Human-Hippopotamus Conflict in case of Gibe Sheleko National park, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiop

Abstract

Many of the hippopotamus in Africa are found in the Eastern part. In Ethiopia, hippopotamus mainly occurs in the western part of the country. this study was conducted to assess human hippopotamus conflicts in Gibe Sheleko national park, Gurage, zone, Ethiopia. In order to study the conflicts between Human Hippopotamus in the national park, random sampling technique used to interview the local community and purposive sampling used to interview tourism managers, experts and scouts. Field observation was employed specifically by foot, and both primary and secondary data sources were used. Human settlement 15 (33.3%) and agricultural activities (i.e. irrigation) 12 (26.7 %) are the most serious driving forces or causes of human- hippos conflicts in the studying area. Hippopotamus af ect the crop of local community and human life which totally accounts 56.6 % (25) from the total respondent. Guarding in the field was indicated to be the primary and most ef ective means of controlling crop damaging often against hippos which comprised / accounts about 51.1% from the rests of mitigation or conflicts control methods. To control human hippos conflict, performing awareness creation program and local community participation in the conservation implementing and prohibit the expansion of human settlements, agricultural activities, as well as provide incentives and compensation or restitution to gate out the peoples / settlers from the national park was recommended