Status of Lion (<i>Panthera leo</i>) and Spotted Hyena (<i>Crocuta crocuta</i>) in Nechisar National Park, Ethiopia

Abstract

Globally large carnivores are in decline due to a combination of habitat degradation and direct human persecution. A survey was conducted in Nechisar national park, Southern Ethiopia to investigate the population status of lion (Panthera leo) and hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Eleven callups were performed; a total of two adult male lions and six spotted hyenas responded. Estimates give a lion density of between 2 and 5 per 100 km 2 or a total population estimate of 7 to 23 lions and a hyena density of between 4 to 8 hyenas per 100 km 2 or a total population estimate of 17 to 34 hyenas. These estimates include extrapolation to a heavily encroached area where large carnivores are unlikely to occur. The lion population is probably limited to the visually confirmed four individuals. The carrying capacity of Nechisar national park, excluding livestock, is 21 lions and 48 hyenas. The resident agro-pastoral communities who are living with their livestock inside and adjacent to the national park are in conflict with carnivores. This might account for the low density of lion and hyena in the park, and perhaps might result in local extinction within a few years.

Perception and attitude of the local people toward carnivore population and conservation in the Faragosa‐Fura landscape of the Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia

“…Gandiwa (2012) also reported that local residents wanted a reduction in the population of spotted hyena, serval, and black‐backed jackal. The majority of studies in Ethiopia suggest that local residents are against spotted hyena conservation due to livestock damage (Biset et al, 2019; Yirga et al, 2014; Young et al, 2020). In this study, livestock depredation and crop damage are the major causes of negative attitudes among local people.…”

“…However, studies on local people's perceptions and attitudes toward carnivore population abundance and trends, as well as conservation, are either scarce or, if available, species‐specific and limited to protected areas. To date, studies on attitudes toward carnivores in Ethiopia have been biased toward the spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta ), Ethiopian wolf ( Canis simensis ), and lion ( Panthera leo ) (Gebresenbet, Baraki, et al, 2018; Yirga et al, 2014; Young et al, 2020). Furthermore, the majority of recent wildlife studies have focused on herbivores (Abraham & Simon, 2020; Yosef, 2015), as well as conflicts between humans and wildlife in national parks (Biset et al, 2019; Mekonen, 2020; Merkebu & Yazezew, 2021).…”

“…Southern Ethiopia, with its dense communal forests and rift valley lakes, is an important area for biodiversity, but its wildlife population and habitats are constantly declining due to anthropogenic habitat loss (Fetene et al, 2016(Fetene et al, , 2019Worku & Girma, 2020;Yirga et al, 2014). As a result, carnivore species have to coexist with humans, resulting in conflict.…”

Lion (Panthera leo) ecology and survival in protected areas of Ethiopia

“…Yirga et al (2014) reported livestock conflict as the main cause for the decline of large carnivore populations in Nechisar, with Guji herders persecuting large carnivores. Anthropogenic factors are driving the lions in Nechisar to extinction; reportedly any lion that ventures near livestock is pre-emptively shot (Yirga et al 2014). Lions are being systematically killed for preying on livestock in Ethiopia.…”

Effects of land-use and landscape drivers in the species richness and distribution of carnivores in Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia

“…The same is true in Ethiopia that no quantitative studies have been carried out on carnivores at a community level, but there exist only at the species-specific level [18,20]. For instance, species-specific studies conducted for lion and hyena [21,22], leopard [23], African civet [24,25], mongooses [26], and Ethiopian wolf [27].…”