24 research outputs found
Population Status, Demography and Time Budget of the African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman, 1779) and Anthropogenic Impacts in Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia
No full textAn investigation on the population status, structure and habitat association of the
African buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman, 1779) and anthropogenic threats in Chebera
Churchura National Park (CCNP), Ethiopia was carried out during 2012–2015. The study area
was stratified into four habitat types, viz., grasslands, woodlands, montane forests and riverine
habitat. Sample counts were carried out in an area of 1,215 km2. The estimated buffalo
population was 5,193 individuals, with the population density of 4.27/ km2. The population
estimates for wet and dry seasons were 5,788 and 4,599 heads, respectively. Males comprised
42.56%, while females 46.68% of the population (M: F=1.00: 1.10). Age structure was
dominated by adults, which constituted 52.49% of the total population. Subadults comprised
24.30%, young 12.44% and unidentified sex of the population was 10.75%, with a significant
difference between young and adults. Larger herds of up to 30 individuals were observed during
the wet season and smaller herds of a minimum of four individuals were seen during the dry
season. The mean herd size during the wet and dry seasons was 29.59 and 16.95, respectively.
Buffaloes were observed more in the riverine vegetation types during the dry season. Relative
abundance of food sources, green vegetation cover and availability of water were the major
factors governing their distribution in the present study area. Buffalo spent a greater proportion
of the time in feeding and resting activities. Feeding and resting were the predominant activities
(87.14% of the diurnal active period), with 48.95% time spent feeding during the dry season, and
44.91% during the wet season. Daytime grazing and resting periods during the wet season were
estimated to be 5.39 h and 4.98 h, respectively. Morning and the late afternoon activity peaks
were more pronounced during the dry season than the wet season. The main threat of the African
buffalo in the study area was poaching, wildfire, livestock grazing, illegal farming and expanding
human settlements. Questionnaires survey, group discussions and direct field observations
indicated that, firewood collection, setting fire, hunting, livestock grazing and farming were
having great impacts on biodiversity conservation in CCNP. Crop damage, livestock loss, human
injures and illegal resource access were the major problems encountered in CCNP resulting in
conflicts between local people and Park officials, and also human and wildlife. To mitigate these
problems, the local people have adopted intensified vigilance, use of guard animals, fencing, use
of repellents and killing problematic wild animals. Even though most of the respondents of the
questionnaire survey had positive attitude towards conservation areas and wildlife, they were not
satisfied by the benefit from the Park. Proper conservation measures incorporating all
stakeholders have to be implemented to solve the problems and safeguard the wildlife in the
Park
Diet Preference and Activity Patterns of Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus Onocrotalus, Linnaeus, 1758) At Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia
No full textA study on the diet preference and activities of Great WhitePelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus, Linnaeus, 1758) was carried out along theshore of Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia, during the wet and dry seasons in2011/2012. Repeated observations and focal animal sampling methods wereused to study the diet and activity patterns. Activity patterns includingfeeding, resting, preening, flying and alert behaviour were analyzed. GreatWhite Pelicans feed primarily on fish (81.9%), they also feed on worms(13.1%), amphibians (0.94%) and some other invertebrates (4.05%). Thepercentage frequency of fish in the diet of P. onocrotalus was 79.2% and84.5% during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Major activities of thespecies during the day time were feeding (45.69%), resting (23.39%),preening (13.95%), flying (14.7%) and alert (1.95%). Feeding activity wasintensive and reached its peak in the morning (09:00-12:00 h) and lateafternoon hours (15:00-18:00 h). Resting was more during the midday.Further ecological studies on Great White Pelicans should be conducted toget more information about the bird and facilitate conservation measures inthe study area
Population status of Anubis baboons and Grivet monkeys and their conflicts with humans in Humbo Community Managed Forest: implications for primate conservation, Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia
No full textApproximately 60% of the non-human primate species have been threatened with extinction and many species have also persisted in small populations in forest fragments. The aim of this study was to estimate the population size of Anubis baboons and grivet monkeys and their conflicts with the local people around Humbo community managed forest. The study area was classified into two habitat types: dense forest and open forest. The total counting method was implemented to determine the number of the non-human primates in the area coverage of 29km2. Identification of sex and age categories was carried out based on body size, pelage, and external genitalia. A questionnaire was used to collect the data among the households about the human–primate conflicts. The estimated number of Anubis baboon was 424 individuals with a population density of 14.6/km2 and the estimated grivet monkeys were 256 individuals with a population density of 8.8/km2. The major types of Anubis baboon and grivet monkey conflicts in the area include crop raiding and livestock predation. The majority (59.01%) of the farmers faced crop raiding. More than half of the respondents replied that guarding was an effective measure to protect the crop damage by the primates. Although the estimated population size of the Anubis baboons and grivet monkeys was lower in the present study area as compared with the studies in other parts of Ethiopia, the frequencies of conflicts of the Anubis baboons and grivet monkeys were increased. Therefore, it is essential to increase the involvement of the local people for the implementation of effective conflict avoiding strategies and primate conservation
The attitudes and practices of local people towards wildlife in Chebera Churchura national park, Ethiopia
No full textCurrent population estimate and distribution of the African buffalo in Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia
No full textHuman–wildlife conflict and attitude of local people towards conservation of wildlife in Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia
No full textHuman–wildlife conflict is a serious challenge undermining the integrity of protected areas in developing countries. Developing effective human–wildlife conflict mitigation strategies requires an understanding of the conflict patterns, species involved and attitudes of local people living along protected area boundaries. We hypothesised that (1) there was a high level of human–wildlife conflict and (2) the local people would have less favourable attitudes towards problematic wild animals. We assessed patterns of human–wildlife conflict and attitudes of local people along the boundary of Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia from 2012 to 2014. A total of 354 households were selected randomly for interview. A questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and direct field observations were carried out in the selected villages. The major types of human−wildlife conflict in the area include crop raiding, livestock predation, increased risk of livestock diseases and direct threats to human life. A majority of the respondents (68.1%) faced crop damage and domestic animal loss, 12.3% reported threat to humans and 0.3% reported that the wildlife might cause diseases. Close proximity of the villages to the park and seasons influenced livestock predation intensity with highest predation in the wet season (56.0%). To mitigate these problems, the local people utilised various traditional methods, including guarding. Most respondents had positive attitudes towards the conservation of wildlife. However, as the frequency of conflicts increased in the last five years, the attitudes of local people might change. Active measures are to be implemented to mitigate the problem and safeguard the future of the wildlife around the park. The park has enormous potential to benefit more local people by implementing a participatory management approach to conservation.</p
Assessment of human-wildlife conflict in the Central Omo River Basin, Ethiopia
No full textHuman-wildlife conflict is a global issue for wildlife provisional due to crop damage and livestock depredation by wild animals. Developing effective human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies requires understanding the conflict patterns, species involved, and attitudes of local people living along protected area boundaries. The human-wildlife conflict was investigated via an emphasis on crop damage and livestock depredation in the Central Omo River from 2019 to 2020. Cross-sectional study designs were used to assess human–wildlife conflict. A total of 300 household heads were selected using systematic random sampling techniques. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire survey and focus group discussion. The responses were compared using a non-parametric Pearson Chi-square test after the data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Anubis baboon (38.75%) and porcupine (26.07%) contributed to higher crop loss cases. The most common types of crop damaged by the wild animals were sweet potatoes (38.34%) and maize (19.14%). The average estimated loss of crops and livestock cost was US 185.4 per year per household, respectively. The highest livestock loss was: cattle (n = 336), followed by goats (n = 241). The most frequently reported predator responsible for livestock depredation was the spotted hyena (40.3%) and leopard (34.4%). More crop loss and livestock depredation incidents occurred in the villages close to the forest. The local people utilized various traditional methods to mitigate these problems, which includes guarding (26.0%). The findings suggest the need to address the issue of human-wildlife conflict in the context of sustainable conservation practice through a combination of indigenous and conventional rationales to demonstrate that wildlife can co-exist with people
Population estimation and livestock loss by spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Damota community managed forest, Southern Ethiopia
No full textAbstract: The spotted hyena is positioned at the top of food chains and has the ability to influence the diversity of herbivores. Knowledge of this predator through research can assist in effective management decisions which will ensure ecosystem integrity. A study on population estimation and livestock loss by the spotted hyenas was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020 in the Damota community managed forests. Data was collected through distance sampling techniques, and the economic impacts of spotted hyena predation on livestock were quantified using a questionnaire survey with randomly selected households. Twenty-five transects were monitored over a period of two consecutive years. A mean of 113 \ub1 0.51 individuals of spotted hyena was observed per 100 km2. The density of spotted hyena was 1.34 \ub1 0.42 and 0.69 \ub1 0.12 individuals/km2 and 0.55 \ub1 0.97 and 0.75 \ub1 0.14 individuals/km2 in farm and forest during 2019 and 2020, respectively. The mean sex ratio of the adult male to adult female was 0.56:1.00 and 0.74:1.00 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Moreover, the mean sex ratio of adult to cub was 1:0.25 and 1:0.29 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Respondents indicated a total loss of 377 livestock due to the depredation of spotted hyenas over the past five years. The total estimated economic loss caused by depredation, theft, and diseases was US 9577 per year (US 95.6. Among depredated livestock, 64.8% of sheep were lost by spotted hyena, followed by donkey (16.4%). Therefore, livestock management practices, assessment of spotted hyena population, and economic loss are very important for carnivore conservation and scaling up human livelihood development
Patterns of primates crop foraging and the impacts on incomes of smallholders across the mosaic agricultural landscape of Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia
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