Assessment of livestock depredation by hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) in and around Borena-Sayint National Park, northern Ethiopia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: As human populations expand and natural habitats become increasingly fragmented, the interface between agricultural activities and wilderness areas has become a focal point of ecological tension. Livestock depredation is a prevalent form of human-wildlife conflict, particularly in landscapes bordering protected areas. Beyond causing substantial financial losses for subsistence communities, these conflicts often generate negative attitudes toward wildlife, ultimately hindering long-term conservation efforts. Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) is distributed across diverse environments in Ethiopia, ranging from the lowlands to the highlands. Across its range, the species is known to prey on small livestock, particularly goats and sheep. Despite this, knowledge of human-hamadryas baboon interactions, especially those involving livestock depredation in the Ethiopian highlands, remains scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to gather data on the extent of conflict between hamadryas baboons and local communities in and around Borena-Sayint National Park (BSNP), northern Ethiopia. METHODS: We collected livestock depredation data from January to July 2018 through a questionnaire survey of 300 sample households in surrounding local communities. We used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze local communities' attitudes and perceptions toward hamadryas baboons' livestock-depredating behaviour. RESULTS: Respondents in the study area primarily reported livestock depredation (74.6%) and drought (18.4%) as the main challenges in livestock rearing. Respondents estimated that hamadryas baboons caused damage to an average of 3.84 (± 0.36) livestock per household over five years in and around BSNP. Hamadryas baboons were reported to cause the greatest losses (average, range) to sheep (1.3, 0-5), lambs (1.1, 0-10), goat kids (0.7, 0-8), and goats (0.6, 0-4) per household over five years. Reported livestock attacks varied significantly between the wet and dry seasons. The vast majority of respondents (93.9%) reported that they did not kill hamadryas baboons in retaliation for livestock losses. Following livestock attacks, respondents primarily reported the incidents to park scouts (80.5%), doing nothing (11.8%), or attempting to scare the animals by making noise (6.0%). The intense conflict between hamadryas baboons and the local communities could seriously threaten the species' survival unless appropriate management measures are implemented. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide essential information for developing management plans and implementing effective conservation strategies, and we recommend the adoption of community-based conflict mitigation approaches, including improved livestock husbandry and collaborative monitoring with park authorities, to reduce depredation and promote coexistence between local communities and hamadryas baboons.