DIVERSITY AND THREATS OF MEDIUM AND LARGE-SIZED MAMMALS IN AMORO FOREST, WEST GOJJAM ZONE, AMHARA, ETHIOPIA

The objective of this study was to assess the species composition and relative abundance and to assess major threats of medium and large-sized mammals in Amoro Forest. Line transects surveying and indirect surveys method (including fresh tracks, scats, hair, spines, and burrows) were used to survey mammalian diversity. A survey was conducted in the early morning from 6:00 to 10:00 and late afternoon from 16:00 to 19:00. Key interviews and direct site observationswere carried out to assess the major threat of mammals in the study area. A total of 12 species of medium and large-sized mammals belonging to six orders and eight families were recorded. Porcupine (Hystrix cristata), Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), and Olive baboon (Papio anubis) were among the medium-sized mammals while, Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) were among the large-sized mammals observed in the study area. Shannon–Wiener Index values were low (H′ = 1.666) whereas, the Simpson's index (1-D) of diversity showed the highest species diversity (0.761) in the study area. Species richness and evenness varied from habitat to habitat in the Amoro forest. Land degradation and different anthropogenic activities such as; illegal logging of trees, overgrazing, agricultural activities, and human-wildlife conflicts were the foremost observed threats to the mammals in the study area. Community participation and awareness creation are very important to limit the impact of anthropogenic activities threatening wildlife.