Direct human-caused wildlife mortalities in Geralle National Park, southern Ethiopia: implications for conservation

Abstract

This paper aims to report records of direct human-caused wildlife mortalities in the Geralle National Park of southern Ethiopia during the last five years (2013-2017). Our data showed that a total of 102 carcases of wild mammals were recorded during the period under report, representing 13 species most of which are currently globally threatened. On average 21 ± 5 animals were killed each year and nearly three-fourth of affected species and individuals killed were carnivores. Causes of mortality for all the cases reported were identified as deliberate gun-shooting (n=72, or 71% of the total) or car accident (n=30; 29%). The main reasons why the local people were motivated to commit deliberate killing of carnivores using rifles were in revenge to livestock depredation and that of ungulates to meet their demand for bushmeat. Although the motivation behind road killing was not clearly understood, lack of awareness or accidents due to high speed driving could be possible reasons. In addition to mammals, 33 carcases of four bird species were recorded during the study period, including the vulnerable Somali Ostriches (Struthio camelus) and the critically endangered African White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus), the latter due to unintentional poisoning. The data in this study pointed out that direct human-caused wildlife mortalities are one of the major threats to several wildlife species in the park, which may hold true in other protected areas of the country as well. Thus, awareness raising education on the consequences of direct human-caused wildlife killing on the species involved and ecosystem and implementation of effective law enforcement should be viewed as an urgent management intervention to curtail such wildlife mortalities in the park. Specific recommendations that are assumed to be practically applicable are also provided.