Population Status Distribution And Behavioural Ecology Of The Gelada Baboon (theropithecus Gelada) And Conflicts With Humans In Wonchit Valley Ethiopia

A study on gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada) was carried out tornestimate the population status and to determine the seasonal distribution and human –rngelada baboon conflict in Wonchit Valley. A band of gelada baboon was selected to studyrnbehavioural ecology. The study was carried out from August 2008 to March 2009. Totalrncount method was used to determine the population status and seasonal distribution ofrngelada baboons. Data on human – gelada conflict was collected using questionnairerninterview method. The data were compared using chi-square test. The total averagernnumber of gelada baboon in the study area was 1525 during the course of the study.rnThere was seasonal variation in the distribution of gelada baboon across different habitatrntypes. Adult male : adult female sex ratio was 1.00:6.61. The average size of the band wasrn58.03. The average size of one-male unit was 16.96. The range of group size was from 3 uprnto 220. They spent 65.18% for feeding, 16.32% moving, 4.59% resting, 13.91% socializing.rnThe home range size was 1.54 km2 during the dry season and 0.22 km2 during the wetrnseason. The total time spent feeding on grass blade was 83.75% and it was 11.75% forrnbulbs, roots and rhizomes. Gelada baboons in the study area caused crop damage,rnsharing drinking water and livestock pasture and destroying the grazing pasture byrndigging. Among the respondents 85.33% had negative attitude towards gelada baboon.rnAmong them 41.33% guard their cereal crops for 6 months. Gelada baboon eats cropsrnduring harvesting stage more than in the seedling and vegetative stage of the crops.rnKey words: Distribution, Gelada baboon, human – gelada baboon conflict, population status,rnWonchit Valley

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