Abstract:
A study on the population status, ecology and human conflicts of hippopotamus (Hippopotamus
amphibius) was conducted in Boye wetland between February and August, 2013. Total ground
count, field observations, interviews and questionnaire techniques were used to collect data. The
behavioural activity and event patterns were studied with 30 minutes interval following a male
and female focal individual. The average of 14.75 ± 1.89 of hippopotamus was recorded in the
study area. Among them, 32.20% was males, 44.07% females and 23.73% young. However, the
population composition had no statistical differences (F = 0.683, df= 2, P = 0.518). The male to
female sex ratio was 1.00:1.37. But, young to adult age individual ratio was 1.00:3.21. During
the rainy season, hippopotamus migrated into Gibe River. The population size of hippopotamus
counted at Boye wetland and Gibe River had no significant difference (P>0.05). Resting
comprise the majority of their activity with 42.50%, followed by moving 34.16%, feeding 19.63%
and mating 3.71% of day time. Barking and yawning events took 51.18% and 48.82% of their
time, respectively. Males spent more time in resting than females, while females were active in
all behavioural activity and event patterns except mating activity. Feeding and moving peak
activities were observed early in the morning and late afternoon hours with resting peak during
the mid-day. Barking and yawning events were mostly increased in the afternoon. Hippopotamus
consumed a total of 26 species of plants. Of these, Eriochloa fatmensis (11.68%), Typha latifolia
(9.91%), Echinocloa pyramidalis (9.59%) and Cynodon dactylon (8.45%) were the top four
species of plants contributing for 39.63% of their overall diet. Hippopotamus’s footprint had an
average of 81.00cm circumference and 84.94cm distance of slips. Footprint circumferences and
distance were positively correlated (r=0.795). Among the respondents, 47.3% had negative
attitude towards hippopotamus, while 37.3% and 15.5% had positive and neutral attitudes,
respectively. Conflicts with human and other anthropogenic factors influenced hippopotamus
distribution in the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that prohibit the expansion of human
settlements should not be encouraged in the hippopotamus habitat. Awareness creation around
this local people and community participation in the conservation programme also
recommended.
