Population Trend of Human, Livestock, Dog and Ethiopiian Wolf in Bale Mountains National Park,Ethiopia
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Date
2004-06-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Populations of human, livestock,dog and Ethiopian wolf were censused in the two study in the Afroalpine ecosystem of Bale Mountains National Park 9BMNP0, southern Ethiopia, during February-june 2003 using established road counts in Sanetti and horse back census in Kotera (Lower Web Valley). Data collected since 1998 were examined to indicate trends in the Populations. Census data were interpreted using encounter rates (as relative index of abundance) to analyze and understand spatial as well as temporal abundance of large mammals. They were more abundant in Kotera study site than in Sanetti Plateau. This was indicative of the Presence of spatial variation in the Afroalpine ecosystem in thisNational Park. Over the past six years, the population of livestock in Sanetti was increased which indicates the growing density of domestic animals in the area. The trend was negative in Kotera. Seasonal variation of the Afroalpine use by domestic animals was commonly observed in the BMNP. Domestic animals were more abundant during the wet season. A greater number of sightings were the areas in which Ethiopian wolves were also sighted more often. In contrast, in Sanetti , most of the livestock were distributed in Helichrysum meadoew and then in Erca moorland vegetation type. The Ethiopian wolves in this study site were tended to utilize Alpine grass meadow followed by Helichrysum meadow. The present study did not reveal any significant effect of livestock on the Ethiopian Wolves.
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Keywords
Road Count, Horseback Count, Population, Census, Encounter Rate, Temporal and Spatial Abundances, Bale Mountains National Park