Swayne's Hartebeest (SHB) is an endangered endemic animal to Ethiopia. However, its activity pattern and social behavior are not well documented. Hence, we investigated the diurnal activity pattern and social behavior of SHB in the Maze National Park. Data were collected by direct observation of focalanimal from October 2018 to April 2019 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and X 2-test. A total of 1004 observations were made for activity pattern study. The SHB were performing four major activities (remain standing: 37.6%, grazing: 32.9%, walking: 15.7%, lying: 11.2%) showing significant differences in the total observation frequencies (X 2 = 205.69, P < 0.05). Standing was the dominant activity followed by grazing in the wet season and vice versa in the dry season. Observation frequency for standing showed significant difference between seasons (X 2 = 6.614, P < 0.05). Observation frequency for the activities within season (wet season: X 2 = 120.6, P < 0.05; dry season: X 2 = 100.38, P<0.05) showed variation. A total of 951 observations were made for social behavior study. We found significant differences in the total observation between types of social groups (X 2 = 109.52, P<0.05) and between seasons (X 2 = 22.722, P<0.05). Female SHB with young calf showed the dominant vigilant behavior. The findings revealed a decrease in the rate of occurrence for vigilance behavior with increasing social group size. We suggest the management plan of the park shall consider the findings of this study as a useful input for sustainable conservation of this endangered endemic species.

The objective of this study was to assess the species composition, and relative abundance and to determine major threats of medium and large-sized mammals in Amoro Forest. Line transects surveying and indirect surveys method (including fresh tracks, scats, hair, spines, and burrows) were used to survey mammalian diversity. A survey was conducted in the early morning from 6:00 to 10:00 and late afternoon from 16:00 to 19:00. Key interviews and direct site observationswere carried out to assess the major threat of mammals in the study area. A total of 12 species of medium and large-sized mammals belonging to six orders and eight families were recorded. Porcupine (Hystrix cristata), Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), and Olive baboon (Papio anubis) were among the medium-sized mammals while, Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) were among the large-sized mammals observed in the study area. Shannon–Wiener Index values were low (H′ = 1.666) whereas, the Simpson's index (1-D) of diversity showed the highest species diversity (0.761) in the study area. Species richness and evenness varied from habitat to habitat in the Amoro forest. Land degradation and different anthropogenic activities such as; illegal logging of trees, overgrazing, agricultural activities, and human-wildlife conflicts were the foremost observed threats to the mammals in the study area. Community participation and awareness creation are very important to limit the impact of anthropogenic activities threatening wildlife.

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We investigated the population status and habitat association of the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei (Sclater, 1892)) in Maze National Park, Southern Ethiopia, in 2018 and 2019. Sample count method line-transect was used for the population estimation, while habitat association was made based on the abundance of individuals counted in each habitat. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared with χ2 test. The total estimated populations of Swayne’s Hartebeest (SHB) in the study period were 1456 and 1492 during wet and dry seasons, respectively showing no seasonal variation. Among the total estimated population, 31% were adult males, 38.46% adult females, 13.97% sub adult males, 15.94% sub adult females and 1.07% young. The number of adult females was higher than the other age groups followed by adult males in both seasons. Significant differences were reported among age and sex structure of population size during both seasons (wet season: χ2= 58.423, df =3, P < 0.05; dry season: χ2=534.079, df= 4, P < 0.05). The maximum group size was 36 and the minimum was 1. The ratio of adult males to adult females was 1:1.24 and 1:1.24, sub-adult males to sub adult females was 1:1.16 and 1:1.12, adult males to sub-adult males was 1:0.36 and 1:0.56, adult females to sub-adult females was 1:0.33 and 1:0.49 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The male to female ratio was 1:1.22 and 1:1.19 during wet and dry seasons as well. The population trend among ten years were significantly differed (χ2 = 1.708, df= 9, P< 0.05). The SHB was distributed into three types of habitat (riverine forest, open grassland and scattered tree) with significant differences (χ2=1109.937, df = 3, P < 0.05). The savannah grass land was most preferable habitat followed by scattered tree habitat. Maintaining its critical habitat was highly recommended for sustainability of current population status.

We investigated the population status and habitat association of the endemic and emblematic Swayne’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park, Southwest Ethiopia. Line-transect sampling method was used for the population estimation, while habitat association was made based on the abundance of counted individuals in each habitat. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared with the X2 test. The counted population of Swayne’s Hartebeest in the study period were 1456 and 1492 during wet and dry seasons, respectively showing no seasonal variation. Of these, 31.03% were adult males, 38.53% adult females, 13.95% sub-adult males, 15.96% sub-adult females, and 0.53% young. The number of adult females was higher than in the other age groups followed by adult males in both seasons. Significant differences were observed among age and sex structure during both seasons (wet season: X2= 58.423, df =3, P < 0.05; dry season: X2=534.08, df= 4, P < 0.05). The maximum group size was 36 and the minimum was 1. The ratio of adult males to adult females was 1:1.24 and 1:1.24, sub-adult males to sub-adult females were 1:1.16 and 1:1.12, adult males to sub-adult males was 1:0.36 and 1:0.56, adult females to sub-adult females was 1:0.33 and 1:0.49 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The male to female ratio was 1:1.22 and 1:1.19 during wet and dry seasons as well. The population trend among ten years were significantly differed (X2 = 1.71, df= 9, P < 0.05). The Swayne’s Hartebeest was distributed in three habitat types (grassland, riverine forest, and scattered trees) with significant differences (X2=1109.94, df = 3, P < 0.05). The grassland was most preferred by the animal followed by the scattered tree habitat. Managing its habitats is recommended for sustaining the population of the animal