The diversity, relative abundance and distribution of Medium and large size mammals in baroye controlled Hunting area, Illubabor Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the diversity, relative abundance and distribution of medium and large sized mammals during dry and wet seasons from January, 2014 to July, 2014 in Baroye controlled hunting area, Illubabor Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia. The study area was classified into three habitat types (grassland, woodland and riverine forest) based on the vegetation type of the area. Representative sample blocks were taken from each habitat type. Line transect method was employed for all the three habitat types and species identification and counting of individuals were made along each transect. In addition to direct observation, indirect methods such as scat/dropping, spines and calls were also used for identification of mammals. A total of 23 species of medium and large sized mammals grouped into 7 orders and 13 families were recorded from the study area during both seasons. Among these mammals only five species were the medium sized, whereas the remaining 18 species were large sized mammals. Riverine forest and Woodland habitats had the highest mammalian species diversity during the dry season with the diversity index (H’) 2.37and 2.23 respectively. The abundant mammal species in the study area were African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) (23.16%), Olive baboon (Papio anubis) (21.23%), Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiopis) (14.76%) and Colobus monkey (Colobus abyssinicus) (9.56%), whereas leopard (Panthera pardus) and lion (Panthera leo) were fewer than 1% of the total observation. Among the three habitat types the highest Simpson’s index (SI) similarity of mammalian species was obtained from woodland and riverine forest both during the dry (0.67) and wet season (0.66),while less similarity was obtained from species of grassland and riverine forest during dry (0.31). Despite the study area provided habitats for various species of mammals, the seasonal fire, illegal settlement, poaching and deforestation were very evident in the area, putting an extreme negative effect on the fauna and flora. Hence, there is a need for urgent conservation measures to save the biodiversity. Key words: Mammalian diversity, species distribution, relative abundance, habitat type, Controlled hunting