Population Status, Demography and Time Budget of the African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer Sparrman, 1779) and Anthropogenic Impacts in Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia
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Date
2016-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
An 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.
Key words: Activity patterns, habitat association, natural resource use, human–wildlife conflict.
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Keywords
Activity patterns, Habitat Association, Natural Resource Use, Human–Wildlife Conflict