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

Abstract

Close proximity between humans and large predators results in high levels of conflict.

The aim of this study was investigating the extent and factors leading to human carnivore conflict through key informant interview, focus group discussions, questionnaires and field observation in all villages around sodo community managed forest, Southern Ethiopia. Totally, 310 household samples were identified for questionnaire in eight purposefully selected villages. Livestock losses from 2005 to 2007 (n = 745) were reported to be mainly caused by spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta (174 animals), leopard (151 animals), baboon Papio anubis (79 animals), African wild dog canis aureus (42 animals) and caracal felis caracal (65 animals). These predators mainly predated sheep (34 %) and goats (20 %) and cattle (25%) and donkey (4 %). Spotted hyena being the main predators of sheep (25.69 %) and goat (14.62 %).  Both anubis baboon and African wild dog were majorly depredate sheep (10.67 %).  Leopard was the main predators of cattle (38. 2 %). However, Chickens were killed mostly by serval cat depredate 83 animals (65 %). The level of conflict increased during 2005–2007. Livestock depredation was majorly observed during the wet season (62.2 %). Most respondents reported use of guarding using dogs and livestock enclosures with thorn bush kraal as very effective method in the villages. Our findings suggest that improvement of husbandry techniques and education will reduce conflicts and contribute to improve conservation of these predators and reduce the loss of livestock in the area.

Keywords: Conservation, Depredation, Ethiopia, Livestock–predator conflict, Predator, Sodo, Sodo community managed forest.