Characterizing interactions between humans and geladas in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Background/Question/Methods

Interactions between humans and wildlife can affect both groups behaviorally and energetically, and may result in conflicts detrimental to both parties. In areas where human population densities are increasing rapidly, these interactions with wildlife are also increasing. The identification and characterization of these interactions is necessary for park and wildlife managers to make informed management and conflict prevention decisions. The Simien Mountains National Park in the northern highlands of Ethiopia is one such area where the human population is increasing and often comes in contact with the local wildlife. I performed a study to characterize the direct and indirect interactions between geladas and humans and their livestock in the park. Geladas, graminivorous primates endemic to the Afro-alpine of Ethiopia, are the easiest to find and follow of the wildlife in the park, as they travel in groups of up to 1000 individuals. The study consisted of 87 observational hours, during which encounters between geladas, humans, and livestock were recorded ad libitum. In addition, measurements of aboveground grass height were taken at three sites grazed by geladas and livestock and one site grazed by only geladas. 

Results/Conclusions

Geladas within the Simien Mountains National Park are encountering vehicles at a rate of 1.5 vehicles per hour between the hours of 7 am and 1 pm, while they encounter people on foot and livestock at a lower rate. Most of these encounters occur early in the morning and decrease in occurrence later in the morning. Encounters with livestock follow the opposite trend, with rare encounters early and more in the late morning. However, geladas react more dramatically, by moving away or fleeing, to other parties that come within a smaller minimum distance, such as people on foot and livestock. Also, measurements of aboveground grass height, a shared resource between geladas and livestock, are significantly lower in areas grazed by livestock than in areas grazed by geladas alone. These results show that geladas do directly and indirectly interact with humans, whether by foot or vehicle, and livestock often in the Simien Mountains National Park, and these interactions may have negative impacts. The effect of these interactions on geladas and other wildlife may be mitigated by controlling traffic through the park, establishing minimum maintained distances between wildlife and other parties, and controlling livestock grazing in areas commonly occupied by wildlife.