The Diversity, Distribution and Relative abundance of Medium and Large Sized Mammals in Gambella national Parks Nuer zone, Western Ethiopia

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.