Abstract:
The diet composition of spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in and around urban garbage dumping
site of Abyi Adi town, Centeral Tigray- the case of livestock depredation and local peoples’
attitude was studied from March-April, 2013. A total of 143 hyena scat samples collected from
the study area and washed and hairs were extracted. Hair was analyzed based on form, length
and color with the naked eye as well as by using a microscope at 10 x magnifications compared
with a prey species hair reference collection. The scat analysis revealed that the diet of spotted
hyena contains 96.16% prey item of livestock and 3.84% prey items of wildlife. Frequencies of
prey items identified in decreasing order were; donkey, goat, and sheep in and around garbage
and goat, sheep and donkeys far from the garbage area. Economic impact of livestock predation
was assessed through household survey selected by systematic random sampling technique. The
age, number and sex of livestock killed by spotted hyena were recorded and estimated average
cost of livestock lost and the average price collected from local livestock seller. A total of 535
livestock; 175(32.7%) and 360 (67.3%) were reported to be killed by hyena over 5 years from
around and far from garbage dumping areas respectively. The average annual livestock loss
resulted in estimated economic loss per household were 518.8 birr and 388.6 birr from around
and far from garbage area respectively. Households of the study area reported that they were
protecting livestock by fence, dog and shepherd from hyena predation. However, the
constructing materials and height of fence was insignificant association with livestock
protection. Perception towards spotted hyena was also surveyed on a total of 355 households of
urban and villages of around and far from garbage dumping areas. 48%, 26.8% and 25.2% of
respondents had positive, negative and neutral perception towards hyena respectively.
Education, residence, sex and age influenced the perception of respondents towards hyena. In
general, hyena depredation livestock due to absence of natural preys and cause an economic
value. Mitigation livestock depredation is highly recommendable either through improved
animal husbandry or through ecosystem regeneration and give education and training to create
awarenes
