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IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group

2019 Report

Claudio Sillero-Zubiri

Chair Mission statement (4) to help raise funding for canid research and Claudio Sillero-Zubiri (1) Our mission is to promote the long-term conser- conservation and undertake research directly vation of all wild species throughout when necessary or appropriate; (5) to improve Red List Authority Coordinator their ranges. management of the common and sometimes Michael Hoffmann (2) troublesome species; (6) to build capacity through the exchange of ideas, information, and Projected impact for the 2017-2020 technical expertise among the members of the Location/Affiliation quadrennium Group. (1) Conservation Research Unit By the end of 2020, we aim to make advances (WildCRU), Zoology Department, University in reducing the extinction risk of key threatened of Oxford, Oxford, UK Targets for the 2017-2020 quadrennium canid species. Our focus will be on species (2) Department of Conservation and Policy, currently classified as , Assess Zoological Society of London, London, UK Endangered, Vulnerable and Near Threatened. Green List: complete Green List assessment for This aim will be achieved through the imple- two canid species. Number of members mentation of the following objectives: (1) to Red List: complete Red List reassessment of all 115 compile, synthesise and disseminate infor- canid species. mation on the conservation and status of all Research activities: (1) complete update of Social networks canid species across their range, with particular status of Grey ( lupus) in ; Facebook: IUCN Canid Specialist Group emphasis on species which are threatened or (2) conduct survey of Kit ( macrotis) Twitter: @WildCanids rare; (2) to provide and improve technical infor- and (Vulpes velox) research and Website: https://www.canids.org mation and advice on all matters concerning conservation efforts; (3) resolve systematic YouTube: Wild Canids wild canids, including their status in the wild, ambiguity surrounding old ‘Canis lupus’ taxa; the threats they face and their conservation (4) monitor the status of the Darwin’s Fox requirements, biology and natural history to (Lycalopex fulvipes) in two protected areas of all relevant bodies (range state government southern Chile; (5) generate and maintain infor- agencies; non-governmental organisations, mation on (Cuon alpinus) distribution and including national and international organisa- identify sub-populations and connectivity to tions and potential funding bodies; inter-gov- ensure viable populations. ernmental organisations, e.g. IUCN, CITES; field Plan projects concerned with canid conservation); Planning: (1) more effective engagement within (3) to promote and catalyse conservation activi- the Maned Working Group through devel- ties benefitting wild canids, to be carried out by oping collaborative actions; (2) implement the above, prioritising and coordinating efforts regional strategies and support new national of researchers and conservationists worldwide; action plans under the Range Wide Conser- vation Program for and African Wild ; (3) develop national conservation action plan for Darwin’s Fox (Lycalopex fulvipes); (4) contribute to the new document on guidance to species conservation of the European Commis- sion; (5) organise Dhole Population and Viability Assessment (PHVA). , , in Quinyambie Photo: Benjamin Allen

Act Conservation actions: (1) advance recovery of (Canis rufus) under the Act; (2) protect Ethiopian Wolves (Canis simensis) from disease through an integrated disease management strategy, with One Health benefits; (3) rescue Ethiopian Wolves through conservation translocations. Network Communication: establish Amazonian Canids listserv. Membership: (1) develop Canid Specialist Group (CSG) membership and invigorate Working Groups; (2) address succession plan for the CSG. Synergy: develop methods to integrate results of the Global Integrated Collection Assessment and Planning (ICAP) Workshop for Canids and Hyaenids Report. Communicate Communication: (1) develop context-specific methods for estimating Dhole abundance, demographic and ecological requirements; (2) compile Dhole publications and post on the Darwin’s Fox / Chilean Fox, Dhole Conservation Fund website; (3) develop Lycalopex fulvipes Photo: Chiloé Silvestre range-wide health canid monitoring capacity and response; (4) evaluate human-Dhole conflict and relevant mitigation methods for use across the Dhole distribution range; (5) develop Amazonian Canids Section in canids.org. Scientific meetings: (1) co-host the 2nd Interna- tional Symposium, Marathon Bay, ; (2) endorse and contribute to the 6th Fox Conference in ; (3) organise the Annual Group Meeting. Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, known as Kangal or Karabaş Dogs, are common breed of guarding used Black-baked Jackal, Canis mesomelas, hunt in the Kars-Ardahan area, Photo: Miha Krofel Photo: Josip Kusak

Activities and results 2019

Assess Red List i. All canid species assessments are currently completed (and less than 10 old). (KSR #1) Research activities i. A meeting was organised by CSG and CIBIO (Research Centre in and Genetic Resources, Porto University) to resolve the systematic ambiguity surrounding the old ‘Canis lupus’ taxa, in Porto, Portugal. It was attended by 14 experts, most of them CSG members (see https://www.canids.org/CBC/Old_World_Canis_ Taxonomy_Workshop.pdf). (KSR #32) Plan , Vulpes bengalensis, in the of Photo: Naresh Kusi Planning i. Two countries (Zambia and ) secured official endorsement for revised and updated National Conservation Action Plans (NCAPs) for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs. One country (Senegal) developed plans in 2019 for conducting a workshop to develop an NCAP for African Wild Dogs ( pictus) in 2020; Terms of Reference are being developed. One region (eastern ) secured funding (from SAFE: Saving From Extinction) for an international workshop in 2020 to review the regional conservation strategy for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs. Three countries with resident populations (, South Sudan, and ) were added to the 11 coun- tries engaging in the Range Wide Conserva- tion Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dog (RWCP) National Cheetah/Carnivore Coordina- , Vulpes vulpes, in Photo: Laura Prugh

Wolves, Canis lupus, feeding Photo: Josip Kusak

tors (NCCs) programme to promote implemen- Act Summary of activities 2019 tation of NCAPs for Cheetah and African Wild Conservation actions Components of Species Conservation Cycle: 55 Dogs. Each NCC has either planned or begun i. Protection of Ethiopian Wolves from disease Assess 2 || to implement their own small-scale projects, at through an integrated disease management Plan 3 ||| least one in each country, towards the imple- strategy: Refer to Conservation Act 2 || mentation of their NCAPs. Ten countries with Programme (EWCP) Annual Reports (available at resident African Wild Dog populations received https://www.ethiopianwolf.org). (KSR #23, 32) Network 1 | training from the RWCP and either planned or ii. Fundraising efforts to rescue Ethiopian Communicate 1 | initiated small projects in 2019 towards imple- Wolves through conservation translocations: we Main KSRs addressed: 1, 15, 18, 20, 23, 24, menting NCAPs. NCC training was carried out secured some seed money for phase I. 26, 28, 32 for all NCC countries (brackets are countries (KSR #24) KSR: Key Species Result without resident African Wild Dogs) and small NCC projects either planned or implemented in: Network (Algeria), Angola, (Benin), , (Burkina Membership Faso), Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, (Niger), i. Working Groups have been reinvigorated, a South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe. new Dingo Working Group was established, and (KSR #15, 18, 20) membership reviewed, with 15 new members ii. Meetings were held in Bruxelles, in 2019, to recruited. contribute to the new document on guidance to Communicate species conservation of the European Commis- Scientific meetings sion. (KSR #15, 26) i. The Annual Island Fox Group Meeting has iii. The February 2019 Population and Habitat been conducted annually since 2004 and will be Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshop brought continued for the foreseeable future. (KSR #28) together 30 experts from nine range countries, 0 to produce a plan for the Dhole for its entire Acknowledgements range. Outcomes include: (1) species distri- bution model, (2) population viability model, The CSG is hosted by the WildCRU at the Univer- and (3) identifying conservation priorities and sity of Oxford. The Chair is kindly sponsored by actions specific to each range country. The the Born Free Foundation, who funds his Bill report and action plan will be shared with Travers Chair for at Lady stakeholders to help guide management poli- Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. We are cies for Dhole in each country. Additionally, a grateful to the many organisations and char- network of relevant professionals and institu- ities, including Born Free Foundation, Fonda- tions was established, leading to collaborative tion Segre, IUCN SOS, research, synergistic knowledge-sharing and Network, Wildlife Conservation Society, and communication/outreach activities. See https:// many more, that have supported key field activ- www.canids.org/resources/Dhole_PHVA_ ities to protect wild canids. We are grateful for Report_2020.pdf. (KSR #15) the many colleagues that assisted in Red List reassessment and attended the Dhole and canid meetings.