Asfaw et al. investigate the presence of large carnivores in the Omo Valley of Ethiopia and share their experience.
Populations of large carnivores have been declining in Ethiopia for many years due to a range of factors including reduced prey populations, pressure from neighbouring human settlements, habitat fragmentation and loss, and low political interest in conservation. Yet large carnivores, including the African wild dog, cheetah, African lion, leopard, spotted hyaena, and striped hyaena are an important part of the ecosystem and heritage.
Ethiopia as a whole is experiencing significant land use changes, restricting habitat for many species, but especially for wide-ranging large carnivores. To mitigate these threats and formulate meaningful conservation strategies, there needs to be a better understanding of species occupancy, abundance and the factors affecting these. So, how can the number of large carnivores be determined?
Assessing carnivore occupancy
Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford, University of Antwerp and University of New Hampshire assessed large carnivore populations in the Omo Valley of southwestern Ethiopia, where there is a notable lack of information on wildlife populations, habitats, and threats to large carnivores.
The team deployed un-baited camera traps in Chebera Churchura, Maze, and Omo National Parks and the Tama Community Conservation Area, collecting data over a two month period between 2020 and 2022. Using the camera trap data, the researchers tested the effects of environmental and anthropogenic factors on carnivore occupancy (while also taking into account any imperfect detection using a multispecies occupancy model, which helps estimate the distribution and habitat use of large carnivores and their prey species).
Where are the carnivores?
Population variability was observed across the sites. Omo National Park was the only site where all six large carnivores were recorded. However, while the Maze National Park had the highest number of lion detections, it also had the lowest number of leopard and spotted hyaena detections. Interestingly, the analysis also revealed that the occupancy of spotted hyaena and leopards were determined by prey in Omo but by elevation in Chebera Churchura, where the carnivores are also able to visit human settlements. What could these findings mean for conservation efforts going forward?
Planning for the future
With large carnivore species being among the most threatened mammals due to their wide-ranging behavior, low densities, and propensity for conflict, understanding more about their occupancy in Ethiopia aids the development of conservation practices, such as the designation of protected area networks which can ensure connectivity and gene flow between populations. Furthermore, identifying areas of human-wildlife conflict in the Omo Valley can shape park management guidelines, developing more effective and sustainable conservation strategies that address both wildlife conservation and the livelihoods of local communities.
Read the full article ‘Anthropogenic and environmental factors determine occupancy and rarity of large carnivores in the Omo Valley, southwest Ethiopia’ in Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
