Gidey Yirga

Adaptability of large carnivores to changing anthropogenic food sources: diet change of spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) during Christian fasting period in northern Ethiopia

Adaptability of large carnivores to changing anthropogenic food sources: diet change of spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) during Christian fasting period in northern Ethiopia Gidey Yirga*, HansH. De Iongh, Herwig Leirs, KindeyaGebrihiwot, Jozef Deckers andHansBauer Department of Biology, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 3072, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, Leiden, TheNetherlands; Evolutionary EcologyGroup, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium; Department of Agro-Ecology, Aarhus University, Forsogsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark; Department of LandResourceManagement and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231,Mekelle, Ethiopia; and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Catholic University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001Heverlee, Belgium

An ethnoveterinary survey of medicinal plants used to treat livestock diseases in Seharti-Samre district, Northern Ethiopia

Ethnoveterinary medicine is frequently used for treating livestock diseases by many different ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Nearly 90% of livestock population in Ethiopia use plant based traditional medicines as their major health care system. This study was conducted to identify ethnoveternary medicinal plants used for the treatment of livestock ailments in Seharti-Samre district, northern Ethiopia. Ethnoveterinary data were collected from 36 informants using semi-structured interviews. Twenty two species of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants were collected and identified for treating 18 different livestock ailments. Most of the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants were collected from the wild stands and leaves were most commonly used plant parts for ethnoveterinary medicine preparations. The ethnoveterinary medicinal plant preparations were applied through different routes of administration like dermal, oral, nasal, ocular and anal routes. Evaluation of the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants for their efficacy and possible toxicity would be very important.

Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) concentrate around urban waste dumps across Tigray, northern Ethiopia

Abstract Context. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) lives in remarkably close proximity to humans in the degraded and prey-depleted landscapes in Tigray in northern Ethiopia, predominantly feeding on human organic waste. Aims. We sought to provide an estimate of spotted hyena abundance at garbage dumps and open agricultural areas across Tigray. Methods. We used 28 calling stations, including 12 at garbage dumps and 16 in open agricultural areas located in nine randomly selected urban districts across Tigray. We also used 65 randomly placed calling stations in three districts to establish spotted hyena abundance in Tigray. We also collected 610 scat samples during wet (n = 134) and dry season (n = 476) so as to identify diet. Key results. A total of 398 hyenas responded, including 356 hyenas at garbage dumps and 42 hyenas in open agricultural areas. The response at the garbage dumps was significantly higher. Approximately 2525 hyenas were estimated from 65 calling stations in three districts. There was no statistically significant difference in the diet of hyena between wet and dry seasons for any food item. Frequency occurrence of prey remains of donkeys and cattle were dominant, followed by human, goat and sheep, respectively. Key conclusions. We infer that a very large hyena population persists in unprotected areas of Tigray in northern Ethiopia, where they concentrate around urban waste dumps at night for scavengeable food resources, mainly originating from slaughterhouse waste of livestock. Implications. We suggest promotion of nature-based ecotourism of this exceptional coexistence of hyenas and humans in Ethiopia. We raise questions about local hyena social structure, movement, home-range, activity pattern and the implications for human–hyena coexistence.

Food base of the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Ethiopia

Abstract Context. Livestock depredation and scavenging of waste by the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) occurs widely across Ethiopia. Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the food base of the spotted hyena and livestock depredation across Ethiopia. Methods. The diet of spotted hyenas was assessed in 17 randomly selected study sites across the country, including two national parks, by scat analysis. We conducted an extensive survey of livestock depredation and economic impact in 10 randomly selected subdistricts using semistructured interviews with 3080 randomly selected households. Key results. We found that even spotted hyenas from national parks feed predominantly on anthropogenic waste. Households reported losses of 2230 domestic animals, 3.9% of their stock or an average annual financial loss of US

Prospects of beekeeping in the Northern Ethiopian highlands

10.3 per household over the past five years. The diet of spotted hyenas showed only prey items of domestic origin except in Chebera Churchura National Park, where a few items of prey of wild species were found. Frequencies of prey remains of cattle, sheep, donkey and goat were highest in decreasing order. Key conclusions. Survival of hyenas in Ethiopia is thus largely and widely dependent on management of livestock conflict and waste. Some hairs in scats originated from depredation, but most food intake is from waste dumps and slaughterhouses. Implications. Waste management, spotted hyena persistence and environmental sanitation area are linked.

Diet of the spotteD hyena (CuroCuta CuroCuta) in southern tigray, northern ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the principal honey and beeswax producers in the world. An assessment was conducted to investigate the scope of beekeeping in Endrta district Northern Ethiopia in 2010. Ninety two beekeepers were randomly selected for semi structured interviews. Data on annual income, number and type of beehive owned, honey yield/hive, year of adoption of modern beehives and beekeeping experience were collected. On average 33 and 16 kg of honey per hive was harvested from modern and traditional hives, representing a potential annual income of

Survey of medicinal plants used to treat human ailments in Hawzen district, Northern Ethiopia

USD 33,444 and 7,939, respectively. Majority (54, 58.7%) of the respondents had modern beehive to enhance honey production and increase their income. Fifty four beekeepers were applying the new technology to enhance honey production and increase their income, of which only 20 have been using the technology for more than 5 years. During the study period the district had a total of 991 modern and 2,603 traditional beehives, worth a maximum of about

Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) coexisting at high density with people in Wukro district, northern Ethiopia

USD 454,128. The findings indicated that beekeeping could be a great source of employment creation for the rural people to reduce poverty. Beekeeping plays an important role in income generation for beekeepers of the district. The regional government should organize landless youth in the district and should provide initial capital to run beekeeping activities.

Plants used in ethnoveterinary practices in Medebay-Zana District, Northern Ethiopia

The diet of spotted hyenas (Curocuta curocuta) was studied in Endrta Woreda, southern Tigray, Ethiopia from September to December 2009. Hyena scats were collected throughout the study period from all areas and the samples were washed and hairs were extracted. Hair was analyzed on form, length and color with the naked eye as well as on a scale patterns using a microscope at 10 x magnifications and was compared with a prey species hair reference collection. Faecal analysis revealed that the diet of the spotted hyena contains only prey item of domestic livestock. Frequencies of prey remains of donkey, sheep, goat and cattle were highest with sheep being by far the most common prey species. Household survey of livestock depredation of spotted hyenas revealed that a total of 364 spotted hyena attacks were reported of which donkeys were significantly more likely to be reported as lost to hyena predation, representing 31.87 per cent, followed by goats (14.56 per cent) and sheep (10.71 per cent). It seems most likely that carnivores deepened entirely on domestic prey species for their dietary requirements. Detailed information on the population size and density of spotted hyena is needed to give a better picture of the status of this carnivore species in Tigray, northern Ethiopia and to help resolve conflicts with livestock. Further investigations into the seasonal variation of predation are recommended