The annual Wolf Day celebration which celebrates the rare Ethiopian wolf and its afroalpine habitat took place on Sunday 7th March in Dinsho, Ethiopia, a key area of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Programme’s efforts.
Anne-Marie Stewart, Field Director of EWCP reports on the day:
Fun and games (and no rain) at the 12th annual Wolf Day in Dinsho.
On Sunday the 7th of March, we held our 12th Wolf Day in Dinsho, and all anyone could think about was, “Please let the rain hold off!”
For the past two weeks it hasn’t stopped raining here – the normally tranquil streams have turned into raging rivers that are in danger of breaking their banks, while the roads and dirt tracks in town are slippery mud slides that threaten to send you sliding headlong into a puddle. So understandably we were all concerned that Wolf Day could turn into a mud bath!
However, the weather, for once, was on our side, and although the rain clouds gathered ominously over the mountains, in Dinsho we were treated to patches of blue sky and sunshine.
A very soggy field © EWCP
The day opened with a blessing from the village elders, and then the Bale Beauty Nature Club presented us with a cake they had baked, marking the 12th Wolf Day for EWCP (the cake didn’t last very long, as the invited guests and dignitaries were keen to sample the best of Bale baking!).
Receiving the cake from Bale Beauty Nature Club © EWCP
Numerous sports matches were held during the day, with the EWCP Wolf team facing the Dinsho Club in the football finals. Unfortunately EWCP went down one-nil, but all the players did very well while having to deal with a horribly sodden pitch.
Penalty shootout © EWCP
Two volleyball matches, the final of the primary school football league, and the 5000m race concluded the sporting part of the day. We were also treated to various plays and singing competitions, as well as an art display from the Dinsho Primary School. A pot-smashing game and a raffle brought the proceedings for the day to a close, and all the EWCP staff breathed a sigh of relief.
Smashing the pot © EWCP
Drama on Wolf Day © EWCP
Another successful Wolf Day, the rain stayed away, and the community came together once again to celebrate the Ethiopian wolf and the afroalpine. A big thank you to all the EWCP staff who ensured that the day ran smoothly.
The Ethiopian wolf is the most endangered canid in the world, and Africa’s most endangered carnivore. Less than 450 Ethiopian wolves survive today, in seven isolated populations in the Highlands of Ethiopia. There are no captive wolves anywhere in the world.
The aim of Wolf Day is to celebrate the Ethiopian wolf and its afroalpine habitat through games, sports matches and entertainment. One of the area’s largest public events in the area, Wolf Day brings communities and conservationists together to highlight the importance of biodiversity in Bale and the importance of rabies vaccinations to conserve Ethiopian wolves.
Born Free is entering its 15th year of support for the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) which has worked to protect this amazing, rare animal since 1995.
You can help ensure the survival of the Ethiopian wolf!
Every contribution made to EWCP through Born Free goes towards running the programme in Ethiopia. You can help EWCP continue their domestic dog vaccinations to stop the spread of diseases to the wolves – these vaccinations have also shown positive results in preventing rabies in the human population too. Your donation will also allow expansion of the education programme, visiting more schools and villages to increase their understanding about wolf conservation and the need for Afroalpine protection.
Or you can adopt the Sodata Ethiopian wolf pack here!
Click here for further information on the Ethiopian wolf and the work of the EWCP.
Dec 23rd Derek H USD 57.50
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