Assessment of distribution and characteristics of domestic damage caused by wild animals around yegof national forest priority area

Abstract

Damage manifestations in terms of crop damage and livestock depredation are common in Ethiopia. Assessment of domestic damage caused by wild animals around Yegof National Forest Priority Area was carried out from February 2016 to January 2017. The forest area coordinates were collected and boundary was prepared using GIS. Coordinates of domestic damage was obtained using GPS and used for measuring the distance from the forest. Type of domestic damage as well as wild animals involved in such damages was recorded by approaching the victims in each ward. The total area of Yegof forest was estimated to 1462.56 hectares. Most of domestic damage was reported along the boundary and inside the forest area. Among 30 incidences, crop damage was significant (p≤0.05) than livestock depredation. Theropithecus gelada, Papio anubis and Chlorocebus aethiops were identified as major crop pests (85.7%). Eragrostis tef (28.6%) was more vulnerable than other crops like Vicia faba, Triticum spp., Hordeum vulgare, Sorghum bicolor and vegetables. Most of the crop damage incidence happened during daytime (85.7%) and none of the crop raiders were killed. Panthera pardus (77.8%) and Canis aureus (22.2%) were reported as common predators of livestock. Sheep/goat was the preferred prey for them in all incidences. Majorly, livestock depredation happened in the nighttime (66.7%) and none of the predators were killed. In conclusion, domestic damage by wild animals around the study area is common and needs special attentions and also demands for sustainable and culturally acceptable conservations solutions to mitigate such incidences.