Population Status of Gelada and its Conflict with Human Around Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

Abstract

Theropithecus gelada is species, endemic to Ethiopia, mainly in the northern part of the Ethiopian plateau. Despite the relatively long-term research effort on the population and behavioral ecology of geladas, and its conflict with humans in protected areas, these data are lacking in unprotected areas. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine population status and assess human-gelada conflict around Debre Berhan town from November 2013 to April 2014. The total count method was adopted to assess population status. Data on human-gelada conflict were collected based on a direct questionnaire survey. A total of 438 geladas were counted during the study period. The number of females was significantly higher than the number of males (χ 2 =45.48, df =1, P < 0.05) with a ratio of 1:2.3 male to females. The mean group size of gelada was 43. 57.7% of respondents had negative attitude towards geladas, whereas 30.0% and 12.3% had negative and neutral attitudes, respectively. The average annual crop loss by gelada was 2 quintal per household. The trend of crop damage by geladas is increasing significantly in the study site during the last ten years (χ2 = 44.47, df = 2, P < 0.05). The study helps future conservation of species in unprotected areas in the vicinity of agricultural lands.