HUMAN- WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN AND AROUND GUASSA COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AREA, NORTH SHEWA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the extent of human-wildlife conflict in Guassa community conservation area, Amhara region, north Shewa zone, Ethiopia in 2018/19. The research used descriptive method and data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion and filed observation. . Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, tables, charts, picture and percentage. The target population of the study was 2080 households from three rural villages closer to the conservation area. This study used a sample size of 95 respondents. Crop damage and human disruption are the major difficulty in the area. Agricultural expansion (84.21%), livestock grazing (42.1%), deforestation, fire wood collection (26.31%) and habitat disturbance (10.5%) was a cause for human- wildlife conflict. Gelada baboon, rodents, rock hyrax, rabbit and klipspringer were reported to be among the destructive wild animals’ in terms of crop loss. Common Jackal, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, and sometimes Ethiopian wolf were common problematic wild animals’ in terms of livestock depredation. Crop damage, livestock depredation, decrease conservation efforts and habitat fragmentation were among the negative impact of conflict. Domestic dog, Scarecrows, mounting of plastic material on wooden picks, human guarding and fencing were among the deter strategies practiced by the local communities. Among that methods (94.73%) of the respondents replied permanent guarding as the most effective guarding system. Thus, encouraging local communities to grow unpalatable crops to wild animal and to cooperatively guard their crop is important to reduce the challenges associated with crop raiding by wild animals.