Population estimation and livestock loss by spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Damota community managed forest, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The spotted hyena is positioned at the top of food chains and has the ability to influence the diversity of herbivores. Knowledge of this predator through research can assist in effective management decisions which will ensure ecosystem integrity. A study on population estimation and livestock loss by the spotted hyenas was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020 in the Damota community managed forests. Data was collected through distance sampling techniques, and the economic impacts of spotted hyena predation on livestock were quantified using a questionnaire survey with randomly selected households. Twenty-five transects were monitored over a period of two consecutive years. A mean of 113 ± 0.51 individuals of spotted hyena was observed per 100 km 2 . The density of spotted hyena was 1.34 ± 0.42 and 0.69 ± 0.12 individuals/km2 and 0.55 ± 0.97 and 0.75 ± 0.14 individuals/km 2 in farm and forest during 2019 and 2020, respectively. The mean sex ratio of the adult male to adult female was 0.56:1.00 and 0.74:1.00 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Moreover, the mean sex ratio of adult to cub was 1:0.25 and 1:0.29 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Respondents indicated a total loss of 377 livestock due to the depredation of spotted hyenas over the past five years. The total estimated economic loss caused by depredation, theft, and diseases was US$ 47,885. On average, US$ 9577 per year (US$ 26 per day) has been lost over the past five years. The average annual depredation per household was 0.98 head of livestock worth US$ 95.6. Among depredated livestock, 64.8% of sheep were lost by spotted hyena, followed by donkey (16.4%). Therefore, livestock management practices, assessment of spotted hyena population, and economic loss are very important for carnivore conservation and scaling up human livelihood development.