Attitudes and Perception of local Communities toward Wildlife Conservation in and around Ambicho Natural Forest, Limo District, Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the biodiversity countries in the world that it deserves the attention regionally and globally. ANF is the remaining natural forest in Ethiopia which supports many wildlife including large mammals and birds Species surrounded by many local communities. The objective of this study was to access the attitude and perception of local communities towards the wildlife conservation questioner house hold survey and focus group discussion was used to analysis the local communities’ attitude. 40 respondents were selected from the total household(160) in the study area in order to collect accurate data from the respondents. 75% of local communities have negative attitude towards wildlife species in the study areas due to crop raiding (33.33%), lack of insurance (6.7%), disease transmission (20%), lack of knowledge for local communities about the value of wildlife (10%), destruction of domestic animals (23.3%)and lack of strong governmental rule for wildlife conservation (3.3%) and having negative attitude on wildlife without any aft action (3.3%) At the same time 20% of the local communities have positive attitudes toward wildlife that is why wildlife in the forest has their own values and benefits such as generate income from the tourist (25%), ecological value (25%), collection of wood from the habitat of wildlife (12.5), create job opportunity (12.5%) and construction of house(25%).