Human-Wildlife (the Ethiopian Wolf and Gelada Baboon) Conflict in and Around the Simien Mountains National Park
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Date
2006-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study documents human-wildlife (the Ethiopian wolf and gelada baboon) conflict in and around the
Simien Mountains National Park. Data were collected in between September, 2005 up to March, 2006
with fragmented short term stay by means of face-to-face questionnaire interview and by direct
observation on the crop damage caused by gelada baboon. The Ethiopian wolf and gelada baboon faecal
dropping samples were also collected to compare the result with the questionnaire survey. Data were
analyzed using descriptive statistics and responses compared using Chi-square test and one-way
ANOVA. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the attitude of respondents towards Ethiopian
wolf and gelada baboon and to determine the factors that cause crop loss by gelada baboon. The analysis
indicated that 74.3% of the respondents had positive attitude towards wildlife. There was significant
negative correlation (r = -0.28, P<0.001) between problems caused by the wildlife and conservation
attitude. 73.1% of the respondents had positive attitude towards the Ethiopian wolf and 70.3% of the
respondents had positive attitude towards gelada baboon. There was negative correlation (r = -0.2, P<
0.001) between the attitude towards gelada baboon and crop loss. 6.9% of the respondents reported that
they faced crop damage to wildlife where as 25.6% reported the problem of livestock predation to
wildlife. 46.6% reported both the problem of livestock predation and crop damage. The result also
indicated that 18.3% of the respondents reported the loss of sheep to the Ethiopian wolf. The average and
the probability of sheep loss to the Ethiopian wolf per year per household were 0.62 + 0.09 and 0.2%
respectively. 97.8% of the Ethiopian wolf faecal dropping samples accounted for rodent prey where as
1.4% constituted sheep prey. Loss of livestock to common jackal, leopard, spotted hyena and hamadryas
baboon has also been observed. The average crop loss by gelada baboon per household per year was 1.17
+ 0.1 quintal. But significant difference (F 7 292 = 13.49, P<0.001) between villages in terms of crop loss
by gelada baboon. There was also correlation (r = 0.43, P<0.001) between the type of crop grown and the
type of crop damaged. Other crop raiders like hamadryas baboon, vervet monkey and crested porcupine
were also observed. In general, there was strong conflict between gelada baboon and the surrounding
people in some parts of the study area and there was some conflict with the Ethiopian wolf. Therefore,
possible solution should be met to alleviate the problem.
Key words: Wildlife Conflict, Ethiopian wolf, Gelada baboon.
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Keywords
Wildlife Conflict, Ethiopian wolf, Gelada baboon