Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi, Oustalet, 1882) Challenges of Survival in the Pastoralist Dominated Arid Ecosystems of Chew Bahir and Sarite, Southern Ethiopia

Limenh, Degu Tadie (2007) Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi, Oustalet, 1882) Challenges of Survival in the Pastoralist Dominated Arid Ecosystems of Chew Bahir and Sarite, Southern Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

This thesis documents the human-wildlife interaction (Grevy’s zebra, Equus grevyi, and the local pastoralists in Chew Bahir (Chalbi) and Sarite areas, southern Ethiopia. The study tried to investigate the challenges and the underlying causes that brought Grevy’s zebra population decline. Data were collected from September 2005 to October 2006 using interviews through questionnaire, transect survey and scan sampling methods. Chi-square tests and one way ANOVA were used to evaluate the opinions of pastoralists and the activity pattern and habitat association of Grevy’s zebra in the study areas. DISTANCE 4.1 was also used to estimate the Grevy’s zebra population density in the study areas. The results indicated that hunting for various purposes and directional change of Woito River and challenge to access the critical resource, (water), are the major factors that contribute to the dramatic decline of Grevy’s zebra population in Chew Bahir. There was significant difference on the reasons why Grevy’s zebra were declining in number (χ2 = 185.833, df = 4, P < 0.001). Hunting was the most (50.8%) important factor. The hunting tradition of Hamar and Hor (Arbore) pastoralists contributed the most part. Grevy’s zebras were killed for food (46.3%) and medicinal value (45.4%). At Sarite, drought was a major factor for population decline. The result also indicated that the population density estimate for the study areas were 0.087/km2 with 95% CI 0.044657 - 0.16982 and 0.115/km2 with 95% CI 16.000 – 53.000 for Chew Bahir and Sarite, respectively. The availability of water to Grevy’s zebra was associated with distance of the water points to the nearest human settlement (F 3 31=3,805, P < 0.05). At Chew Bahir, water was more available during non-drought seasons than that of Sarite. The activity pattern and habitat association of zebras in Chew Bahir also showed significant difference (χ2 = 32.991, df = 1, P < 0.001). At Chalbi, mean frequency for each activity per hour was feeding 1.40 ± 0.157, vigilant 3.17 ± 0.155, walking 0.81 ± 0.086, resting 0.42 ± 0.094, grooming 0.14 ± 0.048, and running 0.12 ± 0.030. While in Sarite, the mean frequencies were feeding 2.93 ± 0.152, vigilant 0.542 ± 0.071, walking 0.618 ± 0.062, resting 0.99 ± 0.117, grooming 0.479 ± 0.085, and running 0.035 ± 0.018. Grevy’s zebras face the ultimate challenge of disappearing from the study areas due the human effect of hunting and water shortage. Therefore, urgent measures that can integrate the local pastoralist communities with the wildlife must be taken to save this endangered species.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Activity pattern, Grevy’s zebra, human-wildlife interactions, population density.
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Selom Ghislain
Date Deposited: 01 Oct 2018 12:13
Last Modified: 01 Oct 2018 12:13
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/5816

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