HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN AND AROUND OMO NATIONAL PARK: THE CASE OF NYANGATOM WOREDA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The human-wildlife conflict is a global concern, and developing countries face it more, though in different manifestations. In the study area, Omo National Park, wild animals and the local community compete for resources, which causes the conflict. To understand the main causes and effects, this study was conducted in and around Omo National Park, focusing on Nyangatom Woreda. Three Kebeles were purposively selected based on their proximity to the park. Sample respondents within each Kebele were identified through systematic random sampling. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, and Semi-Structured Questionnaire. Statistical tools such as chisquare test, Kruskal-Wallis Test and logistic regression were employed for data analysis. The main driver of the conflict was revealed as drought (50.30%), followed by proximity to the park (19.80%), an increase in wildlife populations (17.7%), and a rise in human populations (12.2%). The majority of respondents (93.9%) faced livestock depredation, while others reported crop damage (35.70%), property destruction (9.8%), and human attacks (2.4%). In the years 2019 to 2023, wild predators killed 2,110 livestock across the three Kebeles, including cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and chickens, with a total estimated cost of $226,290.67. A Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a statistically significant difference in livestock loss across the three Kebeles (H (2, N=378) = 12.346 and p = 002). Hyenas were the most frequent predators, followed by leopards, lions, wild dogs, blackbacked jackals, baboons, buffalo, and elephants. About 66.4% expressed a negative attitude towards wildlife conservation. A logistic regression model explained 37.3% of the variation in attitude and correctly classified 78.6% of cases based on the respondents’ gender, age, awareness of control methods, and educational background. To alleviate wildlife attacks on livestock, all respondents reported using permanent guarding and livestock enclosures, while 71.7% employed chasing. 67.7% used fire around enclosures and loud noises, 370% used scarecrows, and 16.4% used trapping. The significant conservation challenges were graze livestock within the park (94.0%), collecting bush meat (89.9%), using firewood and construction materials (88.3%), recurrent fires (73.6%), and expanding farmland (15.2%). To address these challenges, the development of alternative dry-season grazing and water sources should be a collaborative effort involving the community, official bodies, and non-governmental organizations.