From the seasonal waterways of Botswana to the coastal deserts of Ecuador, wild dogs, wolves and foxes inhabit some of our planet’s most delicate biomes, says Summer Rylander.
Many of them, however, are decreasing in numbers. Threatened by habitat loss, disease and human-wildlife conflict, endangered candids are in urgent need of careful conservation efforts.
- The weirdest dogs on the planet, including one that can climb a tree like a primate and another that looks like a cuddly bear
- The deadliest dogs on Earth: Discover the world's most ferocious wild canine hunters
- 10 fearsome prehistoric dogs that roamed the Earth millions of years ago: Are these the deadliest canine hunters of all time?
These are 10 of the world’s rarest wild dogs. Some are on the brink of extinction, others are in steady decline – yet all of them, as predators influencing everything from prey populations to vegetation growth, play critical roles in their ecosystems.
Rarest dogs in the world
Ethiopian Wolf
The rust-coloured Ethiopian wolf lives in the highlands of Ethiopia’s Bale and Simien Mountains. With fewer than 500 remaining, the sleek, almost fox-like Ethiopian wolf holds the title of world’s rarest wild candid.
Though they are solitary hunters, these wolves are highly communal. They live in packs and communicate through frequent vocalisations as they share in the duties of raising pups and protecting territories. Rodents – giant mole rats are a favourite – are their primary diet.
Ethiopian wolves are susceptible to diseases, with rabies (one of the world's deadliest zoonotic diseases) and canine distemper taking the largest toll, but they’re under threat largely due to habitat loss. As temperatures rise and human populations increase, subsistence farming and livestock grazing grounds push further into the wolves’ high-altitude home. Ensuring a future that includes Ethiopian wolves will require targeted, consistent conservation action.
Red wolf
Native to the southeastern United States, red wolves once roamed in abundance, preying on the likes of squirrels, raccoons and small deer. They were declared extinct in 1980 before successful reintroduction, and today they are among the rarest of canids with fewer than 25 remaining in the woods of North Carolina’s Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Spotting them is incredibly difficult due to their shy nature and nocturnal rhythms.
Despite a wild population perilously close to extinction due to habitat loss and persecution, there are approximately 200 red wolves in captive breeding programmes. This makes them a slightly more stable species than the Ethiopian wolf from a conservation biology perspective, though genetic hybridisation with coyotes is an ongoing point of controversy.
Darwin’s fox
The diminutive, forest-dwelling Darwin’s fox is among South America’s most endangered carnivores. Endemic to southern Chile, the first descriptions of this dark grey-brown fox are attributed to Charles Darwin during his 1834 voyage, who promptly struck one on the head with his geological hammer for species collection.
Current numbers of Darwin’s foxes are estimated to be well under 1,000 individuals, with some residing on Chiloé Island and others within Chile’s mainland coastal forests. The small foxes feast upon rodents, insects, fruits and will scavenge should the opportunity arise. Habitat preservation is the most important aspect to conservation efforts of Darwin's foxes as their temperate rainforest homes are under constant threat of logging and development for roads and agriculture.
African wild dog
Also known as painted dogs or painted wolves, the African wild dog is unmistakable with its long legs, large round ears and beautifully patterned coat in black, gold and white. These highly social wild dogs are known for their hunting prowess and ability to work in teams – they even ‘vote’ by way of sneezing.
- Remembering African Wild Dogs: Beautiful photographs of this wild canine, also known as painted dogs.
- Mountain chicken, African wild dog and Grey-Shanked Douc Langur on the brink of extinction say experts
Like other canids on this list, African wild dogs are in decline due to loss of habit, conflict with humans and spread of disease. About 6,000 are estimated to remain, mostly within Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Because African wild dogs roam so widely – sometimes covering more than 50 kilometres per day – they are especially vulnerable to human conflict and encroachment. Landscape conservation is key for these efficient predators.
Island fox
Found only within six of California’s eight Channel Islands, the tiny and aptly named island fox is a prime example of evolution in isolation. Each island’s population is its own subspecies of island fox, which are all descendants of the North American grey fox.
The once-abundant island fox suffered greatly from the removal of bald eagles from the Channel Islands, leaving golden eagles free to prey on the housecat-sized foxes. In the face of golden eagle colonisation and habitat degradation, island fox populations fell to just a handful of individuals.
While still extremely rare due to its limited geographical scope, the island fox stands as a conservation success story. A combination of eagle relocation, habitat restoration and captive breeding led to the removal of the island fox from the US Endangered Species List in 2016 – remarkably quick considering the sharp population decline only happened in the 1990s.
Dhole
Dholes, sometimes called Asiatic wild dogs, live in packs throughout the forests and grasslands of southern and eastern Asia. They are in steep decline with fewer than 2,500 remaining thanks to – once again – human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss. While dholes don’t usually receive the same levels of preservation awareness as, say, tigers and snow leopards, interest is increasing. Nepal has even just launched a 10-year plan to study dholes and implement conservation actions.
These clever canids are known for their distinctive whistle, which they use to communicate and coordinate pack movements during hunts. Dholes prey mainly on species of deer and wild pigs, often relying on ambush tactics over energy-expending pursuits.
Sechuran Fox
The little-known Sechuran fox, or Peruvian desert fox, resides in the arid deserts and forests of coastal Peru and southern Ecuador. These small, well-adapted foxes are solitary and hearty, feeding mostly on rodents and insects. They’re able to withstand extended periods of time without water, but as their desert habitats degrade through climate change and human encroachment, the Sechuran fox is subject to dwindling populations.
Because the Sechuran fox is not widely studied, its exact numbers are unclear. The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, with population estimates falling somewhere between 5,000 and 15,000 individuals.
Hoary Fox
Hoary foxes are found primarily in the Brazilian Cerrado, an area regarded as the most biodiverse savanna on Earth. The hoary fox – named for its grey-white coat – is largely insectivorous, dining on termites, grasshoppers and beetles alongside fruits and the occasional rodent.
No surprise that the largest threat to the hoary fox is that which threatens the whole of the Cerrado: agricultural habitat loss. Soy and cattle farming are especially prevalent choices for land use. Like other specialised foxes around the continent, hoary foxes are not well-studied, though dedicated efforts have confirmed that foxes within protected areas have a more nutritious diet than those in areas disturbed by livestock pastures.
Himalayan wolf
Living at high altitude in its namesake mountains, the Himalayan wolf is uniquely adapted for survival in harsh conditions. Once believed to be a subspecies of the grey wolf, researchers have found that the Himalayan wolf is indeed genetically distinct, having evolved to cope with lower levels of oxygen. These wolves receive far less conservation attention than snow leopards – though the two predators coexist and often seek the same prey, like blue sheep and ibex.
Livestock, too, can become a target for a hungry Himalayan wolf. Retaliatory killings contribute to the declining population – estimated at less than 4,000 individuals – as do ongoing threats from climate change and subsequent habitat degradation.
Bush Dog
The semi-aquatic bush dog is perhaps the most unusual wild canid on our list. With its webbed feet and long, stout body atop short legs, the bush dog bears resemblance to an otter. Genetically, though, bush dogs are most closely related to the (also rare but much taller) maned wolf.
Bush dogs live in the wetlands and rainforests of Central and South America. Like many other canids, they’re social creatures and live in packs, hunting cooperatively for large rodents like capybaras and pacas. Thanks to their aquatic adaptations, bush dogs are great swimmers and thrive in the waterways of their tropical environments. Current population estimates sit below 10,000, with a decline expected due to ongoing loss of forest habitats.
- Wolf vs dog: what's the difference between man's best friend and its wild cousin?
- This desert cutie is the smallest dog in the world - and also the dog with the biggest ears
- Can wolves and foxes interbreed?
- This prehistoric monster is the largest dog that ever lived and was able to crush bone with its deadly teeth – but was wiped out by cats
- Can dogs and foxes interbreed?
