Anthropogenic Influences on the Wildlife Conservation Efforts in Maze National Park, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Studies on anthropogenic impacts on wildlife resources were carried out in the newly established Maze National Park, southern Ethiopia, during April 2011 to February 2012. An investigation on anthropogenic impacts in the Park area was made through household questionnaire survey, direct observation, group discussion and key informant interviews. Vehicle-wildlife collision and human intrusion are major problems in the Park. Livestock predation, crop raiding and encroachment of the local community in to the Park for exploitation of resources are important causes of conflict. Unless proper and urgent measures are taken to limit illegal activities, the benefits from the existing wildlife such as Swayne’s hartebeests which is the endangered and endemic sub-species of the country, and their habitat will continue to decline and the future of the existing species of the Park might be in danger.

Keywords: Impacts, Human-wildlife conflict, Maze National Park, Wildlife Resources