For a long time, people thought these animals were a type of jackal. Then scientists studied their DNA and discovered they are actually wolves - cousins of the grey wolf, not of the African jackals they live next to. They got a new name and a fresh place on the family tree.
African golden wolves live in pairs or small family groups. They are most active at dusk and dawn. They eat almost anything - small mammals, birds, lizards, fruit and even leftovers near villages. Being able to eat lots of different things is what helps them survive in tough country.
They have a beautiful sandy-gold coat that blends perfectly into the dry Moroccan landscape. From far away, on rocky ground, a golden wolf is nearly invisible. Camera traps left by scientists are one of the main ways we now know they are out there.
Like grey wolves, they communicate by howling. Their howl is higher and more yappy than a big wolf's. On a quiet evening in the Atlas, you might hear several voices answering each other from different hillsides.