POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MOUNTAIN NYALA (Traglaphes buxtoni) AND CONSERVATION CHALLENGES OF WILDLIFE IN BESMENA ODUBULU CONTROLLED HUNTING AREA, ETHIOPIA

This study investigated the population size and distribution of Mountain nyala(Tragelaphus buxtoni), and conservation challenges of wildlife in the Besmena odubulu controlled hunting area, Bale zone, south east Ethiopia. It was carried out during both wet and dry season of 2014/2015. A line transect method was employed to estimate the size of mountain nyala laid randomly in four selected habitats. The vegetations were montane forest, wooded-grass land, bamboo forest and grass-land. Twenty five line transect were laid systematically in four different vegetation zone. SPSS software version 22 and descriptive analysis for mountain nyala estimation were used. In addition, interview and focus group discussion were also held with people around the controlled hunting area. As a result, 318 households were selected from four kebels for interview and four focus group discussions that contain 8-10 people were conducted at each kebele to complement the questionnaire. A total of 85 and 102 individuals of mountain nyala were recorded during wet and dry seasons, respectively. Among the individuals of mountain nyala recorded during both seasons 58.5 % were females while 34.04% were males and young’s of both sexes were 7.5% of the total population. The numbers of Mountain nyala were relatively more during dry season than the wet season. The male to female sex ratio was 1:1.72 while the age structure of mountain nyala was dominated by adults, which constituted 59.6 % of the total population. The mean group size was 4.4. Even though, mountain nyala were distributed in all the four habitat types in the study area, mountain nyala was observed more in the montane vegetation (56.3%). Most of the respondents had negative attitudes towards the wildlife and their conservation. The conservation challenges observed in the study area includes fire wood collection, livestock grazing, enchrochements, bamboo tree cutting, timber production and honey gathering was the major among the others resulting in conflict between human and wildlife. Therefore, proper conservation measures have to be implemented to solve the problems and safeguard the wildlife in the controlled hunting area.4