Wildlife Resources of Ethiopia:  Opportunities, Challenges and Future  Directions: From Ecotourism Perspective: A Review Paper

Alemneh Amare

doi:10.4236/nr.2015.66039

Abstract

The economy of Ethiopia has prospered for many years on agricultural products but currently, the country expands to industrialization and service providing for additional incomes. However, the wildlife tourism and conservation practices are still at low attention. Therefore, this review paper identifies potential opportunities and wildlife diversity to promote wildlife tourism practices in Ethiopia. Furthermore, it also identifies the challenges and future directions to put into practice for future wildlife tourism industry. Wildlife tourism is one of the best potential economies to the country due to the presence of magnificent diversity of wildlife with high endemism and expansion of protected areas. The main intentions of tourists are to visit large mammals and birds with their natural habitats. The country earns million dollars per year only from protected areas through nature based tourism. The Montane and Afroalpine, Rift Valley and Transboundary ecosystem, a world class icon for wildlife tourism which attracts various tourists, and potential tourism destination for Ethiopia due to its high mammalian diversity and scenic area. The expansion of protected areas, peaceful and friendly people, and endemism promote tourism industry in Ethiopia. Even though, Ethiopia is the third country next to Tanzania and Uganda in terms of land surface of protected area; human-wildlife conflict, loss of biodiversity, and limited tourism and conservation attention with poor infrastructure are some of the major challenges. To scale up wildlife tourism industry, better promotion with practical conservation practices, community based tourism approaches and infrastructures should be implemented throughout the whole area of tourist destination.

Highlights

The interaction between human being and nature was started before million years ago when human being was created
The main objective of this paper is to provide a review of the wildlife resources and historical development of wildlife tourism in Ethiopia, with particular reference to the opportunities and challenges that the industry faces in order to provide future direction for sustainable tourism development to the country
The most common large mammals found in the mixed habitats are African elephant (Loxodonta africana), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Lion (Panthera leo), Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), Giraffe, Taing (Topi), Bush pig (Potamocherus larvatus), Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsipprymus), Nile lechwe, Burchell’s zebra.The swampy and savanna-dwelling species hosts many mammals such as the Nile lechwe (Kobus megaceros), White-eared kob (Kobus kob leucotis), Roan antelope and Bohor reedbuck (Redunca redunca), while primates include the Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) [16]

Summary

Introduction

The interaction between human being and nature was started before million years ago when human being was created. The Safari tourism is the most common excursion of national parks; it includes to a large public that is interested in viewing large mammals and colorful birds in a wild with exotic landscape and a range of nature tourism products. Many of these wildlife visitors will be interested for integrated cultural and natural heritages [3] [5]. The intention is to halt the decline of wild animal populations and enable the country to realize the maximum benefit from the sub-sector (in the form of tourism, live animals and products trade and hunting)

The Presence of Diversified Wildlife

Wildlife Resources across Eco-Regions

Peace and Security Promotes Wildlife Tourism

Human Wildlife Conflict

Deforestation and Forest Degradation

Poaching

Conclusion

Findings

Future Direction for Nature-Based Tourism and Wildlife Conservation