Diversity and habitat association of medium- and large-sized mammals in Kafta-Sheraro Biosphere, northern Ethiopia

Understanding species diversity and habitat associations is essential for developing effective wildlife management and conservation strategies. This study assessed the diversity, abundance, and habitat preferences of medium- and large-sized mammals in Kafta-Sheraro National Park. The study was conducted from March to August 2019, covering both wet and dry seasons. The park was stratified into four major habitat types; bushland, grassland, riverine forest, and woodland, based on vegetation characteristics, and permanent transects were established using systematic sampling. Mammals were identified and counted along the transects, and the data were analyzed using Python, PAST, and ArcGIS. A total of 11,054 individuals representing 28 mammal species were recorded. Six of these species are globally threatened: the endangered African elephant (Loxodonta africana), the vulnerable leopard (Panthera pardus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), red-fronted gazelle (Eudorcas rufifrons), and the near-threatened striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena). Species richness varied significantly in riverine forest and woodland habitats (p ≤ 0.05). The grivet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) and anubis baboon (Papio anubis) together accounted for 47.68% of the total population. In contrast, P. pardus, A. jubatus, Orycteropus afer, Civettictis civetta, and Hystrix cristata were the least abundant (< 1%). Bushland supported the highest mammal population (3,111 ± 87.18), followed by grassland (2,917 ± 75.71), riverine forest (2,632 ± 88.03), and woodland (2,394 ± 93.62). The dry season yielded the highest species diversity in bushland (H’ = 2.58), while woodland had the lowest (H’ = 2.03). Grassland showed the highest evenness in the wet season (J = 0.54). Continued research and conservation efforts are vital to sustaining Kafta-Sheraro National Park’s biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of nearby communities.