Browsing by Author "Refera Befekadu"

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    Population Status, Structure and Diurnal Activity Pattern of the Mountain ny Ala (Tragelaphus Buxlolll) in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2001-06) Refera Befekadu; Bekele Afework (Professor)
    The study on the population status, structure, and diurnal activity pattern of Mountain Nyala (Tragelaplws buxtoni) was carried out in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia for foul' months that included wet and dly seasons. Ground total counts were carried out in all area of 13.1 'm/. The study showed that the endangered Mountain Nyala in the Bale Mountains National Park consisted of about 704 individuals. The Male to female ratio is unequal. Females comprise 62.9% whereas male 27.4% and the calves possessed the 9.7% of the sex ratio. Mountain Nyalas' are mainly browsers. The group structure of the animal varied with season, forming large herds during the wet season and dispersing in to smaller groups during the (b)' season. Territorial behaviour was not observed. The population trend of the animal ji-om 1975-1990 indicated a recovel), and increase. But between 1990-1995 a population showed a continuous and steep decline. However, between 1995-2000 the population trend showed a tendency toward recovely. The diurnal activity pattern of the animal showed two feeding peaks early morning and late afternoon. The peak resting tillle was in the middle of the day. Group size changed seasonally. 7 to 12 members in a group are common during dlY and wet season, and the maximum group size observed was 62 during wet season. The vegetation type utilization and distribution of the animal indicated a marked preference for woodland habitat. Howevel~ there was a seasonal change in preference of habitat. The study established that the main threats of Mountain Nyala are habitat destruction, disturbance, livestock abundance, hunting and predation.