Ecology of Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus Amphibious, Linnaeus, 1758) and Conflict Incidence With Human Around Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia
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Date
2019-12-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
An investigation on the distribution pattern, population size, feeding ecology, activity pattern and human-hippopotamus conflict at Chebera Churchura National Park (CCNP), Ethiopia was carried out from June, 2015 to October, 2018. The population estimate was carried out using total count. Activity pattern was investigated using scan sampling. Diet of hippopotamus was studied by collecting plant species identified from fresh feeding signs following the focal groups and was supplemented by faecal analysis. Feeding quadrat survey methods were employed to determine vegetation variable. Human-hippopotamus conflict was carried out by means of a questionnaire and focus group discussion. Habitat preference and suitability of hippopotamus were determined by using density of hippopotamus in the four different habitats during both seasons using multiple rings buffer analysis on Arc GIS 10.2. A total of 498 and 414 individuals of hippopotamus were recorded during wet and dry season resepectvely. The population size of this animal had no significant difference between river and lakes of Chebera Churchura National Park (P>0.05). Among counted individuals, 63.5% were adults, 20 % sub-adults and 16.5% young. Among adults, the male female ratio was 1:1.5. Larger herds of up to 30 individuals were observed during the dry season in major rivers and lakes where as smaller herds of a minimum of five individuals were seen during the wet season in temporary wetlands and swamps. The mean herd size during the wet and dry seasons was 9.20±0.54 and 7.20±0.45, respectively. During the wet season, larger proportion of hippopotamus (37.8%) was observed in the grassland. However, the dry season, most of the wetland in the open grassland dried up. This led to a shift in hippopotamus to the riverine forest (54.2%). From the total behavioural activities, resting comprised the largest proportion that accounts 38.89% followed by walking (27.24%). Barking and yawning events spent 52.18% and 47.82% of their time, respectively. Males spent more time resting than females, while females were more active. Feeding and moving peak activities were observed early morning and late afternoon hours with resting peak during the mid-day. Barking and yawning events mostly increased during the afternoon both in male and female hippopotamuses. Hippopotamus consumed a total of 40 plant species in CCNP. Of these, Eriochloa fatmensis (11.68%), Typha latifolia (9.91%), Echinocloa pyramidalis (9.59%) and Cynodon dactylon (8.45%) were the top four species of plants that contributed 39.63% of their overall diet. There were inverse correlations between sward height, greenness and cover with hippopotamus density. From questionnaire survey, 36.4% of respondents had negative attitude towards hippopotamus, while 55.9% and 7.7% had positive and neutral attitudes, respectively. Crop raiding, livestock damage and overgrazing were the major problems encountered resulting in conflict between human and hippopotamus in the study area. A total mean of 137 kg per household with a mean total cost estimation 1883 Ethiopian birr ($70) were lost due to hippopotamus. Prohibition of expansion of human settlements, awareness creation programme and participation of the local people for future conservation of the area is recommended.
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Activity Pattern, Chebera Churchura National Park, Feeding Ecology, Habitat Association, Population Status, Human-Hippopotamus Conflict