HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN AND AROUND BORENA SAYINT WEREHIMENO NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH WOLLO, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The Study Was conducted to assess Human Wildlife Conflict in and Around Borena Sayint Werehimeno National Park, South Wollo, Ethiopia. Human-wildlife conflict occurs when the needs and behavior of wildlife impact negatively on humans or when humans negatively affect the needs of wildlife. Purposively 50 respondents select in three Kebeles was selected namely; Chirochorkos, Anferfra and Beja chilaga based on the presence of high Human wildlife conflict. The main Objective of the Study Was to Identify the Cause, Impact and Managements of Human wildlife conflict. Data were collected by means of face to face Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion, Interview, Field Observation and Secondary Sources. The respondents confirmed that both crop raiding and livestock damage was the major cause of damage in the study area. The respondent’s perceived that leopards and Common Jackal among the top livestock depredators while gelada baboon and Vervet monkey were perceived as notorious crop raiders. Most raided crops were about 30% of wheat and 24% of barley was damaged by crop raiders especially for gelada baboon and Vervet monkey. Most of the respondent using those traditional methods in which 34% of them used guarding and 4% of them used smoking which was the highest and lowest method used by respondents respectively. The present study identifies the major causes of Human wildlife conflict in the study area manifested that agricultural expansion, human settlement, deforestation, overgrazing, illegal grass collection and poaching. Generally, based on the finding of this study, recommended Stakeholders should voluntary relocation, create awareness the local community for the use of wildlife, palatable and nutritive crops should not be grown near the park edge.