Abstract:
Mammal inventories are essential to effectively direct conservation strategies and management
practices. A study on the diversity and relative abundance of large and medium-sized mammals
was conducted in Gambella National Park, Nuer zone (Makuey, Wanthoa and Akobo), Western
Ethiopia, from February- June, 2020. The method of line transects was employed to collect data
in three habitat types (riverine forest, wetland and grassland with scattered trees) identified in the
study area. A total of 25 mammalian species of medium and large-sized mammals were recorded
during the whole study period. The park harbors a number of larger mammals such as the White
Eared kob, African elephant, African Buffalo, and Topi antelope. The highest mammalian diversity
was recorded in the Riverine forest habitat. A few species that were rare or absent in the Riverine
forest habitat in the other two habitat types (grassland with scattered trees and Wetland habitats).
The highest diversity was recorded from riverine forest (H’=2.944), the second was recorded in
grassland (H’=1.864) during dry season and the least was recorded in wetland (H’=1.366).
During wet season the highest diversity was recorded from riverine forest (H’ = 1.835) and the
least in grassland (H’=1.790). The most common mammals in the study area during both seasons
were white eared kob (Kobus kob) Africa buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and olive baboon (Papio
anubis). The most abundant species in both seasons were white eared kob (Kobus kob)
200(56.49%) Topi antelope 24(6.77%) olive baboon (Papio anubis) 20 (5.64%) and vervet monkey
respectively 20(5.64%). During the wet season were white eared kob (Kobus kob)100(65.35%)
African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) 20(13.07%). During dry season the least abundant were spotted
hyena (corcuta corcuta) and leopard (Panthera pardus) (0.56%). Among the three habitat types
the highest Simpson’s index (SI) similarity of mammalian species was obtained from grassland
and riverine forest both during the dry (0.86) and wet season (0.83), while less similarity was
obtained from species of grassland and wetland during dry (0.34) and wet season (0.32)
respectively. Despite the study area is home for different species of mammals, livestock grazing
and human encroachments are evident in the area, putting strain on the flora and fauna. Hence,
conservation measures should be taken to ensure long term conservation of the area.
