African Wolf: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Hunters · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. In ancient Egypt the African wolf was revered, even worshipped as a deity in Lycopolis, the "city of the wolf".
2. African wolves make seven recorded sounds, from howls and barks to growls, whines and cackles. Each subspecies has its own howl.
3. African wolves feed alongside spotted hyenas, but get chased if they come too close. Hyenas sometimes follow wolves in gazelle fawning season.
4. African wolves can still interbreed with golden jackals, as shown by a 19th-century experiment and modern Israeli genetic tests.
5. African wolves are monogamous, and offspring stay with their parents to help raise the younger pups.

The quiz

1. What does the name of the Egyptian city Lycopolis mean?

• City of the sun
• City of the dog
• City of the wolf (correct)
• City of the jackals

The name Lycopolis means "city of the wolf".

2. What can tell African wolf subspecies apart?

• Their howls (correct)
• Their tails
• Their eye colour
• Their paw prints

Each subspecies can be recognised by its own kind of howl.

3. What happens if African wolves get too close to spotted hyenas feeding?

• They are welcomed
• They steal the food
• They join the pack
• They are chased away (correct)

Wolves feed alongside spotted hyenas but are chased if they approach too closely.

4. Which animal can the African wolf still interbreed with?

• The red fox
• The golden jackal (correct)
• The hyena
• The Ethiopian lion

African wolves can still interbreed with golden jackals.

5. What do older offspring do in an African wolf family?

• Help raise the younger pups (correct)
• Leave at once
• Hunt alone
• Guard the border

Offspring stay with the parents to help raise the younger pups.

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