Assessment of human-primate conflicts in suntu kebele of limu kossa woreda, south-west Ethiopia

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflict is identified as one of the main threats to the continued survival of many species in different parts of the world. The present study was carried out in Suntu Kebele of Limmu Kossa Woreda, Jimma zone of Oromia National Regional State on “Assessment of human-monkey conflict in Suntu Kebele". The study included both the dry (February, 2016) and the wet season (May to end of August, 2016.). Three study sites were selected namely: Suntu, Jarso and Jato. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire, face to face interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. For the questionnaire survey, 201 households or any family member ≥ 18 years of age were involved and the respondents were selected through random sampling method. Purposive sampling was employed for to select for focus group discussion. Sweep survey was used to estimate the population size of Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) and Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus). To estimate the amount of crop damaged by the pest monkeys, the grid system was used. For this purpose, 90,000m2 of plots of land covered by maize crop were randomly selected and the magnitude of damage was recorded. The results of the questionnaire and interviews indicated that damage to crops by Anubis baboons and Vervet monkeys was the major problem. The result also showed depredation of goats & sheep by Anubis baboon, and poultry by Vervet monkeys. The finding from group discussion showed that the local people have developed negative attitudes towards these pest monkeys. The result of field observation to estimate crop damage indicated that the damage caused to maize crop by Anubis baboon at seedling. Tasseling and ripened stage together was 1.43% per a hectare and the damage caused to the same crop at different stages of its development by Vervet monkeys 1.42% per a hectare The field observation also showed the estimated population size of Anubis baboon in the dry season and the wet season was 67.00 ± 18.385 and 77.50 ± 20.51 respectively. The estimated population size of Vervet monkeys in the dry and wet season was 129.00 ± 26.87 and 138.50 ± 19.09. This study provides evidence with respect to crop damage by these monkey species. Therefore, human-monkey conflict issues must be resolved in the context of the local community.