis belongs to the family Canidae which therefore belongs to the order Carnivora; The predatory mammals in this order are characterised by their pair of carnassial teeth. (Sillero-Zubiri, C., Hoffmann, M. and Macdonald, D.W., 2004). The family Canidae is split into two tribes which are Canini and Vulpini. The two tribes are thought to be sister groups. The Canini tribe is divided into two sub-tribes which are Canina and Cerdoyconina. The sub-tribe Canina includes the genus Canis (Tedford, R. 2009).
Description
Red Wolves are medium sized species of wolf, but are smaller than its relatives, the Grey Wolf. Red Wolves have pointed ears and slender legs with large feet. Males are larger than females. The average Red Wolf weighs around 50-80lbs and can grow to 5-foot long. The average lifespan for a Red Wolf in the wild is 6-7 years whereas 15 years in captivity. The Red wolf got its name for the cinnamon coloured fur they possess; Most of their fur is a brown/red colour with dark patches on their backs. Their diet consists of deer and small mammals, but will vary depending on available prey. There is very little information about the Red Wolf habitat as the species was rapidly reduced before research could begin. It’s thought that red wolves live in habitats such as swamps, forests, and wetlands (Ginsberg, J.R. and Macdonald, D.W., 1990).
Red Wolves are nocturnal animals. They communicate primarily by scent marking. Other communication techniques include body postures and facial expressions. Red Wolves either hunt as individuals or in small packs. The complex social structure includes the alpha male and female (breeding pair), and their offspring. The size of the pack varies and consists of dominant and subordinate individuals which allows the pack to function as a group. Red Wolves are monogamous animals therefore only breed with one other individual for life. Red Wolves mating season occurs in late winter where their gestation period last up to 2 months. Red Wolves normally give birth to a litter of 2-8 pups. The dens are usually located in stream banks and inside hollow trees (Anon, 2017).
Distribution
Red Wolves used to inhabit the Eastern and Southcentral United States until the individuals had become an endangered species in the wild in 1967. The Red Wolf distribution map is shown on page 2 in figure 1. A captive breeding program was quickly put in place to enable the species to be reintroduced one day. Around 15 individuals were captured from the wild and placed in zoos to begin the program. The population was later decimated and marked extinct in the wild in 1980. This species only exists because less than 150 individuals were reintroduced in North Carolina, USA in 1987. Red Wolves were introduced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The abundance outside the reintroduction zone is
unknown. (IUCN, 2008).
Current Conservation Status
The Red Wolf is one of the most endangered canids. The species is thought to be the 11th most endangered animal species in the world. According to IUCN Red List, the Red Wolf is critically endangered, but the population is increasing every year. The Red Wolf is not included in the CITES appendices, but is listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (IUCN, 2008).
Threats
Habitat loss and Fragmentation
The Red Wolves’ habitat was destroyed due to woodlands being cleared for agriculture purposes. Habitat fragmentation is when large areas of habitat are divided into smaller areas, normally due to human activity. This is one of the biggest problems for Red Wolves as they have an extensive range in where they travel. Fragmentation was one of the main causes for the species to become extinct and still threatens them currently; this is due to barriers and development happening on both public and private land (Anon, 2009).
Hybridisation
The main threat with Red Wolves is hybridisation with Coyotes. Hybridisation with Coyotes was detected as a problem after the Red Wolves had become extinct in the wild. The Red Wolf population became increasingly fragmented, which caused isolated individuals to crossbreed with the closely related Coyote (Canis lupus). There are many debates saying that the Red Wolf should be a unique species. In the absence of hybridisation, the Red Wolf population should be able to increase (Anon, 2009).
Other threats
Another reason that caused the Red Wolf population to decline was due to the local farmers; The farmers would shoot the individuals because they were deemed a threat to their livestock. Hunters would also shoot Red Wolves as they were a threat to the game. Other reasons that could reduce the Red Wolves population are severe weather and death by vehicles. Canid diseases remain a threat to Red Wolves. A parovirus, CPV2, could have a serious impact on pup survival (Anon, 2010).
Current Conservation Action Plans
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) started a Red Wolf recovery program after the species was deemed endangered in 1967. They were able to capture more than 10 individuals and place them in captivity before the Red Wolf was classed as extinct in 1980. In 1987, USFWS began to reintroduce Red Wolves in a protected area in North Carolina, USA. The Red Wolf Coalition (RWC) was founded in 1997 and is a non-profit organisation. Their purpose is to provide the public with important information about Red Wolves and their biology and ecology (Anon, 2009). The Red Wolf reintroduction site in North Carolina contains three national wildlife refuges (Alligator River NWR, Pocosin Lakes NWR, and Mattamuskeet NWR); This provides protection for the Wolves (IUCN, 2008).
Aims of Action Plan
There are four main aims of this action plan. The aims are to protect the Red Wolves in the first reintroduction site. The second aim is to reduce hybridisation. The third aim is to reduce habitat fragmentation. Reducing habitat fragmentation will hopefully reduce hybridisation. The last aim of this action plan is educating the public, hunters and farmers about the importance of reintroducing Red Wolves and how critically endangered they are.
Target Audience
The target audience for this action plan will be the general public, the local communities, hunters and conservationists. The action plan will educate these groups to understand the importance of Red Wolves and how they contribute to the ecosystem and diversity in the surrounding area. USFWS and RWC will also be target audiences as they will hopefully fund this action plan.