Complete documentation on the status of mammals is indispensable for appropriate conservation measures in protected areas. However, there is inadequate information on mammalian resources in the ecosystem of Gibe Sheleko National Park (GSNP). Thus, the study aimed to assess species diversity, abundance, and habitat association of medium‐ and large‐sized mammals in GSNP. We stratified the study area into five dominant habitat types, namely dense forest, wooded grassland, grassland, riverine forest, and farmland habitat types based on land cover and vegetation structures and further employed stratified random sampling technique across each habitat type. The sample transects covered 20% of the study area. Transect width ranged from 50 m to 400 m based on vegetation cover and visibility of mammals. The main data were collected via direct observation. Data were analyzed via chi‐square test and species diversity indexes. We recorded the total of 20 mammals species' those belong to 10 families of which 8 species were large‐sized and 12 species medium‐sized mammals. There were two IUCN vulnerable species, namely Hippopotamus amphibious and Panthera pardus, and two globally near‐threatened species, particularly Litocranius walleri and Caracal caracal in the study area. Dense forest held the highest species diversity of medium‐ and large‐sized mammals (H′ = 2.28) with the highest evenness index (J = 0.84). Riverine forest had the least diversity with uneven population distribution. Papio anubis was the most abundance species, whereas Caracal caracal was the least abundant in the study area. GSNP is home for threatened and spectacular mammals species'; hence, an appropriate conservation measure is mandatory to keep existing mammals species'.

Purpose. The main aim of the study was to assess land use land cover change detection (LULCC) from 1990 to 2016 in case of Gibe Sheleko National Park (GSNP), Southwestern Ethiopia. Methodology / approach. Multi-temporal Landsat images and topographic map were acquired in 2016. Field observation using GPS was carried out to generate the ground truth points for image classification and accuracy assessment from December 2016 to June 2017. A total 200 GPS points were purposively collected. The data were analysis by using ERDAS IMGINE 2010 and ArcGIS 10.3.1 software. Supervised classification was carried out to identify the overall land use land cover class. Results. Forest land was rapidly declined with average of 478.5 ha/year for the last 27 years. This revealed that over 66.8% of forest was diminished from 1990 to 2016 due to anthropogenic factors in the study area. Bush & shrub land was upraised from 12600 ha (31.5 %) to 20600 ha (51.5 %) from 1990 to 2016. Grazing land and bare land was also showed an increment of 3500 ha and 2240 ha with average increment of 134.6 ha/year and 86.5 ha/year respectively from 1990 to 2016. This indicated as most forest land was changed in to bush & shrub land due to human induced factors. Hence, it brings negative effects on the wildlife conservation and socio-economic development. Originality / scientific novelty. This study is orginal research finding by employ above indicated methedology and stated the last 27 years land use land cover change of Gibe Sheleko National Park for fist time. It also discovered that the rate of land use land cover change in the study area for the past 27 years. Practical value / implications. The main results of the study of land cover change can be used to ensure planning to be sustainable and integrated management of the natural resources. Participatory management practice should be implemented in the study area to regenerate the changed land use type.

Background: Scabies is a skin infection that is a result of direct skin to skin contact and is primarily mediated by close and extended contact with scabies infested person. Scabies occurs worldwide among people of all ages, races, genders and social classes and has been identified as a neglected tropical infectious disease. Globally, it affects more than 130 million people at any time. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess prevalence of scabies and associated factors among primary school children in Raya Alamata District, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2017/2018. Methods: A school based cross-sectional study design was conducted among school children in Raya Alamata District from November 2017 to June in 2018. The sampling technique was multi-stage sampling and sample of the 495 students was selected using simple random sampling technique from the schools. The data was collected using observation (clinical investigation), structured questionnaires and check lists. Data entry, cleaning, editing and analysis were done using SPSS statistical software package version 20. Variables with p-value < 0.25 in the binary logistic regression were selected for final analysis; and final significance was determined at p-value < 0.05. Results: There were 64 cases of scabies with a prevalence of 12.93%. The multivariable logistic regression shows that family history of scabies AOR = 4.73 (95% CI; (1.52, 14.69)), sharing cloths with others (AOR = 17.61; 95% CI (4.98, 82.64)), sleeping with scabies ill person (AOR = 3.74 [1.11, 12.62] and sharing of beds with (AOR = 4.45 (1.04, 19.02) were significant variables at p-value < = 0.05. Conclusion: The prevalence of scabies in school children was 12.93% in elementary school children, which is relatively higher compared to other studies which seeks public health attention. Family history of scabies, share cloth with others, sharing of bed to others and Sleeping with scabies ill person was factors related to scabies under adjustment of other variables. This is high burden which seeks public attention.

The study assessed the attitude and perceptions of the local communities towards Gibe Sheleko National Park. The data was collected from three districts of Gurage Zone. Ten sample kebeles of the selected districts were selected by purposive sampling method based on the level interaction, distance from the park, and dependency on the park. The sample size of the respondents was 5% of the total households from each selected kebeles. Household survey, key informant interview, field observation, and focus group discussion were employed to collect the data. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 23 software. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to analysis major determinant factors for perception and attitude of the local communities. The perception and attitude of the local communities towards the conservation values of Gibe Sheleko National Park showed a significant difference in education level, sex of respondents, distance from the park, and land owning inside or adjoin the park. Therefore, it can be concluded that sex, distance of settlement from the park, academic level and land owning inside or adjoining the park were the major determinant factors that influence perception and attitude of the local communities. Attending high level of education, far proximity from the park and male communities better understood the importance of wildlife and park. Therefore, to encourage partnership with adjacent community and implement conservation measure and awareness creation for local communities by considering these factors that affect on the attitude and perception of local communities towards Gibe Sheleko National Park.

The conflicts between humans and wild animals with the same resources are common but seldom reported in Ethiopia. This study was carried out to assess the causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies of the local communities with human-wild animal conflict (HWC) in and around Amba forest of Ezha District, Gurage Zone, Ethiopia: implications for wildlife conservation. Cross-sectional study design was applied, and data were collected from November 2019 to July 2020 through a semistructured questionnaire, focus group discussion (FGD), and field observation. A total of 53 respondents were randomly selected. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, and the results were presented using tables, graphs, charts, and text. The study result revealed that human-wild animal conflict exists, and it was seriously occurring at various places, time, and seasons. Papio anubis, Potamochoerus larvatus, Cercopithecus aethiops, Hystrix cristata, and Crocuta crocuta were the main conflicting wild animals, respectively. Abundance of wild animals, presence of forest, crop raiding, expansion of agriculture, and livestock predation were the main causes of conflict in the study area. There was a statistically significant relation between conflict and the cause of conflict (χ2(5) = 17.075, p = 0.004 ). Psychological and economic impacts were the main impacts encountered. Most of the respondents (86.8%) had applied conflict mitigation strategies, but it was ineffective, although the trend of conflict was increasing. Many of the respondents (41.5%) had a negative attitude toward wild animals, but 58.5% encouraged wild animals’ conservation. HWC had increasing trends of conflict, and thus, a negative attitude was developed by the communities on wild animal coexistence and conservation. Therefore, awareness creation, training, and promoting coexistence mechanisms between humans and wild animals are necessary in the study area.