Browsing by Author "Adem Mussa"

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    Population Status of Gelada Baboon and Human - Wildlife Conflict In and Around Denkoro Forest, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2009-07) Adem Mussa; Bekele Afework (Professor)
    This study was aimed at determining population status of gelada baboon and human - wildlife conflict around Denkoro Forest. The study was conducted from August 2008 to March 2009. The main objective was to find out gelada baboon population by age and sex classes. The second was to identify if there was a significant crop and livestock depredation caused by wild mammals. The methods employed for human-wildlife conflict were face-to-face questionnaire interview of 250 randomly selected local residents and direct observation on the crop damage by wild animals. The method employed for population estimation of gelada baboon was total count in the entire study area. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA, student’s t-test and chi-square test. The result of the analysis of the data collected through questionnaire survey indicated that crop losses per hectare ranged from 3% for potato to 15% for wheat. However, results of direct observations indicated that the loss ranged from 3.2% for potato to 12.6% for barley. Gelada baboon, rabbit, hamadryas baboon and bushbuck were the top four crop raiders in the study area. Leopard, common jackal and hayaena were the common predators. On the average, 0.6 livestock per household was preyed annually and the amount of monetary loss due to predation was Birr 313 per household. The present study also revealed that a total of 914 and 988 gelada populations occurred in the study area during the wet and the dry seasons, respectively. As the Denkoro Forest was surrounded by extensive farmlands, the area needs a close follow up and detailed studies to identify current human-wildlife conflict in the area. Key words: Denkoro Forest, Gelada baboon, Human – wildlife conflict