Theropithecus gelada is the primate species endemic to the central and northwestern highlands of Ethiopia and is the only extant species of the genus Theropithecus. Diurnal activity patterns and feeding behavior of geladas were studied at Kundi, Ankober district, Ethiopia from August 2017 to March 2018 to cover both wet and dry seasons. Scan sampling method was employed to study the activity patterns and feeding behavior of geladas in the study area. Activity scans were collected at 15-minutes intervals for up to 5 minutes duration from 0700 to 1730h.  During each scan, individuals were recorded as performing one of the following behaviors: feeding, moving, resting, playing, aggression, grooming, sexual activity and others. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used in data analysis. During the wet season geladas spent grooming 20%, playing 19%,  14%  resting,  feeding 12%,  other activity 11%,  moving 9%  and 3% in aggression. Geladas spent 27% feeding, 21% moving, 13% other activities, 12% aggression, 7% grooming, 7% playing and 4% resting during the dry season. There were significant differences in all activity time budgets between seasons except other activities. The total time spent feeding on grass blades and cereals were 25.5% and 23.5% in the study area, respectively. There was a significant difference between the age and sex classes of geladas in their activity time budgets. Eleven species of plants were recorded as the food of geladas in this study area. This study provides baseline information on the behavioral ecology of geladas outside protected areas.

Background: The species composition, relative abundance and distribution of rodents were studied in Wof-Washa Natural State Forest, Ethiopia from December 2016 to May 2017 during dry and wet seasons. A total of 49 Sherman live traps were set per grid at 10 m intervals in permanent 4900 m2 (70mx70m) live trapping grids established in intact forest, disturbed forest, Erica woodland, plantation forest and Farmland habitats. Result: A total of 621 individuals of rodents were captured in 2,560 trap nights by using both live traps and snap traps. Seven species of rodents in family Muridae were recorded. Out of the total rodents caught in the study period, Stenocephalemys albipes, Pelomys harringtoni and Lophuromys flavopunctatus are endemics to Ethiopia. Plantation forest had the highest mean trapping success whereas the lowest trap success was in the Erica woodland. The distribution of rodent species was significantly differed (P<0.05) among studied habitats. Higher trap success was recorded in dry season (26.2) than the wet season (24.4). The highest value of Shannon index was recorded in plantation forest (H’ = 1.82) followed by farmland habitat (H’ =1.67) during the wet season and the lowest value was observed in the intact forest (H’ = 0.67) and Erica woodland (H’ = 0.67) during the dry season. From the total catch, adults comprised 260(41.9%), sub-adults 248(39.9%) and juveniles 113(18.2%).Conclusion: The present study provides the first valuable demonstration on the species composition, relative abundance and distribution of rodents in the WWNSF. Further monitoring and inventory of small mammals is warranted to document and conserve the different endemic and endangered rodent species to designing important biodiversity management plan in the area.