Beautiful rare wolf cubs are facing extinction - unless you step in to help.

Campaigners including It Girl Lady Victoria Hervey are battling to save the Ethiopian Wolf after numbers plummeted to less than 400.

An outbreak of killer rabies has wiped out dozens of the majestic beasts this year. They are also at risk from farmers and the destruction of their mountain habitat.

British-based charity The Born Free Foundation is now urging readers to dig deep and help out.

It needs funds for a vital anti- rabies vaccination programme in Ethiopia's Bale Mountains National Park where the reddish-gold wolves roam free.

Co-ordinator Dr Stuart Williams said: "The possibility of these animals vanishing for good is a very real threat.

"The Ethiopian government doesn't care about the wolves so that's why we're turning to People readers and asking them to donate money or adopt a wolf for a year."

Lady Victoria Hervey witnessed the wolves' plight at first hand. She said: "Only a small population of these magnificent creatures are left in these mountains.

"I came here to give a bit back to the world. I touched the last wolf to be vaccinated.

"I don't know anyone else who will get that close to such a rare animal. I felt very privileged to see cute cubs feed from their mother. She had three males that took turns to look after the babies while she went hunting for food."

Sadly many wolves have contracted rabies from feral dogs which also hunt in the mountains.

Dr Williams added: "We have lost moe than 50 wolves since January. And in the last rabies epidemic in 1991 and 1992, more than 80 per cent of the park's wolves were wiped out.

"Thankfully our vaccinations are now bringing the situation under control. This sets a precedent for wildlife conservation in Ethiopia."

But wolf numbers have also fallen due to the spread of agriculture in the last 50 years.

Farmers see the wolves as a threat to sheep and cattle and shoot, poison or trap the wild animals.

Dr Williams added: "We are trying to educate people to stop persecuting the wolves.

"We've told them that the wolves are part of their heritage and culture.

"Ethiopia is one of the five poorest countries in the world and conservation is virtually non-existent."We are one of the only conversation programmes here.

"It's also a breathtakingly beautiful country, so we're looking to develop tourist facilities in a sustained way to protect these few remaining wolves as well as rare birds and mammals.

"Traditionally tourism has always been tied to the government but we're trying to encourage weavers, furniture makers and artists to sell their products so the community benefits from more visitors."