The Tree Hyrax (dendrohyrax Arboreus) Feeding Behaviour Activity Patterns And Traditional Medicinal Use In Kafa Zone Southwest Ethiopia

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Feeding behaviour, activity pattern and traditional medicinal use of the tree hyrax (Dendrohyraxrnarboreus) were investigated by direct observations and by questionnaire interview methodrnbetween July – December 2015 in the Kafa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Transect method was usedrnto observe feeding behavior and activity patterns and questionnaire interview was used torndetermine traditional medicinal use of tree hyrax. Tree hyrax shelters and trees with cavitiesrnwere located. Activities of hyraxes were observed in the morning, midday and afternoon hours.rnTree hyraxes showed a bimodal pattern of activity. Feeding was the dominant activity, whichrnoccupied 44.98% of day time activity time ( 2 = 33.13, d.f. = 9, P < 0.001). The most importantrndietary plant species of tree hyrax was Ipomoea tenuirostris (Yimbiroo, in the local language ofrnkafegna). Travelling within and between trees occupied 39.68% of the daily time activity. Therernwas difference in the activity levels in the morning, midday and afternoon hours ( 2 = 9.4, d.f. =rn2, P < 0.001) of the day. There was no difference in their calling behaviour in relation to seasonrnin the study area. The stomach of the tree hyrax is important for local people in traditionalrnmedicinal use for cure of deep coughing and for fast growth of children. The local peoplernprepare traditional medicine by drying and powdering stomach parts of tree hyrax andrnadministered orally. The ecological strategy of tree hyrax in terms of slow food intake rate andrnenergy conservation is discussed.rnKey words: Activity patterns, D. arboreus, Feeding behaviour, Kafa Zone, Medicinal value

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The Tree Hyrax (dendrohyrax Arboreus) Feeding Behaviour Activity Patterns And Traditional Medicinal Use In Kafa Zone Southwest Ethiopia

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