Human-Ethiopian Wolf Conflict in and Around the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Mesele Yihune, Afework Bekele, Aelealem Tefera

Abstract


Information on the attitude of local people on the Ethiopian wolf in and around the Simien Mountains NationalPark was collected between September, 2005 and March, 2006 by means of face-to-face questionnaire survey andfaecal dropping analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and responses compared using Chi-squaretest and one-way ANOVA. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the attitude of respondents towards theEthiopian wolf. The analysis indicated that 73.1% of the respondents had positive attitude towards the Ethiopianwolf. On the other hand, 18.3% of the respondents reported the loss of sheep to the Ethiopian wolf. Distance fromthe Park and sheep predation were not related (r = 0.06, P>0.05). However, when considering the distance fromthe Ethiopian wolf habitat, there was a negative correlation (r = -0.44, P<0.05) between sheep loss to the Ethiopianwolf and distance from the habitat of the Ethiopian wolf. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.17, P<0.05)between predation by the Ethiopian wolf and the number of sheep in the area. The faecal droppings of the Ethiopianwolf revealed that 97.8% constituted rodent species. The average sheep loss by the Ethiopian wolf per year perhousehold was 0.62 + 0.09. Based on this proportion, there is minimal conflict between the local people and theEthiopian wolf in the study area. However, concerned organizations should take coordinated measure to conservethe population of Ethiopian wolf and reduce such conflict even if it occurs at a minimal level.

Keywords


Wildlife Conflict, Ethiopian wolf, Simien Mountains

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