Abstract
Studies on the species composition, relative abundance and distribution of medium and large mammals were carried out from August 2015 to July 2016 in Mengaza communal forest. Data were collected using line transect technique. A total of twelve species of medium and large mammals were identified and recorded in the study area. Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), porcupine (Hystrix cristata), honey badger (Mellivera capensis), vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), Abyssinian hare (Lepus habessinicus), black backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus), olive baboon (Papio anubis), were among the medium mammals but Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), aardvark (Oryctropus afer), bohor reed buck (Redunca redunca) and common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) were among the large mammals identified in the study area. Olive baboon (32.7%) was the most abundant species during dry and wet seasons. Mammalian species composition between the two habitats (natural forest and plantation) was not significant (χ2 = 0.47, df =1, P > 0.05). However, there was seasonal variation in the abundance of individuals of medium and large mammals (χ2 = 3.89, df = 1, P < 0.05). The area is facing severe degradation due to human population pressure. Therefore, there should be proper conservation of the forest to sustain the wildlife species living there. Key words: Abundance, distribution, medium and large mammals, Mengaza Communal Forest, plantation species composition.
Highlights
Mammals are diversified both structurally as well as functionally (Yonas and Fikresilasie, 2015)
A total of 315 individuals of medium and large mammals were recorded from Mengaza communal forest area during both seasons in which of the recorded mammalian species, Olive baboon (P. anubis) was the most (32.7%) abundant species followed by vervet monkey (C. aethiops) (18.7%) during both seasons, but Aardvark (O. afer) was the least abundant species during both seasons (Table 1)
A total of 12 species of medium and large sized wild mammals were identified in Mengaza communal forest
Summary
Mammals are diversified both structurally as well as functionally (Yonas and Fikresilasie, 2015). East Africa is rich in mammalian fauna are the (Zerihun et al, 2012a). Ethiopia is one of the African countries known for highest mammal species richness (Zerihun et al, 2012b), and possesses more than 320 mammals, of these, 36 are endemic to the country (Alemneh, 2015a, b; Rabira et al, 2015). More than 60% of the mammal species in Ethiopia are medium and large- size (Dereje et al, 2015). Most populations of medium and large mammals are severely depleted in the country including protected areas (Rabira et al, 2015). It is due to growth of human population, habitat loss, fragmentation, weak management of the protected areas and deforestation (USAID, 2008)
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