(The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Big Canids

This article was originally published by Youth Time International Magazine

Humankind has a millennia-long history with canids, having domesticated and bred them into all different shapes and sizes. “Man’s best friends” were originally chosen as our trusty companions due to their loyalty and ability to provide protection.

But what of their wild cousins - today's species who share the same ancestral background as our pet pals from chihuahuas to great danes? From Africa’s endangered painted dog to the species most closely related to our trusty canine companions, the Gray Wolf, this article introduces you to the ten largest feral canids that walk the earth today!

Side-striped Jackal

In at number ten is the timid and rarely seen Side-striped Jackal. These medium-sized canids stand at 40-50 cm in height and weigh around 7-12 kg. Despite their elusive nature, these nocturnal omnivores are distributed across most of sub-Saharan Africa and are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. Sightings of Side-striped Jackals are rare, but for the best chances of witnessing them in their natural habitat, take a drive through Kruger National Park, South Africa after sunset.

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Red Fox

The Red Fox has the widest distribution of any canid, spanning across the entire northern hemisphere and even being introduced to New Zealand and Tasmania in Australia. Reaching heights of up to half a metre and masses up to 14 kg, the Red Fox is considered the largest of all true foxes. Despite their size and omnivorous diet, the species is still too small to pose a threat to humans. For this reason, the Red Fox has benefited from the presence of human habitation, and is a common visitor to gardens in many suburban and urban areas. They can be spotted virtually anywhere within their range, but are more frequently seen after dark owing to their nocturnal nature.

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Culpeo

The endangered Culpeo, or, Andean Fox is the second largest canid on the South American continent after the maned wolf. They weigh around the same as the aforementioned Red Fox, but tend to be slightly longer and taller. Larger populations can be found in open country and deciduous forests on the western slopes of the Andes. They have also been introduced to the Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina. Head to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile for the best chances of seeing Culpeo in the wild.

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Ethiopian Wolf

The species considered the rarest and most vulnerable of all canids, the Ethiopian Wolf is endemic to the highlands of its namesake country. Only around 400 individuals living in six fragmented populations roam the mountains of Ethiopia, making the Ethiopian Wolf Africa’s most endangered carnivore. Also known as the Abyssinian wolf, Simien fox, and cuberow, these medium-sized canids weigh up to 20 kg and can stand at over 60 cm tall. To witness these majestic creatures in their natural environment, pay a visit to Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia.

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Dhole

Also named the Asiatic wild dog, whistling dog, red dog, and mountain wolf, Dholes are a highly social species that are native to Central, South and Southeast Asia. With a population estimated at under 2,500 adults, these diurnal pack hunters have been listed as endangered by the IUCN. Habitat loss, disease, persecution and competition with other species (including leopards and tigers) have all been contributing factors toward their decline. Dholes can reach heights of 56 cm to the shoulder and weigh up to 21 kg making them very similar in size to the Ethiopian wolf. Head to Kanha Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh in India for excellent chances of spotting these canine critters in the wild.

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Coyote

The Coyote is a highly versatile species that has adapted well to human modified environments. It is abundant and widely spread throughout North America southwards through Central America into Panama. The largest coyote on record measured 1.5 metres from nose to tail and weighed a whopping 34 kg! However, the most vocal of all North American mammals typically grows to sizes similar to that of the Ethiopian wolf and dhole. Many wild areas in the United States have large populations of Coyotes, including Yellowstone National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Maned Wolf

The Maned Wolf boasts the title of largest canid in South America. Due to its markings, the species is known locally as aguará guazú, which means “large fox” in the Guarani language. Despite their nickname and given name, the Maned Wolf is neither a fox nor a wolf. In fact, the Maned Wolf is not is not closely related to any other member of the canid family, making the species somewhat unique. They average 23 kg in weight and stand up to 90 cm tall at the shoulder, making them the fourth largest wild canid in the world. For the best chances of spotting Maned Wolves in their natural habitat, venture to the beautiful Serra da Canastra National Park in Brazil.

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African Wild Dog

Also known as the African hunting dog and painted wolf, the largest canid in Africa is a highly endangered species that has all but disappeared from much of its original range. Due to factors which include disease, human persecution and habitat fragmentation, the African Wild Dog population continues to decrease. These lean yet robust predators typically grow up to 70 cm in length and can weigh up to 30 kg. Their frames have evolved for stamina, a trait they demonstrate when chasing their prey to exhaustion. Nearly 80% of all wild dog hunts end in a kill, which is impressive considering the success rate of lions, often viewed as ultimate predators, is only 10%. Reliable areas for African Wild Dogs include Luangwa Valley, Zambia and the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

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Red Wolf

Considered the rarest species of wolf in the world and one of the five most endangered canid species, the Red Wolf is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. Also known as the Florida black wolf and Mississippi Valley wolf, they are native to the southeastern United States. Only around 50 Red Wolves now roam a confined area of just over 1.7 million acres through northeastern North Carolina. They are typically shorter and more slender than the Gray Wolf, though some specimens can grow to larger sizes than smaller sized Gray Wolves. Spotting Red Wolves in the wild can be difficult, but small populations can be found in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

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Gray Wolf

By far the largest of all the wild canids, the Gray Wolf, also known as the timber wolf, are the most widely distributed of all wolf species and were at one time the world’s most widely distributed mammal! One of the planet’s best known and most studied species, the Gray Wolf has been divided into many different subspecies of which five inhabit the North American continent and seven to twelve cover Eurasia. The northwestern wolf, also known as the Mackenzie Valley wolf, Alaskan timber wolf, or Canadian timber wolf is considered to be the largest of all subspecies, with specimens typically weighing 51 kg and standing at 85 cm shoulder height. To see the largest of all subspecies in the wild, head to Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta, Canada. For excellent chances of spotting Gray Wolves, check out The Lamar Valley located in the remote northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park, United States.

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Photos Shutterstock/Graphics Leigh Woods

(The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Equids

This article was originally published by Youth Time Magazine

In this edition of (The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, we delve into the realm of the equids. There are, of course many different kinds that have been domesticated over the centuries by humankind, but there are still seven species that are considered to be truly wild. From the iconic zebras roaming the plains of Africa to the elusive and mysterious Takhi of Mongolia, Leigh introduces you to the wild and majestic equidae family that graces our planet in the present day.

Note that the wild mustangs of the Americas have not be included for the reason that they are not currently considered a truly feral species.

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Przewalski’s Horse

Also known as the Dzungarian Horse or Takhi, the Przewalski’s Horse is native to both China and Mongolia, but was driven to extinction back in the 1960's primarily due to hunting and interbreeding with other domesticated horses. Thankfully, large conservation efforts including a breeding program supported by the Zooligical Society of London helped to preserve the species and reintroduce it to its former natural habitat. Their number has grown steadily since 12 horses were released in southern Mongolia in 1992. With all of them descended from 9 of 13 horses captured in 1945, there are now thought to be over 300 Przewalski’s Horse in the wild. Hustai National Park in Mongolia offers the best opportunities of witnessing them in the wild.

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Onager

Like other horses, the Onager has several different common names including Hemione and Asiatic Wild Ass. Around 55,000 wild Onager roam the arid deserts and mountainous steppes situated across several countries including China, Mongolia, Iran, India, and Turkmenistan. Data suggests that the Onager may have lost as much as 70% of its range since the 19th century. Due to severe over hunting and competition with livestock for pastures and water, they have become regionally extinct in most former range countries including Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Their favored habitats include arid grasslands, desert plains, savannahs and mountain ranges with the largest remaining population found in southern Mongolia and parts of adjacent China.

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Kiang

The largest of all the wild asses, the Kiang is native to the Tibetan Plateau. Also referred to as the Tibetan Wild Ass, Khyang or Gorkhar, its range is currently restricted to the montane and alpine grasslands that stretch across China, Nepal, India and Pakistan. Several subspecies (Western, Southern and Eastern Kiang) occur within its broad range as their distribution has become increasingly fragmented. The current global population estimate of Kiang is 60,000-70,000 individuals, with up to 90% of them located in protected areas along the China/Nepal border.

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African Wild Ass

Without doubt the most vulnerable to extinction of all the wild equids, the African Wild Ass is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, with species numbers estimated at approximately 200 mature individuals. Due to human/livestock impact and climate change, data reveals that their population may be undergoing a continuing decline (only 70 individuals have been observed), with the species meeting the threshold for critically endangered status. Their current range is approximately 23,000 km2 across the arid lands of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

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Burchell’s Zebra

The Burchell’s, or, Plains Zebra is the most common and widespread of the three zebra species. Easily distinguished from their close relatives by the stripes that meet around the belly, as opposed to the Grevy’s and Mountain Zebras which sport more compact stripes which end at the lower flanks. Around 500,000 Burchell’s Zebra walk the plains, deserts and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa, and chances of spotting them on safari are extremely high. In fact, those travelling to wildlife hotspots such as the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, and Kruger National Parks in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa respectively are all but guaranteed to observe entire dazzles (herds) of these stripy steeds.

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Grevy’s Zebra

With a population estimated at around 2,860 individuals, the Grevy’s Zebra is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is restricted to the Horn of Africa, specifically Ethiopia and Kenya. It is the largest not only of the zebra family but of the entire living wild equid group. Also known as the Imperial Zebra, they are the most threatened of the three species of zebra. There are currently a discontinuous range of Grevy’s Zebra found from the eastern side of the Rift Valley in Kenya to the Tana River, with a small, isolated population roaming the Alledeghi Plains situated northeast of Awash National Park in Ethiopia.

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Mountain Zebra

Last but certainly not least are the beautiful Mountain Zebra which have been divided into two subspecies (Cape Mountain Zebra and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra). Some scientists argue that each is an entire species of its own due to some physiological and geographical differences. Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra are more numerous (up to 1300 in the wild) and they occur in the mountainous transition zone between the Namib Desert and the central plateau of Namibia. Numbering at between 600-700 individuals, the only surviving natural populations of Cape Mountain Zebra are found in Mountain Zebra National Park, Gamka Mountain Reserve and the Kamanassie Mountains.

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All Photos from Shutterstock/Graphics by Leigh Woods

What's the Difference between Asian and African Elephants?

Elephants are truly extraordinary creatures. The burly beasts that roam the forests, deserts, plains and savannas of this world claim the title of largest land animal - with their unique physiques making them one of the most iconic animals that walk the earth today.

They belong to the aptly named taxonomic family Elephantidae, which is composed of three different species: the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

While the African bush elephant and African forest elephant do possess some recognizable differences, they remain relatively subtle aside from the enormous difference in overall size. This article aims to highlight the most easily distinguishable features between the more common African species (the bush elephant) and the Asian elephant.

Identifying each species should be a breeze considering that Asian and African elephants inhabit entirely different parts of the planet, but below you will find information on the most easily identifiable physiological differences.

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Size

Note that the Asian elephant (left) is female and the African elephant (right) is male. Even when comparing similar photographs, it can be hard to gauge the difference in size.

At a glance, comparing the sizes of any two things can be challenging when not positioned side-by-side. Due to their entirely differing world distribution, this has only been made possible with human intervention. The Asian and African elephant may seem to be similar in size, especially when comparing them against all other species. However, the average African bush elephant is far greater in size than their cousins from the East. While Asian elephants can weigh up to 5,400 kg and reach heights of 2.7 meters, the African bush elephant can grow up to 80 cm taller and almost a ton heavier. Incidentally, the African forest elephant is the smallest of the three species, with males rarely exceeding heights of 2.5 meters and masses not in excess of 2.7 tons.

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Tusks

Aside from the odd individual, all African elephants whether male or female possess impressive ivory tusks, but many Asian elephants do not. In fact, female Asian elephants are not equipped with any tusks at all, with about 50% having small tusk like teeth referred to as tushes. The percentage of males with ivory varies depending on the region, which is possibly reflective of the intensity of hunting in the past. For example, only 5% of bulls in Sri Lanka sport the long modified incisors, whereas around 90% of the population in southern India boast them.

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Ears

Notice that the ears on the Asian elephant (left) are far smaller than those of the African elephant (right)

Perhaps the most easily distinguishable feature between Asian and African elephants are their ears. Shaped similar to the continent in which they inhabit, the African elephant's ears have a far larger surface area - an evolutionary adaptation to keep them cool in the scorching temperatures. Owing to the fact that most Asian elephants dwell in cooler jungle areas, they have less to worry about in terms of overheating. Therefore their ears are a lot smaller.

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Skin

The Asian elephant (left) has far smoother skin than their wrinkly African cousins (right).

Another adaptation to regulating body temperature and a feature that is a little less conspicuous is the "wrinkliness" of each species’ skin. While not particularly obvious at a glance, the African bush elephants have far more wrinkles on their skins as opposed to their Asian counterparts. This adaptation helps them to retain more water and mud over their huge bodies which helps to keep them cool in the blazing African sun.

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Head Shape

Asian and African elephants have very distinct head shapes with the former displaying a twin domed skull complete with an indent in the middle. African elephants tend to have fuller and more rounded heads owing to the fact that their skulls are composed of a single dome. Further, it can easy to distinguish between the sexes of African bush elephants by observing the contrasting shapes of the foreheads. While females and younger elephants have a very angular shape, mature males' are more curved.

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Trunk

Look for the two small finger-like appendages on the tip of the African elephant's (right) trunk as opposed to just one on those of the Asian elephant (left)

The major difference between the species’ trunks lies in the form of the tip. While the African elephant has two very distinct “fingers” at the end of their elongated snouts, the Asian elephant possesses just one. Similar to human fingers and thumbs, the dexterous appendages help the elephants to pick up and manipulate objects.