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The
IUCN Wolf Specialist Group
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The
separate Wolf Specialist Group
(WSG) closely coordinates its work with the CSG. The WSG was one of the first Specialist Groups instituted by the IUCN. The purview of the WSG is the conservation of
the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the red wolf (C. rufus),
while that of the CSG is conservation of all the other members of the Canidae,
including the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), and the maned
wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus – unrelated to true wolves).
The gray wolf was originally
the most widely distributed land mammal, and it still inhabits most of the
northern hemisphere. Because of the
wolf’s extensive range and because of its tendency to compete with humans throughout
most of its range the IUCN’s Survival Service Commission (the predecessor to
the Species Survival Commission) founded the Wolf
Specialist Group in 1970, with Douglas Pimlott of Canada as its chair. L. David
Mech
succeeded Pimlott in 1978 and has held the post since.
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The WSG functions primarily
by informal and formal collaboration among its members. Wolves are circumpolar,
so WSG members represent several countries. Members usually meet at least once
every five years, exchange information about wolf conservation problems
peculiar to each area, publish status and conservation information about wolves
in each area via the Canid Action Plan, and send
resolutions promoting conservation actions to member countries as needed. The WSG
also supports and cooperates with wolf conservation efforts of its members,
such as the establishment of the International
Wolf Center, and attempts to coordinate wolf
conservation among various countries through the Large
Carnivore Initiative for Europe.
Although the WSG and the CSG
function independently, they collaborate on the publication of Action Plans
that cover the entire family Canidae. The CSG publishing and
communication channels, Canid News, the
Canids-L mailing
list, and the Canid Project
Database are open to wolf biologists and conservation
practitioners.
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