The African golden wolf: a highly adaptable canid Canid News 2026 issue 2
The African Wolf (Canis lupaster), once considered an African variant of the Golden Jackal, is a highly mobile canid native to North Africa, West Africa, northern East Africa and the Horn of Africa. These wolves thrive in diverse habitats ranging from grasslands and mountainous regions to desert landscapes and hyper arid dunes. Primarily predators of invertebrates and small mammals, they also play a crucial ecological role as scavengers, feeding on carcasses and even human garbage.
Remarkably, research in northern Ethiopia has shown that golden wolves exhibit unusual adaptability: unlike many other canids, their population density increases in areas with high human activity. This is likely due to the depletion of natural prey by humans, forcing the wolves to rely on alternative food sources such as livestock remains and human waste, especially during droughts. Golden wolves are territorial, but they have been observed crossing territorial boundaries to scavenge from carcasses when opportunities arise.
This spectacular behavior was documented in June 2025. Wildlife biologist Liomba-Junior Mathe, while on a camera trap field trip in the remote desert of western Somaliland (Somalia), sighted two African golden wolves feeding on a camel carcass — a testament to their opportunistic behavior and nature’s resilience. The images capture a raw moment of desert adaptability and survival of one of the most prominent meso-carnivores in Africa. The carcass represents a source of life in a land of scarcity and sun-baked terrain.
Observation details
Date stamp: June 2025. Photos: © Liomba-Junior Mathe. Role: PhD Researcher & Ecologist, Cheetah Conservation Fund. Location: near Caasha Caddo, Awdal Region, Western Somaliland.