Simien Mountains Nat'l Park introduces GPS tracking system to protect endemic red fox – ENA English

Addis Ababa, March 16, 2024 (ENA) Simien Mountains National Park announced that it has launched a GPS tracking system to monitor and protect the endemic red fox population in the park.

The park's red fox conservation program coordinator, Getachew Assefa, told ENA that this tracker was deployed in collaboration with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority and international partner organizations.

The system introduced is the Collar GPS tracker, where GPS-enabled collars are attached to the necks of eight red foxes with forty family members.

The tracker makes it possible to track the foxes' movements as they search for food and navigate through potential threats, he said.

By using the system, we can track the distances the foxes travel each day in search of food, as well as the dangers they encounter along the way, Getachew explained.

As part of a pilot project last year, GPS trackers were used on two red foxes to collect important information when these animals faced life-threatening situations, including death and serious injury.

The Collar GPS tracker also makes it easier to track and control illegal poaching activities.

According to the program coordinator, red foxes live primarily in mountainous regions above three thousand meters altitude.

With an area of ​​412 square kilometers, the Simien Mountains National Park is not only the largest national park in Ethiopia, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It covers the highest parts of the Simien Mountains, including Ras Dashan, the highest peak in Ethiopia.

The park serves as a refuge for numerous endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf and the Walia ibex, a unique wild goat found nowhere else in the world.

In addition, Simien Mountain Park is home to the Gelada baboon and the caracal, a remarkable species of feline. Over 50 species of birds, including the bearded vulture with its impressive 3 meter wingspan, live in the park.