Afework Bekele

• BSc. MSc, PhD
• Professor (Full) at Addis Ababa University

The sub-Afroalpine and Afroalpine ecosystems in Ethiopia are fire-prone, but limited studies have been conducted on the effects of Erica burn on small mammals. In particular, little is known about the impacts of Erica burn on small mammals in the Chilalo-Galama Mountains Range. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the impact of Erica...

Background and Research Aims: Incorporating local community attitudes in wildlife conservation planning is crucial for effective conservation. However, there is limited data on conservation challenges and communities’ attitudes towards wildlife conservation in Ethiopia, even absent in Chimit Kola. This study aimed to explore major threats, communit...

Characterizing activity budgets in response to seasonality and anthropogenic pressures provides insights into primate behavioral ecology. The Arsi geladas ( T. gelada arsi ) are a distinct and little-known subspecies of geladas living south of the Rift Valley in eastern Arsi, Ethiopia, where elevation and rainfall levels are low, temperatures are h...

Rodent pests' data were assessed through semi-structured questionnaires, trapping, visual surveys , and indirect evidence. A total of 281 households from eight Kebeles were interviewed. Moreover, 49 live Sherman and 25 snap traps were set in randomly selected farmland. A total of 318 rodents belonging to Arvicanthis niloticus, Lemniscomys striatus,...

Background and Research Aims Lesser flamingo ( Phoeniconaias minor) is an intra-African migratory bird species recorded mainly in alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley. Temporal patterns of Lesser flamingo visits may be related to the abundance and availability of their primary phytoplankton food items, and phytoplankton growth and composition ma...

Ethiopia is rich in vulture species diversity and is considered an important area for conserving African vultures. However, little is known about the status of the different vulture populations and their breeding requirements in the country. This study investigated the abundance, breeding, and nest site characteristics of Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrt...

Three fourth of the populations of developing countries live in rural areas where they directly depend on biodiversity and ecosystem services for their livelihoods. Hence, any conservation practices to be successful highly requires the positive attitude and involvement of local community. The main objective of study is to gather information on loca...

The investigation was carried out on Chilalo-Galama Mountains Range from September 2013 to December 2016. The main objective of this research was to make a survey on the impacts of artificial plantation of exotic species on small mammals' richness and abundance. Data was collected on small mammals' diversity, relative abundance, habitat association...

Distribution and extent of suitable habitats of Ruspoli’s Turaco (Tauraco ruspolii) and White-cheeked Turaco (Tauraco leucotis) under a changing climate in Ethiopia

Abstract Background Understanding the distribution pattern of species and their suitable habitat is key to focus conservation efforts. Climate change has had notable impact on the distribution and extent of suitable habitats, and the long�term survival of various species. We aim to determine the distribution and extent of suitable habitats for Tau...

Geographical distribution and diversity patterns of bird species are influenced by climate change. The Rouget's rail (Rougetius rougetii) is a ground-dwelling endemic bird species distributed in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is a near-threatened species menaced by habitat loss, one of the main causes of population declines for bird species. The increasi...

Abstract The diversity of bats in Ethiopia comprises at least 80 species, among them the Ethiopian longeared bat that was described in 2000. It is most likely endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia. However, knowledge of the distribution of the species is limited. During a bat survey in 12 regions of central Ethiopia stretched over 700 km along the E...

Understanding the effects of variation in resource availability and habitat disturbance on the ecology of mammals is vital for successful conservation management. In this study, we examined how human disturbances, resource availability and elevation gradients influence mammal assemblages in both managed coffee forest and natural forest of the Belet...

Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) are key species in wetlands and feed mainly on zooplankton and macroinvertebrates. Little is known about the zooplankton and macroinvertebrate communities of East African wetlands and the relationship with the abundance of greater flamingos. We aimed to investigate how the macroinvertebrate and zooplankton...

Habitat suitability models have become a valuable tool for wildlife conservation and management, and are frequently used to better understand the range and habitat requirements of rare and endangered species. In this study, we employed two habitat suitability modeling techniques, namely Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) and Maximum Entropy (Maxent) mod...

A study on the composition and seasonality of rodent diet was carried out during 2020–2022 years in Chimit Kola to determine the type, relative proportion and seasonality of food items consumed. A total of 166 stomach contents that belong to six rodent species (Mastomys awashensis, Acomys louisae, Arvicanthis raffertyi, Lophuromys simensis, Gerbill...

Understanding natural history such as diurnal activity of wildlife species is important for their conservation intervention. The aim of the current study was to examine Grevy's zebra diurnal activity time budget in Hallaydeghe Asebot Proposed National Park (HAPNP) considering both wet and dry seasons. Scan sampling method was used. Activities of th...

Background Understanding the distribution pattern of species and their suitable habitat is key to focus conservation effort. In the face of climate change, the extent of suitable habitats of species may affect over time thus, their survival and distribution. We aim to determine the distribution and extent of suitable habitats for Tauraco ruspolii a...

Cryptic species are unique species that are genetically divergent, although formerly nominated as a single species because of their morphological indistinguishability. In the last 20 years, it has been widely documented as a cryptic species in scientific articles and has nearly consistently dispersed across all taxa and ecological niches. Unfortuna...

for species and thus their distributions. This is particularly true for species occupying high-altitude habitats such as the gelada (Theropithecus gelada) of the Ethiopian highlands. To explore the impact of climate change on species distributions, Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) has been extensively used. Here we model the current and future...

Economic growth and development in developing countries often involves land-use changes which fragment natural areas, bring humans and wildlife into closer proximity and escalating human- wildlife conflicts. Human-wildlife conflicts impose huge costs on local people and their livelihoods. Balancing developmental activities with the conservation of...

The size and density of a population are essential parameters in primate ecology and conservation. Such information, however, is still scarce for many forest primate species. The Djaffa Mountains guereza (Colobus guereza gallarum) is an endemic Ethiopian taxon for which data about its distribution and population size are missing. Therefore, we aime...

Understanding the impacts of habitat modification on primate feeding ecology is essential to design effective conservation management strategies. The dietary guild (e.g., frugivore, folivore, insectivore, and omnivore) of primates and their degree of ecological flexibility impacts their ability to cope with human-modified habitats. The Omo River gu...

Forest loss, fragmentation, and degradation are major threats to primates. In areas that have been heavily deforested, it is critical to identify the distribution and abundance of remaining primate populations to inform conservation actions. The Ethiopian Highlands have lost most of its original forest cover and the remains are highly fragmented. T...

Fruit bats serve as crucial bioindicators, seed dispersers, pollinators, and contributors to food security within ecosystems. However, their population and distribution were threatened by climate change and anthropogenic pressures. Understanding the impacts of these pressures through mapping distribution and habitat suitability is crucial for ident...

Small mammals show prominent spatial and temporal fluctuations. A study was conducted to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of small mammals in Wenchi highlands, central Ethiopia. Sherman and snap traps were used to capture small mammals from four forests (Qibate, Lakeshore, Erica and Albesa), Hagenia woodland and Erica scrub in two dry and wet sea...

The study was conducted to assess the species composition, population size, public knowledge, and threats to Galliform birds in the Arjo-Didessa River Valley, Southwestern Ethiopia. Data were collected from January 2018 to December 2020, covering both the dry and wet seasons. The study area was classified into four habitat categories: farmland, for...

Studying the diet and feeding behavior of primates is essential to understanding their ecology and designing effective conservation plans. Despite decades of study on the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) in lowland habitats, little is known about the feeding ecology of this species in highland ecosystems. To address this empirical gap, we tracked...

The recently established Chebera Churchura National Park represents a mosaic of savanna and montane evergreen forest. A report on small mammals (2013) showed their relatively high diversity, but species identification was based only on external morphology. We conducted a new field survey and genetic analyses to shed light on diversity and biogeogra...

ABSTRACT: Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata) is a monomorphic African endemic dabbling duck protected by the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water birds Agreement. This study was conducted to investigate the population size and breeding ecology of Yellow-billed Duck in Chelekleka wetland, Ethiopia from November 2020 to October 2021. C...

The habitat of the endemic and endangered Ethiopian wolf and populations have been declining because of climate change, coupled with various anthropogenic disturbances, which has restricted the species in Afroalpine geographic range. Understanding the effects of climate change on its range is vital to promoting effective conservation strategies. We...

Vulture populations are facing a huge decline throughout the world and most of the species are listed as threatened. Their decline can have negative impacts on various aspects of the environment, including human beings. Understanding local communities' attitudes and perceptions are essential to identify wildlife conservation challenges and developi...

Crop foraging is a widespread form of human-wildlife conflict adjacent to protected areas. It causes a great economic loss for subsistence communities hindering efforts in conservation endeavors. Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) occur both in the lowland and highland ecosystems of Ethiopia. The species is known for its crop foraging behavior acr...

Studying the ecology of small mammals is extremely important in order to know their ecological roles in their natural habitats. A study was conducted to obtain information about the density, feeding habits and reproduction of small mammals in the Wenchi highlands between the year 2019 and 2021. Small mammals were trapped from four natural forests,...

The aim of the current study was to provide a description of the species composition and habitat association of anuran species found in the Keffa area of southwest Ethiopia, among the least studied natural areas in Ethiopia. Data were gathered in both the rainy and dry seasons. Opportunistic observations, audio, and visual encounters were used to p...

Theropithecus gelada is endemic to Ethiopia, mainly in the northern part of the Ethiopian plateau. Despite the relatively long-term research efforts on the population and behavioural ecology of geladas, and its conflict with humans in protected areas, these data are lacking in unprotected areas. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine po...

The objective of this study was to assess the species composition, abundance and habitat association of non‐volant small mammals from grassland, Acacia woodland, farmland, riverine forest, bushland and wooded grassland habitats in Gibe Sheleko National Park, southwestern Ethiopia. Data were collected using 49 Sherman live traps in 70 × 70 m sized g...

Small mammals host different ectoparasite species. Data on ectoparasites associated with small mammals are limited in Ethiopia. Species diversity and factors that influence the abundance and mean intensity of ectoparasites were investigated and identified using the available taxonomic keys. Chi-square test was used to test the association of ectopa...

African white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) are critically endangered bird species which are commonly found in areas where rubbish food sources and roosting and/or nesting sites are available. This study assessed the population size and threats of the African white-backed vultures in Wolkite town abattoir and the surrounding dumping site from Ap...

This research was carried out in Alledeghi Assebot Proposed National Park, which is located in Afar region in the southeast of Ethiopia. Data were collected from March 2021 to April, 2022 using household survey, key informant interviews, field observation, and walking along transect line. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and responses...

African wolves (Canis lupaster) and Ethiopian wolves (C. simensis) occur often sympatrically across habitats in the Ethiopian Highlands, with recent studies finding evidence for interspecific competition. However, unlike the well-studied Ethiopian wolf, comparatively little is known about the ecology of the African wolf in the Ethiopian Highlands....

Primates in the tropics are highly vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation as they depend on the forest for survival. Thus, reliable population and distribution data are crucial to identifying priority sites for conservation and designing effective management plans in the deforested region. To date, the population size and distribution of blac...

Little is known about the effect of anthropogenic habitat disturbances on the group size and population structure of geladas (Theropithecus gelada), even though such data are crucial to implementing successful conservation actions and management plans. In this study, we compared the group size and composition of gelada populations inhabiting protec...

Estimating population densities is essential for understanding primate ecology and for guiding conservation efforts. Such information, however, is still scarce for many forest primates. The Djaffa Mountains guereza ( Colobus guereza gallarum ) is an Ethiopian endemic taxon for which information about their distribution and population size are missi...

A baseline for primate conservation is information on population density. Such evidence, however, is still scarce for tropical forest monkeys, who are under threat from habitat loss due to deforestation, land conversion for agriculture, climate change, illicit hunting, habitat fragmentations, logging, and other disturbances. Detailed studies on pop...

The present study was carried out to describe the species composition, diversity, distribution, and species richness of endemic frog species in the Keffa area, southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected during the wet and dry seasons from 2018 to 2021. The survey was conducted through visual encounters, opportunistic observations, and acoustic encount...

An endangered Ethiopian wolf has been declining because of climate change coupled with various anthropogenic disturbances, resulted in restricted geographic distribution. Knowledge of the effects of these stressors on animal distribution is vital to promoting conservation campaigns and implementing effective management strategies. We used the MaxEn...

A study about the spatial distribution and density of common warthog ( Phacochoerus africanus ) was conducted in two focal areas in Dabena Valley Forest, Western Ethiopia, from May 2016 to June 2018. These were Gassi Controlled Area (GCHA) in the southwestern part and Haro Aba Diko Controlled Hunting Area (HADCHA) in the northeastern part of the Va...

Primates show dietary flexibility as a result of spatial and temporal variation in the food availability which in turn influences the ecology of a species. Southern geladas (Theropithecus gelada obscurus) are endemic subspecies of gelada that inhabit in north central Ethiopian Highlands. During the 18 months of the first intensive study period, we...

The diurnal time-activity budget and habitat use of the Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus were studied at Boyo Wetland and Bale Mountains National Park. The study was carried out in four habitats (agricultural land, grassy field, mudflat, and shallow wetland) at Boyo Wetland and two habitats (grassland and swampy habitat) in the Bale Mountains....

Understanding the impacts of climate change, landscape composition, topographic attributes, and anthropogenic disturbance on wildlife distribution is critical to selecting prior conservation areas and to executing successful management plans. Habitat suitability mapping aims to predict species' ecological niches and ranges using these factors as pr...

Understanding the behavioural ecology of primates in human disturbance areas is crucial to developing conservation management plan. Southern geladas ( Theropithecus gelada obscurus ) are endemic subspecies of geladas that are threatened by habitat loss and degradation in the Ethiopian Highlands. During the 18‐months period, we conducted this intens...

Given the current rate of habitat degradation and loss in the tropics, data on primate population densities and habitat use are indispensable for assessing conservation status and designing feasible management plans for primates. The Omo River guereza (Colobus guereza guereza) is a subspecies of the eastern black-and-white colobus monkey endemic to...

Swayne's hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei was once widely distributed in the Horn of Africa. By the early 20th century, however, it was extirpated across most of its range and is now limited to two relict populations in the Ethiopian Rift Valley and categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In this study, we estimated the size and gen...

Behavioral responses in wildlife due to human activities may often go unnoticed but have significant effects on population viability. This is a particular concern with endangered species characterized by small population sizes. From June 2016 to May 2017, we measured the effects of human activities on daily the activity budget and home range size o...

Most of Ethiopia’s National Parks are affected by anthropogenic factors. The objective of this study was to assess the major wildlife threatening factors of Gibe Sheleko National Park (GSNP) through semi-structured questionnaire, focus groups discussion and observation. The survey was carried out from December, 2018 to August, 2020. A total of 281...

Abstract Ethiopian shade coffee plantations are well documented to be bird-friendly and act as refuges for disappearing tree species. The extent to which these plantations support mammal conservation, as well as mammal sensitivity to coffee intensification, remain little studied. We studied the distribution and diversity of mammals under three coff...

Studying the dietary flexibility of primates that live in human-modified environments is crucial for understanding their ecological adaptations as well as developing management and conservation plans. Southern gelada (Theropithecus gelada obscurus) is an endemic little-known subspecies of gelada that inhabits human-modified landscapes in the northe...

Populations of large mammals have declined at alarming rates, especially in areas with intensified land use where species can only persist in small habitat fragments. To support conservation planning, we developed habitat suitability models for the Walia ibex (Capra walie), an endangered wild goat endemic to the Simen Mountains, Ethiopia. We calibr...

To assess feeding ecology and diet preferences of common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus (Gmelin, 1788), the study was conducted in Gassi Controlled Area (GCHA) and in Haro Aba Diko Controlled Hunting Area (HADCHA) from May 2017 to June 2018. Diet composition of common warthog was determined using feeding quadrat and microhistological methods. Fro...

Ethiopian shade coffee plantations are well documented to be bird-friendly and act as refuges for disappearing tree species. The extent to which these plantations support mammal conservation, as well as mammal sensitivity to coffee intensification, remain little studied. We studied the distribution and diversity of mammals under three coffee manage...

Threats to the survival of wild primate population have greatly increased. Most primate populations today face ongoing habitat disturbance, yet not all species respond to disturbance the same way, while many primate species experience declines in population density. There is no much information on the population status and density of primates in Ze...

Abstract: To identify chemical composition of lick soil and function of soil ingested by common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus), the study was conducted in Gassi Controlled Area (GCHA); southwestern and in Haro Aba Diko Controlled Hunting Area (HADCHA) northeastern Dabena Valley Forest from May 2016 to June 2018. Top soil samples licked by common...

Home range and activity patterns of animals are important elements for wildlife management and conservation practices. We examined seasonal home range and daily activity patterns of the endangered Swayne’s hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia. We tracked two groups of Swayne’s hartebeests in open grassland for...

Dietary responses to the habitat heterogeneity resulting from anthropogenic disturbance vary among primates. Some species alter their foraging strategy and continue to thrive in human-modified habitats while others are unable to modify their diets sufficiently to cope with such disturbance. Over a 12-mo period, we investigated the feeding ecology o...

The African Civet (Civettictis Civetta Shreber, 1778) is one of the important natural animal resources of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the major producer of the Civet perineal gland secretion (known as “civet”) used extensively as a base in perfume industry. However, there is no improvement in civet farming processes in rural Ethiopia, and the farmers sti...

The African civet (Civettictis civetta Shreber 1778) is one of the important natural animal resources of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the major producer of the civet perineal gland secretion (known as “civet”) used extensively as a base in perfume industry. However, there is no improvement in civet farming processes in rural Ethiopia, and the farmers stil...

Geladas are the most distinctive of Ethiopian endemic mammals, representing the last extant species of primate genus that have a very restricted distribution in the northern Ethiopian plateau. e activity budget and feeding ecology of geladas (eropithecus gelada obscurus) were studied around Abogedam Church, Ethiopia, from May to October 2014, encom...

Species composition, habitat association and altitudinal distribution of rodents and shrews were assessed in Chato Protected Area, Ethiopia, between July, 2015 and March, 2016. The area was stratified into five habitats based on dominant vegetation types and altitudinal zonation. The habitats were Carissa spinarum-Justicia schimperiana, Maytenus gr...

This study was carried out in Gefersa Artificial Reservoir and its surrounding habitat. Sampling sites were taken using stratified random sampling technique, where three habitats; Aquatic, grassland and woodland habitats were selected. Line and point transect methods were used to count birds based on habitat characteristics. Data were analyzed usin...

Understanding the extent of human–primate conflict is crucial to the development of conservation and management strategies. We carried out this study in an unprotected area of central Ethiopia to examine the magnitude of human–hamadryas baboon ( Papio hamadryas ) conflict and to assess the attitude of local farmers towards baboons in Wonchit Valley...

Geladas are the most distinctive of Ethiopian endemic mammals, representing the last extant species of primate genus that have a very restricted distribution in the northern Ethiopian plateau. The activity budget and feeding ecology of geladas (Theropithecus gelada obscurus) were studied around Abogedam Church, Ethiopia, from May to October 2014, e...

Humanwildlife conflict presents major challenges to both wildlife managers and rural livelihoods. Here, we investigated humanwildlife conflict in and around Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary (SSHS). We estimated the densities of wild animals within SSHS and conducted questionnaire interviews about livestock predation and crop raiding patterns w...

Reliable data on the distribution and threats facing primate species are crucial to identifying priority sites for conservation and designing effective management plans. Boutourlini’s blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii) is a little-known arboreal primate endemic to the forests of western Ethiopia. This subspecies is categorized as Vulner...

Bushmeat hunting is a secret activity posing threats to wildlife in protected areas of Ethiopia. Yet, information about bushmeat hunting practices are limited. Hence, this study aimed to assess the practices of bushmeat hunting in Jorgo-Wato Protected Forest. Data were obtained from 248 individuals of six Farmer Associations using open and closed e...

A study on density estimate and habitat association of Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) in Jorgo-Wato Protected Forest, Ethiopia, was carried out from 2016-2017 encompassing the wet and dry seasons. The density of Cape buffalo was estimated indirectly through faecal standing crop and faecal accumulation rate dung count methods. Dung piles were...

Walia ibex (Capra walie) is an endangered and endemic species restricted to Simien Mountains National Park (SMNP), Ethiopia. Data on activity patterns of walia ibex were collected during October 2009 to November 2011, and the main objective of the research was to determine diurnal activity patterns of walia ibex in Simien Mountains National Park in...

Primates inhabiting human-modified landscapes often exploit matrix habitat to supplement their diet with cultivated foods, at times resulting in economic losses and conflict with local people. Understanding human-nonhuman primate interactions and the attitudes and perceptions of local people towards crop feeding species are crucial to designing eff...

covering wet and dry seasons. Sampling sites were taken based on the habitat characteristics and a transect line of 1 or less km with a distance of 250 to 300 m in between the transect lines was taken in the woodland habitat and point count was used in the riverine forest habitat. A total of 116 bird species consisting of 2 endemics to both Ethiopi...

Understanding the extent of human-primate conflict in areas where habitat overlap reaches at maximum level between local farmers and primates is crucial to developing conservation and management strategies. One of the threats of southern geladas (Theropithecus gelada obscurus) is conflict with the local farmers due to cereal crop raiding. This stud...