Population Status, Feeding Ecology and Habitat Association of the Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) in Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Gebremeskel Teklehaimanot, Mundanthra Balakrishnan

Abstract


Population status, structure, sounder size, feeding ecology and habitat association of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus Gmelin, 1788) were studied in Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia using both total and sample count methods. A total of 195 individuals were counted in the six study sites by total count method, of which 118 (60.5%) were from Dinsho headquarters area with a population density of 43.7 individuals per km2. Adults constituted 27.7%, sub-adults 16.4% and young 55.9% of the population in Dinsho, with a male to female ratio of adults and sub-adults together 1:1.7. The mean sounder size was 6.5 individuals. Sample count method revealed the presence of 561 individuals in Gaysay/Adelay area, where the population density was 18.1 individuals per km2. Adults constituted 30.5%, sub-adults 15.9% and young 53.6% of the population in Gaysay/Adelay, with a male to female ratio of adults and sub-adults together 1:1.65. They were mainly grazers and associated with open grassland habitats regardless of seasonal variations. There was more vegetation coverage (64.5%) during the wet season than during the dry season (29.3%). The quality of a given habitat and availability of essential resources have major influence on the distribution and abundance of the common warthogs in the present study area.

Keywords


Abundance; Diet; Distribution; Habitat; Population Ecology

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