People and Spotted Hyena (Crocuta-Crocuta) Interaction: The Case of Kembata Tembaro Zone Damboya Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The interaction between people and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was studied in Kembata Tembaro Zone Demboya Woreda Southern Ethiopia from November 2012 – February 2013. The data was collected using household questionnaire survey (n=200), field observations and scat analysis (n=235 sample out of 47 scats). The objectives of the study were to obtain information on hyena habitat use, its diet composition and assessing people attitude and hyena indicating its impact on their livelihood.  The questionnaire survey recorded a total of 498 domestic animals killed by hyena during 2011 - 2013 which resulted in economic loss of 480, 151 ETB (25,271 US$). Of hyena depredations on sheep, goat, cattle, pack animals, dog, and poultry, the highest loss was recorded on sheep (47.5%). The depredations on livestock including domestic animals accounted for 81.6% and wild animals for 19.4%. As a result, the majority of local community (78.96%) developed a negative attitude towards hyena. Livestock depredations and hyena being threat to human safety were the main causes for the development of such attitudes. The local community argued that habitat destruction (76%), rapid increase in human population (19%), decline in wild prey (5%) were probably the causes for such behavioural development of hyena. Mitigation measures being used presently by the community included early arrival to livestock  enclosures , guarding animals and their children, driving hyena when attacking livestock, covering their den, burning and clearing off their habitats, retaliatory killing and diverting their livestock rearing system. Recommendations of the study for resolving conflict between people and hyena in the area include both short term and long term measures; Providing diversionary feeding sites, to hyena  increasing awareness of wildlife benefits and wildlife laws of the country, inculcating importance of living in coexistence with wildlife, selective harvesting depending on situation.Further, research is required on behavioural ecology of hyena including population dynamics and their movement patterns  in the study site for formulating sound management plan for conflict mitigation.

Keywords: Depredation, human safety, hyena-livestock, Interaction, Kembata Tembaro Zone, scat, Spotted Hyena.