The population census of Burchell's zebra (Equus burchelh) and the human impact wererncarried ollt in Nechisar plains, Nechisar National Park, 515 km south of Addis Ababa fromrnNovember 2001 to April 2002. Line transect count was used for population census. Socialrnand physical surveys carried out on the range of Burchell's zebra population to find outrnhuman impact. The present population density estimate of Burchell's zebra in the Nechisarrnplains was found to be 16.6 :f: 1.5/1m? The population abundance of Burchell's zebra in thernstudy area was found to be 4482 individuals. This estimate sholVS an increase in populationrntrend compared to the previous one. During the wet season, 57.3% preferred the Nechisarrnopen grassy plain. During the d'yseason, 53.5% preferred Hare hill plateau bushland.rnGrass and water availability was identified as the main factor influencing the movements andrndistribution of the Burchell's zebra population in Nechisar plains, especially during the dlyrnseason. Observation of feeding processes showed that they feed upon most com ilIOn grassesrnavailable but appeared to have prefenmce for particular six grass species. Their localrndistribution range was contracted during the wet season, 95.9% were observed inside thernpark. During the dl)1 season, 76.2% were observed inside the park while 23.8% werernobserved outside the park boundmy. Non-territorial nomadic Burchell's zebra live in socialrngroup. The average herd size of one-male harem and bachelor stallion herds was 10.8 andrn6.4 individuals. The sex structure of Burchell's zebra population in the Nechisar plains wasrn34.8% adult male, 41.5% adult female and the rest 23.7% were unsexed immature young.rnThe sex ratio of adult male to adult female was 1.0:1.19. The age stl1lcture of Burchell'srnzebra population in the Nechisar plains was 76.3% adult, 14.7% subadult, 5.2% juvenile andrn3.8% foal. Predators of Burchell's zebra in the Nechisar plains are 28.6% lion (Pantherarnleo) and 6.5% spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), but the other causes of death, 14.5% old agernand 49.4% unknown. Burchell's zebras are diurnal herbivores. During the dly season, twornresting periods observed. The most important aspects of social behaviour communicationrnwere 38.8% visual, 24.2% o!factol)l, 18.8% tactile and 18.2% vocal (or auditory). Agonisticrnbehaviour is observed during sexual display, danger and disputes. These were 53%rnsubmissive traits, 25% fighting, and 22% aggressive traits. Larger plain wild and domesticrnungulates mix with Burchell's zebra in the Nechisar plains. These are 17.5% Gran! 's gazellern(G. granti), 4.8% Swayne's hartebeest (A. II. swayni), 1.6% Greater kudu (T. sterepsiceros),rn11% cattle and 1.6% domestic goats. The socia-economic survey confirmed that 250rnhouseholds settled at eight villages in the Nechisar plains comprising 1640 Gllj'i Oromornpeople and 7080 livestock. The present study indicated that the Burchell's zebra populationrnis at conservation risk because of the human impact that includes settlement encroachment,rnovergrazing, recent bush invasion and human disturbance. Developing community basedrnwildlife conservation, improving the socio-economic standard and implementation ofrneffective educational program to the loati people can serve as a tool for the populationrnmanagement of the Burchell's zebra.