Feeding habit and population density of african civet (civettictis civetta) in chora district, buno bedele zone, south west Ethiopia

Abstract

A study on feeding ecology and population density of African civet (Civettictis civetta) was conducted in Chora district, Buno Bedele Zone, Oromia regional state, South-west Ethiopia. The study was conducted from February 2018 - August 2018 in farmland and coffee plantation during both dry and wet seasons. Feeding habit of the African civets was studied by direct observation and examination of fresh droppings collected from dung piles (‘civetries’) in different seasons. Mean, minimum and maximum number of civets in each civetry was calculated and then the population density estimated. A total of 648 African civet scat samples were collected from 18 civetries of the study area in the coffee plantation and farmland within five day intervals. More than 5 different prey items were identified from the scat samples. Animals, with 60.9% relative frequency contributed 17.59% African civet diet biomass during wet season. Animals, with 38.59% relative frequency and 8.6% biomass contributed diet of the African civet during the dry seasons, in coffee plantation. Plants, with 6.66% relative frequency contributed 0.31% biomass during wet seasons. Plants with 76.66% relative frequency contributed 36.69% diet biomass during the dry seasons in coffee plantation. There was variation in African civet plant diet between wet and dry season and it was statistically significant (p=0.006). Based on fecal count in the current study area, the number of civets in the study area varied in wet and dry seasons. The variation was statistically significant (p=0.029). The density of civets in the sampled coffee plantation and farmland was 2.2 civets/km 2 (0.022/hectare) and 3.6 civets/km 2 (0.036/hectare) in wet and dry seasons respectively. In all the study area, the mean estimated number of civets during both wet and dry seasons were 0.029/hectare (2.9/ km 2 ). There was variation in the density of African civets between wet and dry seasons. Seasonal collection of civet musk from coffee forest and farmland economically supports the farmers while increasing the importance of civets in the habitat and hence contributing for its conservation. So in Chora district, there is a relationship between the number of civet farmers and number of wild civets, the number of wild civets and amount of food available and suitable habitat for wild civet.