Assessment of Human-Wildlife Conflict in Gimbo Woreda, Kafa Zone Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia
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Date
2016-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study tries to assess human-wildlife conflict in Gimbo Woreda, Kafa Zone (SNNPR),
Southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted from February 2016 to July 2016. The methods
employed were field observation, to estimate the population size of pest primates using total count
in the entire study area and to observe and estimate crop loss due to crop raiders, structured
questionnaires and interview for gathering information about crop loss by wild animals. Total
count was used to estimate population of most common wild animals in the sampled forest. One
way ANOVA was used to analyze the amount of crop lost in the study area, and Chi-square test
was used to analyze association of HWC, number of Anubis baboon and vervet monkey between
dry and wet season and damage events registered between sites. From the study, four primate
species were identified: namely Anubis baboon, vervet monkey, Black and white colobus and blue
monkey. Of these Anubis baboon and vervet monkey were known as the worst pest primates of
all. In addition, bush pig, porcupine, warthog and rodents were identified as damage- causing wild
animals. The present study also revealed that a total count of 332 and 293 Anubis baboon and 332
and 372 vervet monkey population occurred in the study area during the dry and wet season
respectively. Thirty-nine percent of maize was damaged by Anubis baboon and vervet monkey
from the total estimated maize plant (22,183), and 6% was damaged by other pest primates such
as bush pig, warthog, porcupine and rodents. Most damages occurred during the flowering and
Fruiting stages and serious damage was seen in the wet season. The response of the respondents
showed statistically significant difference for each type of conflict; namely, crop damage only,
both crop damage and livestock predation, destruction of traditional beehives and destruction of
huts and disturbing of humans respectively are the main troubles in the study area x2=83.122,
P<0.05 (0.0001). Deforestation, agricultural expansion, wild animal population growth, human
population growth and distance from village to farmland were identified as causes of human
wildlife conflict. Traditional methods such as guarding, chasing by dog, scarecrow and trapping
were used by local people to protect their crops from wild animals. To reduce the conflict, they
keep their crop cooperatively and changing their means of farming to cash crops such as chat,
coffee and spices.
Key words: Crop raiding, deforestation, Anubis baboon
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Keywords
Crop Raiding, Deforestation, Anubis Baboon