Dereje Yazezew
Other projects
6 Jul 2015
Population Estimate, Habitat Use, Feeding Ecology and Activity Budget of the Omo River Guereza (Colobus Guereza Guereza) in Wof-Washa Natural Forest, Ethiopia
16 Jan 2020
Human Wildlife Conflict and Biodiversity Conservation in Wof-Washa Natural State Forest, Ethiopia
Historical trends in Ethiopia showed that primates have been in a state of population decline and local extermination from their previous habitats due to habitat loss for purposes like agricultural land expansion, new settlements, timbering and related anthropogenic activities which all exacerbated by rapid human population growth. The Omo River Guereza (Colobus guereza guereza) is one of iconic endemic primate species/subspecies in Ethiopia patchily distributed to western Rift Valley forests of the country. The ecology and conservation status of Omo River guereza is poorly known and has become the subject of research studies recently. Therefore, the main aim of this project is to provide detailed data on the population size, distribution and threats to the conservation of guerezas in Ethiopia to ensure its long-term survival.
Male Omo River guereza.
Thus, population census of Omo River guerezas will be conducted in “Dense” Forest once per month from May 2023 to April 2024 using line transects method. Transects will be established based on a stratified random sampling approach within different habitat types. Distribution mapping surveys will be conducted in habitats suitable for the Omo River guerezas in potential sites. Surveys will be conducted through an extensive ground survey which will be supplemented by a questionnaire survey using informal interviews of local people from villages familiar with and residing surrounding “Dense” Forest. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaire survey will be implemented on the conservation challenges of Omo River guereza and “Dense” Forest. As it is difficult to involve the local communities in protected area management without enhancing their awareness, community education will be vastly launched to selected participants from the forest surrounding communities and various stakeholders on the need for primate and other wildlife conservation and their importance as natural heritages.
Generally, the project focuses on the following objectives:
1) To estimate the population size and density of Omo River Guerezas at “Dense” Forest,
2) To determine the distribution patterns of Omo River Guerezas,
3) To assess the main threats to the conservation of Omo River Guerezas,
4) To enhance public awareness of the population ecology and conservation threats of Omo River Guerezas.
Header: Part of "Dense" Forest (the study area).