Conservation Challenge: Human-Carnivore Conflict in Sodo Community Managed Conservation Forest, Southern Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and factors leading to human-carnivore conflict through key informant interview, focus group discussions, questionnaires and field observation in villages around Sodo... [ view full abstract ]

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and factors leading to human-carnivore conflict through key informant interview, focus group discussions, questionnaires and field observation in villages around Sodo Community Managed Forest, Southern Ethiopia. Totally, 310 household samples were identified for questionnaire in eight purposefully selected villages. Livestock losses from 2013 to 2015 (n=745) were reported mainly caused by spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta (174 animals), leopard Panthera pardus (151 animals), Anubis baboon Papio anubis (79 animals), caracal Felis caracal (65 animals) and African wild dog Canis aureus (42 animals). These predators mainly predated sheep (34 %), cattle (25%), goats (20 %) and donkey (4 %), respectively. Spotted hyena was the main predator of sheep (25.69 %) and goats (14.62 %). Both Anubis baboon and African wild dog were mainly depredated on sheep (10.67 %). Leopard was the main predators of cattle (38. 2 %). However, chickens were mostly killed by serval cat (n=83, 65 %). The level of conflict had increasing through time to time in each year. Livestock depredation was mostly observed during the wet season (62.2 %). Increasing the number of herders with the use of older individuals than children and the use of guarding dogs with proper breed were recommended by the local community as effective methods to solve the existing problems in the future. Improvement of husbandry techniques and community education program will reduce the conflicts and improve the livelihood of the local community to live in harmony with the existing wildlife predators of the forest area.

Keywords: Conservation challenges, Depredation, Human-carnivore conflict, Sodo Community Managed Forest