POPULATION SIZE OF PEST WILDLIFE AND THEIR CO-EXISTANCE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES ADJACENT TO BALE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Abstracts Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) poses a significant challenge in biodiversity-rich areas like Bale Mountain National Park (BMNP), Ethiopia, where human activities overlap with wildlife habitats, leading to crop damage, livestock predation, and economic losses for local communities. This study assesses the population size of pest wildlife and their coexistence with local communities adjacent to BMNP. A cross-sectional research design was chosen to collect data at a specific point in time. Multi-step methodologies incorporated both qualitative and quantitative approaches, including GIS mapping, transect sampling, and HH surveys conducted during wet and dry seasons. Data analysis utilized SPSS, Chi-square tests, and ANOVA. There was a significant difference in wildlife population densities across habitats and seasons, with an F-statistic of 3.903 and a p-value < 0.05. A Chi-square test examining the relationship between sex, age, and habitat yielded a Chi-square value χ2 = 13.74 with DF = 8 and a p-value of 0.089, indicating no significant association between these factors. Cronbach's alpha (0.782) confirms survey reliability, strengthening findings on community attitudes toward humanwildlife conflict drivers. During the field survey, species counts varied, showing 323 species across both seasons, with 206 in the wet season and 117 pest wildlife in the dry season, indicating differing population densities. HWC in BMNP was primarily characterized by crop raiding, livestock depredation, and property damage. Key pest animals included Olive Baboon, Warthog, and Mountain Nyala. Over 80% of respondents reported the economic burden of crop raiding as their most pressing concern. Respondents also expressed frustration over the lack of direct economic benefits from wildlife management strategies, emphasizing the need for community-focused interventions. The study underscores the importance of integrated management strategies, including buffer zones, equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, and community-based conservation efforts, to mitigate HWC. It also emphasizes addressing research gaps concerning lesser-known pests and blending traditional and modern mitigation techniques for sustainable coexistence. 1