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.