Lions, elephants, giraffes and other popular wildlife species often dominate the public imagination. By comparison, many wild canids remain largely unknown. Even familiar species such as foxes and wolves are often discussed through narratives of conflict and controversy, while many others receive little public attention.

Yet canids are among the most diverse mammals on Earth. The 37 species of wild canids occupy an extraordinary range of environments and ways of life: from the tiny, large-eared fennec fox of the Sahara to African wild dogs roaming the savannas, from high-altitude species such as the Ethiopian wolf to red foxes and coyotes navigating life in and around major cities. Some are critically endangered, while others remain widespread and common, but all play a role in the ecosystems they inhabit.

Their ability to cope with a rapidly changing world varies just as widely. Some have adapted to living alongside us, even thriving in human-dominated environments. Others are far less resilient, threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, persecution, disease, and conflict with humans. Understanding these animals is essential to securing their long-term survival.

For decades, canids.org has helped make knowledge about these species available to researchers, conservationists and the wider public. But today, the website is outdated and no longer reflects the quality or importance of the scientific and conservation work behind it. As users ourselves, we know how frustrating it can be to navigate broken links, confusing structures, and outdated content. Behind the scenes, the challenge is even greater: the content management system has been discontinued, making updates difficult for a volunteer-based team.

This is why we need your support to rebuild our website www.canids.org

By combining clear design with robust scientific content, the new website will provide an accessible and reliable platform for information on wild canids, improving access to trusted, up-to-date information. The redesign is already underway. Your support will help us turn it into a robust website that can remain accurate, useful and alive for years to come.

Reaching our goal will allow us to:

• Redesign the website with a strong focus on usability and accessibility

• Build a modern CMS for easy updates and long-term sustainability

• Create comprehensive canid species pages with scientific content, custom maps, and curated imagery

• Improve online access to the IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group’s peer-reviewed scientific journal, Canid Biology & Conservation (CBC)

• Translate the website into Spanish and French to reach a wider global audience

• Support the hosting and technical infrastructure needed to keep the website reliable and up to date

By supporting this project, you help ensure that the science, stories, and conservation needs of wild canids are shared with the world—and that these remarkable species are no longer overlooked.

About us

The IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group (CSG) is an international network of experts working on wild canid research and conservation. Its mission is to compile, synthesise and share knowledge on the conservation and status of wild canids across their ranges, with particular emphasis on threatened and rare species.

In a rapidly changing world, making this reliable knowledge accessible and visible is critical to raising awareness, informing decision-making, and supporting effective conservation of wild canids worldwide.