Population Ecology And Threats Of The Rock Hyrax (procavia Capensis) In Bale Mountains National Park Ethiopia

A study on the distribution, population status, feeding ecology, habitat utilization andrnthreats to the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis Pallas 1766) was carried out in the BalernMountains National Park (BMNP), Ethiopia during August 2010 – February 2013.rnDistribution of the rock hyrax was assessed by questionnaire survey and fieldrnobservations. Population status of the species was studied by stratified random samplingrnusing point count method. Direct observations by scan sampling and rumen contentrnanalysis were used to study the feeding ecology of the rock hyrax. Data for habitatrnutilization of the species were collected using quadrat sampling of fresh faecal boli,rnanimal sighting and time spent by the rock hyraxes in different habitats. Threats andrnpopulation trend of the rock hyrax were studied by questionnaire surveys, interviews andrnfield observations. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, t-test and chi-square test.rnA total of 30,003 individual rock hyraxes were recorded with a mean population densityrnof 664.5 and 529.9 individuals/km2 during the wet and dry seasons, respectively in thernnine sample counting sites. Adults comprised 70.5%, sub-adults comprised 8.3% andrnjuveniles comprised 21.2% of the population. Male to female ratio was 1:1.4. Over 52%rnof the population constituted adult females and juveniles, showing reproductivernpotentiality and sustainability of the species. The mean colony range and mean colonyrnsize were 5–81.5 and 43, respectively. Rock hyraxes utilized more than 44 plant speciesrnas food. The species depends mainly on grasses, and increased browsing during the dryrnseason. Habitat loss and fragmentation, wildfire and hunting by domestic dogs were thernprimary factors affecting the population status of the rock hyrax in BMNP. Awarenessrnraising among the local people on conservation, benefit sharing of resources from thernPark and conservation measures involving the local community are to be considered asrnpriority measures in order to ensure sustainability of BMNP and the inhabiting rockrnhyraxes in the Park.rnKey words: Afro-alpine habitat, conservation, distribution, habitat utilization, hyrax,rnpopulation estimate, questionnaire surveys.

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