Threats Identification and Human–African Elephant Interactions in Kafta-Shiraro National Park, Tigray, Ethiopia

Kalayu Mesfin Arefayne

doi:10.7176/jnsr/12-9-05

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to identify the major threats of African elephant in Kafta-Shiraro National Park, Tigray, Ethiopia. The data was collected using questionnaires, interview, discussion with key informants and direct field observation. Currently Kafta-Shiraro National Park was affected by many threats such as Agricultural encroachments (1 st ), Traditional mining extraction (2 nd ), Deforestation (3 rd ), Charcoal production (4 th ), Irrigation activity (5 th ), Fire (6 th ) and Illegal hunting and poaching (7 th ) ranking based on the field observation and questionnaire from respondents. Among the main sources of conflict between human–African elephant in the national park were crop damage (57%), competition for resources (19%), necessity of guarding field (12%), destruction of property (8%) and people killed by elephant (4%). Habitat disturbance, livestock interference, feed shortage and illegal hunting were the main threats of African elephant in the park. Poor community awareness, high population, frees access for resources, weak law enforcement and poor patrolling were the major problems for effective management of elephants in the park. After analyzed the data African elephant conservation training were given for 40 community representatives for 6 consecutive days. Finally the office of the national park should work in collaboration with the local community in order to solve the current threats of the park to sustainable resources for the next generation. Keywords: African Elephant, Conservation, Human- elephant conflict, Threats DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-9-05 Publication date: May 31 st 2021

Highlights

Ethiopia has diverse wildlife populations which are comparable, species wise to other countries of east Africa
As the above figure indicated that crop damage to food crops was the main cause for human African elephant conflict followed by crop damage to cashes crops, competition for resources, necessity of guarding field, destruction of property and people killed by elephants were among the causes of human-African elephant conflict in Kafta-Shiraro National Park
This might be some food crops such as sorghum was highly preferred by African elephant source of food

Summary

Introduction

Ethiopia has diverse wildlife populations which are comparable, species wise to other countries of east Africa. Kafta-Sheraro National Park (Kafta-Sheraro NP), was recognized as Park in 2007 by the regional government of Tigray, is situated in the northwest of Ethiopia between 13o 50’ and 14o 23’ N and 36o 31’ and 37o 29’ E. It is bordered by Eritrea in the North and it is presumed to have an estimated total area of 2176.34 km, with mosaic woodlands of Combretum-Terminalia, Acacia-Commiphora, Dry-evergreen montane, scrubland and riparian vegetation (Mekbeb et al, 2001). Besides supporting the remnant elephant population in the expanse of the Tekeze Valley and home to many ungulates, predators and a variety of birds

Objectives

Methods

Results