Livestock predation, crop raiding, and community attitudes towards sustainable wildlife conservation in and around Mankira Forest, Southwest Ethiopia.

Crop raiding and livestock predation negatively impact the views of the local community towards wildlife conservation. Farmers across the African continent, especially those in rural regions, incur financial losses as a result of crop raiding and livestock depredation. The sustainability of the forest relies heavily on comprehending the essential connection between a harmonious park-people relationship and the coexistence of humans and wildlife. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the predation of livestock, the raiding of crops, and the attitudes of the community towards wildlife in the Mankira Forest located in southwest Ethiopia. This particular area has been lacking in scientific research, making it crucial to conduct this assessment. The data were collected between November 2021 and September 2022 via a structured questionnaire. This study used a sample of 241 randomly selected respondents from the four villages, and responses were compared using chi-square tests. Pearson correlation was also used to test the relationship between the distance of farmland and the extent of crop raiding. The majority of the respondents (95%) reported the presence of crop raiding and livestock predation in the area. These losses were caused by the Papio anubis (39%), the Chlorocebus aethiops (24.1%), the Hystrix cristata (15.3%), the Canis aures (58.3%), and the Crocutacrocuta (29.5%). Maize stood out as the crop type most susceptible to crop raiders. Most of the respondents (56.7%) had a negative attitude towards wildlife conservation. There was a significant difference among age groups of respondents related to their attitude towards wildlife conservation (p < 0.05). The study highlights the need to address several gaps in understanding and managing human-wildlife conflict through research on predation, raiding, and community attitudes. Therefore, to fulfill the dual goals of community support and conservation of wildlife, rigorous management and planning are needed.

Traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and ethnomedicinal use of plants in the Tropical Rift Valley of Ethiopia.

Introduction: A wide range of floral resources are used in Ethiopia for primary healthcare. Unfortunately, due to inadequate documentation and the fact that they were verbally passed down from one generation to the next, these indigenous medicinal practices are being forgotten. The study's goal was to identify and record indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge of plant usage in the Abala Abaya District of Wolaita, Ethiopia. Methods: The collection of ethnobotanical data used a cross-sectional research design involving focus group discussions and semistructured questionnaires between January 2021 and April 2022. From each selected kebele (ward; smallest administrative unit), 50 informants (a total of 200) were selected as representative sample using a systematic random sampling technique. Results: More than 50 different human and animal illnesses have been documented to be treated by seventy-two species of plants grouped in thirty-two families. The most abundant families were Poaceae and Asteraceae (8 taxa in each). The two most often used plant parts were leaf (29%) and herbs (54%), respectively. Oral administration was the most typical mode of delivery (75%). For treating stomachache in the category of gastrointestinal illnesses, Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F.Gmel got the greatest fidelity level scores (FL = 100%). Conclusions: In Abala Abaya District, there is broad access to traditional medicinal plants that can treat ailments in both humans and animals. This study, therefore, might be a baseline piece of information for further botanical related studies in the region. Plants with the highest FL values are highly recommended for novel drug discovery.

Comparison of bird assemblage structures and diversity patterns between seasons among two Ethiopian wetlands.

Wetlands are significant habitats for bird populations, and knowledge of the diversity and other ecological aspects of bird species contribute to the management of the ecosystem. The present study was based on comparative studies of the diversity and relative abundance of bird species in the two wetlands of southwest Ethiopia. The point count method was utilized in this study. For the data analysis, the Shannon-Weaver diversity index, independent sample t-test, and similarity index were employed. A total of 36 bird species under 11 orders and 24 families were identified. The species diversity and relative abundance were higher in both wetlands during the wet season. The Loga wetland had the higher diversity (H' = 3.089), whereas the lowest species diversity (H' = 2.643) was recorded in the wetland of Hurri. During the dry season, the Loga wetland (H' = 2.738) and the Hurri habitat (H' = 2.283) had higher and lower diversity, respectively. Seasonal variations in bird species diversity are not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Although the two wetlands support several water birds, they have received no conservation attention from concerned bodies. Further follow-up studies over a long period will help determine species-specific conservation measures for wetland-dependent birds.

An ethnozoological study of traditional medicinal animals and their products from Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Ethiopia has a diverse set of floral and faunal resources that are used for primary health care in traditional or indigenous medicine. However, because they are passed down orally from one generation to the next, this indigenous medical practice is being ignored and is continuing to disappear. As a result, the goal of this ethnozoological study was to assess and document traditional healers' and indigenous people's knowledge in use of animal parts or products for medical purposes in the Diguna Fango District of Wolaita, Ethiopia. Materials and methods: From March 2021 to June 2021, a field survey was conducted using personal interviews, semistructured questionnaires, and open group discussions utilizing a cross-sectional study approach. Totally, two hundred informants (125 men and 75 women) were provided information on the medicinal uses of various animals. Using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, the collected ethnozoological data were analyzed. The informant consensus factor, use value, and degree of fidelity were all determined. Results: More than 50 different human ailments were treated using 39 different animal parts or products. Mammals had the highest use rate (N = 26, 66.67%). In the category of treating endocrine, metabolic, and nutritional diseases, Hystrix cristata had a high-fidelity level (FL = 95%). The highest use value (a maximum of 1.0) was for Bos taurus. The disease categories with the highest informant consensus factor (ICF) values were human immune deficiency disease, reproductive health, and genito-urinary ailment categories (ICF = 1.00). Wild animals (74%) outnumbered domestic animals (26%). The most common administration route (50%) was oral, and raw remedies had the highest use reports (58.9%). Conclusions: The findings revealed that the study area contains a wealth of ethnozoological knowledge that could be useful in the formulation of novel drugs. The findings of the study should therefore be put to use in prospective ethnozoological, ethnopharmacological, and conservation-related studies in the region.

The Neglected Traditional Enset (Ensete ventricosum) Crop Landraces for the Sustainable Livelihood of the Local People in Southern Ethiopia.

Enset (Ensete ventricosum, Musaceae) is a neglected traditional multipurpose crop plant critical for Ethiopian food security. It has drawn a lot of attention in the last few years. This study was undertaken on the morphological diversity among the enset landraces and their cultural use for the livelihood of the people in Southern Ethiopia. The study was administered in four purposively selected kebeles of the Mareka District. A total of 145 individuals were interviewed using semistructured interviews, and field observation has also occurred. The descriptors for enset developed by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources were used to measure the morphological features. This study found twenty-two enset landraces. Landraces were categorized into five groups based on their morphological trait variability. The highest mean was in cluster five, while the lowest was in cluster three. The highest landrace diversity was found in Ocha (n = 2.28) and the lowest in Guta (n = 2.17). This study confirmed that the study area has a diverse range of ecosystems. However, a reduction in production and the loss of some landraces were observed. As a result, the protection and preservation of enset landraces must be a priority for all responsible entities.

The Population Size and Distribution of Diurnal Large Wild Mammals in the Southern Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia.

The study was carried out to assess the population size and distribution of diurnal large wild mammals in the southern Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia. The study area was stratified into four habitat types: riverine forest, ground-water forest, grassland, and bushland. Samples of animals were surveyed through the transect method. The total number of individuals belonging to the 15 species observed was 1681 and 1245 during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Burchell's zebra (Equus burchellii), Anubis baboon (Papio anubis), Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), and Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti) were the most abundant species, while Abyssinian hare (Lepus habessinicus) and Bush duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) were the least abundant species. The highest number of species has been supported by the bushland habitat, followed by open grassland, riverine forest, and ground-water forest in both seasons. Despite the park being home to various types of mammalian species, there is a need for conservation actions by the park management and other concerned bodies for the survival of those species in the area.

Terrestrial medium and large-sized mammalian species diversity in Michole Community Protected Forest, southern Ethiopia.

The study on medium and large-sized mammalian species' diversity and distribution is important for conservation efforts in the different protected areas of Ethiopia. The present study was intended to investigate the species diversity of medium and large-sized mammalian fauna between October 2019 and July 2020 in Michole Community Protected Forest, southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted by stratification of the study area into three habitat types: riverine forest (3.37 km2), woodland (4.14 km2), and grassland with scattered trees (2.33 km2) based on the vegetation cover. A diurnal transect survey method was implemented to record the mammalian species diversity. A total of 18 representative sample transect lines (six in riverine forest, four in grassland with scattered trees, and eight in woodland habitats) that varied in length and width were used. A total of 17 species of medium and large-sized mammalian species were identified and recorded in the study area. As a result, the orders Carnivora and Primates have the greatest abundance, while the order Lagomorpha has the least. Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) was the most abundant species (15.14%), followed by Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) (12.98%), Crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) (12.51%), Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) (10.35%), Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) (8.80%), and Giant root-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus) (8.65%). The distributions of mammals among the three habitat types were comparable. The riverine forest harbored the highest mammalian diversity index (H' = 2.35) followed by the woodland (H' = 2.32), and the grassland with scattered trees (H' = 2.30), respectively. The greatest species similarity was recorded in woodland (0.902). The study area harbors considerable mammalian species that are threatened by interacting anthropogenic factors. So, urgent conservation measures by concerned sectors are needed to safeguard these animals and their habitat.

Field efficacy of ethnomedicinal plant smoke repellency against Anopheles arabiensis and Aedes aegypti.

The repellency effect of smoke from burning Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ocimum forskolin plants to reduce human-mosquito biting activity. Ground mixed powders of the plant leaves produced smoke by direct burning and thermal expulsion on the traditional stoves in experimental huts against An. arabiensis and Ae. aegypti. A four-by-four Latin-square design was used to assign treatment and control experimental huts over different nights. In the treatment huts, the percent repellency of the smoke produced by burning powdered plant mixtures of the plants were determined by reduction mosquito density. There was a reduction on An. arabiensis (93.75%, P < 0.001) and Ae. aegypti (92%, P < 0.001) respectively, for huts with burning powder versus no treatment. Overall, plant mixed powders tested by both methods of application offered significant protection (>90%) against both mosquito species tested and has the potential to be used as an alternative mosquito control method.

The attitude of people towards Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) crop foraging activities in sub-Saharan Africa, southern Ethiopia.

We studied the attitudes of people towards the crop foraging activities and conservation of the Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia, sub-Saharan Africa, based on questionnaires and direct field observations, to estimate the extent of crop loss. The study indicated that 60.2% (N = 221) of the respondents had a negative attitude towards the Anubis baboon. There was a significant negative correlation between damaged crops and attitude towards Anubis baboons (r = -0.739, p < 0.05). The attitudes towards baboons were more positive in villages more distant from the park. Approximately 35.7% (N = 121) of the respondents near the park boundary faced serious loss of the maize crop. Sixty-one percent (N = 206) of the respondents guarded their fields to prevent crop loss. The existence of a strong conflict was observed between Anubis baboons and the people near the park area. Therefore, the park administration and the inhabitants need to work together to alleviate the conflict between the baboons and the local people.