4.2│ Threats to mammals
Mammals of FCF are affected by several human and non-human induced
factors such as forest clearing for farming, fuelwood exploitation, and
extraction of construction materials from the areas, mining, hunting,
and predation by dogs and carnivores. This holds true in different
localities (Woldegeorgis and Wube, 2012; Legese et al., 2019; Geleta and
Bekele, 2016; Fetene et al., 2011). Anthropogenic activities affect the
interactions, distribution, and diversity of species through habitat
loss and modifications (Kasso & Bekele, 2014).
Fuelwood exploiters and local communities visit the forest accompanied
by dogs. The presence of dogs in natural habitats affects wildlife. The
interaction between wildlife and dogs include predation and disturbance
(Doherty et al., 2017). Livestock was also seen in some parts of the
forest for grazing. Geleta and Bekele (2016) also reported the adverse
effects of livestock on mammals in Wacha Protected Forest, western
Ethiopia.
Mining of stones for cobblestone was another challenge in the area.
Similarly, Attuquayefio et al. (2017) showed mining poses serious risks
to the continent’s natural environment and exceptionally rich
biodiversity and direct negative impacts include habitat loss and
fragmentation, the killing of wildlife during land clearance.
6│ CONCLUSIONS
The present study gave baseline information about the presence of medium
and large-sized mammals identified and documented 21 medium and
large-sized mammalian species of FCF. Among identified mammals, 10 were
medium and 11 were large-sized mammals. Thirteen species of mammals
identified through direct observations while eight were through indirect
evidence. FCF contains significant mammalian orders such as
Artiodactyla, Tubulidentata, Rodentia, Primates, Carnivora, and
Lagomorpha. Among these, order primate constitutes a large proportion of
the abundance of individuals than other orders. Papio anubis ,Chlorocebus aethiops and Phacochoerus aethiopicus are highly
recorded in the study area. The relative abundance of mammalian species
of individuals between wet and dry seasons varies significantly. The
Simpson index showed the area is diverse. The number of medium and
large-sized mammalian species recorded in the study area is comparable
to other localities in Ethiopia and elsewhere and even higher than some
studies using similar transect line technique sampling and direct and
indirect field methods.
FCMF is threatened by human and non-human factors such as hunting,
overgrazing, logging, mining, invasive alien species and deforestation
by agricultural expansion. In general, if these threats continue, there
might be reduced chance to see the present mammals of the study area.
Despite the importance of FCF as the home for mammals, it is not
legalized as a wildlife refuge area. Therefore, to ensure the long-term
conservation of the mammal of the forest, the following recommendations
are suggested: The federal and regional governments should legalize as a
wildlife refuge area to conserve mammals of the area. Clear demarcation
of the area is also essential. Local community and knowledge-based
conservation and management initiatives must be given in the
area.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our special gratitude goes to the Mirab Abaya Wereda Agricultural and
rural development office for allowing us to research in the Faragosa
Communal Forest. We also duly acknowledge Faragosa Kebele administrative
office and agricultural extension workers for their assistance during
data collection in the forest. We also thank the Department of Biology,
Arba Minch University for their invaluable support.