Human-olive baboon (Papio anubis) conflict in the human-modified landscape, Wollo, Ethiopia

Abstract

Human–wildlife conflicts are increasing worldwide, and are typically most intense in human-dominated unprotected areas where local people, livestock and wildlife share the same landscapes. Such conflict becoming severe as wildlife species damage crops and predate livestock, and the subsequent factors undermine wildlife conservation efforts in a region. Between March and June 2017, I conducted a questionnaire-based interview with 124 local farmers to examine the extent of human-olive baboon (Papio anubis) conflict and their conservation attitudes towards baboons in Wollo, Ethiopia. All respondents reported that crop foraging and small livestock (sheep and goats) predation were the two main human-olive baboon conflict causes in the region. Most respondents placed olive baboons as the second most destructive crop pest after geladas (Theropithecus gelada), and as the first most small livestock predator followed by leopard (Panthera pardus). Most farmers placed bean (Vicia faba) as the first most frequently raided crop by olive baboons followed by sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and maize (Zea mays). In the two years period (between 2015 and 2016), most (70.2%) respondents claimed that they lost their small livestock to olive baboons, with an annual average loss of 2.5 heads per year, equivalent to US$ 52.26. I found that most (80.7%) respondents had negative attitudes towards olive baboons, and 81.9% were not interested to olive baboon conservation in their localities. Most farmers agreed guarding as the best mitigation measures to minimize crop and livestock losses. The result shows that human-olive baboon conflicts create negative impact on both farmers’ livelihood and baboon conservation in the region. I suggest that to mitigate human-olive baboon conflict shifting guarding system among local farmers as the means of keeping crop fields and small stock, and educating people about the ecosystem services of baboons as well as creation of a protected area should be considered in the region.