Megaze, Aberham (2016) Population Status, Demography and Time Budget of the African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman, 1779) and Anthropogenic Impacts in Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia. PhD thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
An investigation on the population status, structure and habitat association of the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman, 1779) and anthropogenic threats in Chebera Churchura National Park (CCNP), Ethiopia was carried out during 2012–2015. The study area was stratified into four habitat types, viz., grasslands, woodlands, montane forests and riverine habitat. Sample counts were carried out in an area of 1,215 km2. The estimated buffalo population was 5,193 individuals, with the population density of 4.27/ km2. The population estimates for wet and dry seasons were 5,788 and 4,599 heads, respectively. Males comprised 42.56%, while females 46.68% of the population (M: F=1.00: 1.10). Age structure was dominated by adults, which constituted 52.49% of the total population. Subadults comprised 24.30%, young 12.44% and unidentified sex of the population was 10.75%, with a significant difference between young and adults. Larger herds of up to 30 individuals were observed during the wet season and smaller herds of a minimum of four individuals were seen during the dry season. The mean herd size during the wet and dry seasons was 29.59 and 16.95, respectively. Buffaloes were observed more in the riverine vegetation types during the dry season. Relative abundance of food sources, green vegetation cover and availability of water were the major factors governing their distribution in the present study area. Buffalo spent a greater proportion of the time in feeding and resting activities. Feeding and resting were the predominant activities (87.14% of the diurnal active period), with 48.95% time spent feeding during the dry season, and 44.91% during the wet season. Daytime grazing and resting periods during the wet season were estimated to be 5.39 h and 4.98 h, respectively. Morning and the late afternoon activity peaks were more pronounced during the dry season than the wet season. The main threat of the African buffalo in the study area was poaching, wildfire, livestock grazing, illegal farming and expanding human settlements. Questionnaires survey, group discussions and direct field observations indicated that, firewood collection, setting fire, hunting, livestock grazing and farming were having great impacts on biodiversity conservation in CCNP. Crop damage, livestock loss, human injures and illegal resource access were the major problems encountered in CCNP resulting in conflicts between local people and Park officials, and also human and wildlife. To mitigate these problems, the local people have adopted intensified vigilance, use of guard animals, fencing, use of repellents and killing problematic wild animals. Even though most of the respondents of the questionnaire survey had positive attitude towards conservation areas and wildlife, they were not satisfied by the benefit from the Park. Proper conservation measures incorporating all stakeholders have to be implemented to solve the problems and safeguard the wildlife in the Park.
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Activity patterns, habitat association, natural resource use, human–wildlife conflict. |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Selom Ghislain |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Jun 2018 09:55 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Jun 2018 09:55 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4294 |
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