Population status and Sleeping Site Preferences of Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) in Setema District, Jimma Zone: Implications for Human-Baboon Conflict Management

Abstract

Olive baboons (Papio anubis) were in the Class Mammalia and belong to the Order Primates alongside with man. They are one of the four savannah baboons found in different part of Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the population status, sleeping site selection of Olive baboon as well as their conflict with humans in Setema district Jimma zone, Oromia Regional state South Western Ethiopia. To estimate the population status of Olive baboon, direct total count method was used during wet and dry season. Population counting was conducted early in the morning at 6:00 to 9:00 am and late afternoon at 5:00 to 6:00 pm. For olive baboon sleeping site selection, in addition to information from the local community, trailing and tracing system method was used. Human-wildlife conflict data were-collected using questionnaires, key informants, and focus group discussions (FGDs).