Wolves In Azerbaijan: A Natural Habitat And Sighting Guide

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, including the national animal, the Karabakh horse, which is native to the country. While little is known about wolves in Azerbaijan, they are known to inhabit the country and have been recorded in the Gobustan, Kyzylagach, and Shirvan national parks. In this region, wolves frequently attack households and cattle in rural areas, which may be due to the increasing number of settlements built close to their natural habitats.

Wolf population in Azerbaijan

The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is present in Azerbaijan, with the subspecies of wolf in the country being the Caspian Sea Wolf (Canis lupus campestris). However, little is known about wolves in Azerbaijan, including their current population, population trend, and legal protection.

In 2001, the number of wolves in Azerbaijan was about 988. In 2010, this number increased to 5,109. According to recent statistics, about 150,055 wolves live in Azerbaijan. This increase in the wolf population may be attributed to the increasing number of settlements built close to the natural habitats of animals. Wolves in Azerbaijan have been known to attack locals, with several incidents occurring in the southern districts of Astara and Lankaran.

Wolves in Azerbaijan predominantly inhabit the less temperate regions of Europe and Asia. They can be found in all regions of the country, but they are most prevalent on the Kursk plain, the shores of the Red Tree Bay, and the Zagatala-Lagodekhi nature reserve. The natural habitat of wolves in Azerbaijan is diverse, with some inhabiting lakes, parts of mountainous areas, and others spread throughout the country.

Wolves are monogamous mammals that hunt artiodactyls, rodents, and rabbits. In the summer, their diet also includes birds, berries, and eggs. The mating season for wolves in Azerbaijan occurs during the winter, with a gestation period of about 65 days. In April or May, a female wolf typically gives birth to a litter of 4-8 cubs. The entire wolf pack participates in the feeding and rearing of the young.

Wolf attacks on humans

Wolf attacks can be classified into various types, including rabies-infected, predatory, agonistic, and defensive. Rabies-infected wolves are those that have been infected with the rabies virus, which can cause them to act aggressively and attack humans. Predatory attacks are motivated by hunger, while agonistic attacks are driven by aggression and the desire to drive off competitors from a territory or food source. Defensive attacks, on the other hand, are triggered by fear or anger and the need to escape or drive away a perceived threat.

While wolf attacks are rare, they can be dangerous and even fatal. Between 2002 and 2020, researchers found 26 fatal attacks worldwide, with 14 attributed to rabies. The majority of these fatal attacks occurred in Turkey (12), followed by Iran (6), India (4), and single cases in Canada, the United States, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan.

To reduce the risk of wolf attacks, it is crucial to exclude wolves from human food sources, such as garbage dumps and landfills. Additionally, deliberate feeding of wolves, whether by photographers or individuals with a misguided desire to help, should be prevented. Hazing habituated wolves using non-lethal methods, such as rubber bullets or shotgun-propelled bean bags, has been suggested but remains controversial due to its uncertain effectiveness.

It is important to communicate the small but existing risks associated with wolf attacks, especially in regions with higher wolf populations. While most wolves are not dangerous to humans, there are risks from habituated, food-conditioned individuals, and rare instances of unpredictable and unprovoked incidents.

Wolf attacks on livestock

Wolves are present in Azerbaijan, and they are known to attack both locals and livestock. In 2018, there were media reports of seven villagers, including three children, being injured in separate wolf attacks in the southern Azerbaijani district of Astara. In Shuvi village, a wolf attacked a woman when she was accompanying her 7-year-old son to school. The woman was bitten on the arm and face while protecting her son, who fortunately escaped unharmed. The same wolf then injured an 11-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. In a separate incident, another villager was bitten by a wolf that entered their barn.

The gray wolf (Canis lupus), also known as the grey wolf, is the only species of wolf typically found in Azerbaijan. They are monogamous and typically mate during the winter. After a gestation period of about 65 days, female wolves give birth to a litter of 4-8 cubs in April or May. The entire wolf pack participates in feeding and rearing the young wolves, who can feed themselves after about six months.

While the current population trend of wolves in Azerbaijan is unknown, the number of wolves was estimated to be around 150,055 in 2020. This represents a significant increase from the estimated populations of 988 and 5,109 wolves in 2001 and 2010, respectively. Poaching is a limiting factor for the wolf population in the country.

Wolf conservation in Azerbaijan

Current State of Wolf Conservation in Azerbaijan

Little is known about wolves in Azerbaijan. The International Wolf Center, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the survival of wolf populations, notes that the current wolf population, trend, and legal protection in the country are unknown. However, wolves are present in the country, as evidenced by occasional wolf attacks on locals in rural areas.

Human-Wolf Conflict

Human-wolf conflict is a key issue in Azerbaijan, with wolves frequently attacking households and cattle in rural areas. Experts attribute this to the increasing number of settlements built close to wolf habitats. In one notable incident in November 2018, seven villagers, including three children, were injured in separate wolf attacks in the southern Azerbaijani district of Astara.

Conservation Efforts

Azerbaijan has taken some steps to protect its endangered species, including the gray wolf. In 2012, at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, founder and head of the IDEA public association, five endangered animal species, including the gray wolf, were identified in the region, and the concept of the "Big Five" of the Caucasus was developed. Since then, practical measures have been implemented to protect and increase the number of endangered fauna species.

Legal Protections

The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is included in CITES Appendix 2, which provides some level of legal protection for the species.

Wolf Habitat

The gray wolf is found in all regions of Azerbaijan but is most prevalent on the Kursk plain, the shores of Red Tree Bay, and in the Zagatala-Lagodekhi nature reserve. They inhabit the Azerbaijani shrub desert and steppe ecoregion, the Caspian Hyrcanian Mixed Forests ecoregion, the Caucasus mixed forests ecoregion, and the Eastern Anatolian montane steppe ecoregion.

Wolf Behaviour and Ecology

Wolves in Azerbaijan are monogamous and typically mate in winter, with a gestation period of about 65 days. In April-May, the female wolf gives birth to 4-8 cubs, who are cared for and fed by the entire wolf pack. Wolves hunt artiodactyls, rodents, and rabbits, and their diet also includes birds, berries, and eggs during the summer months.

Wolf subspecies in Azerbaijan

Wolves are native to Azerbaijan, with the species common name being gray wolf, or grey wolf, and the Latin name Canis lupus. The subspecies common name is Canis lupus cubanensis, also known as the Caspian Sea Wolf.

Little is known about wolves in Azerbaijan, and their current population, trend, and status are unknown. The International Wolf Center works to advance the survival of wolf populations and their relationship with wildlands, as well as the human role in their future.

The gray wolf is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America, and there are more than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus. In Azerbaijan, gray wolves are found in all regions of the country, particularly on the Kursk plain, the shores of the Red Tree Bay, and the Zagatala-Lagodekhi nature reserve.

The wolf population in Azerbaijan appears to have fluctuated over the years. In 2001, the number of wolves was estimated to be around 988, and in 2010, the number rose to 5,109. According to recent reports, about 150,055 wolves live in Azerbaijan. However, it is unclear if this number includes only gray wolves or all subspecies of wolves.

Frequently asked questions