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

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gidey Yirga ◽  
Herwig Leirs ◽  
Hans H. De Iongh ◽  
Tsehaye Asmelash ◽  
Kindeya Gebrehiwot ◽  
...  

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.

2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gidey Yirga ◽  
Wondimu Ersino ◽  
Hans H. De Iongh ◽  
Herwig Leirs ◽  
Kindeya Gebrehiwot ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gidey Yirga ◽  
Hans H. De Iongh ◽  
Herwig Leirs ◽  
Kindeya Gebrehiwot ◽  
Jozef Deckers ◽  
...  

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$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.


2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 759-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gidey Yirga Abay ◽  
Hans Bauer ◽  
Kindeya Gebrihiwot ◽  
Jozef Deckers

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-643
Author(s):  
M.M. Ogunbambo

Smoke-drying Clarias gariepinus (catfish) provides animal protein and a source of livelihood in Lagos, Nigeria. Changes occurring to seasonal and mineral compositions of smoke-dried catfish using local Traditional Drum Kiln (TDK) and a newly constructed Eco-Friendly Kiln (EFK) fitted with a flame, drying and electronic components was carried out in this study. The smoke-drying process was carried out in both wet and dry seasons and smoke-dried catfish samples stored at ambient and adjusted refrigerated temperatures of 28 and 4 0C. The smoke-drying procedure was  standardized at 60 - 80 0C and kiln lasted 24 ± 3 hours. Moisture content results showed a significant difference when the catfish samples were smoke-dried using TDK and EFK and stored in ambient and controlled temperatures in both wet and dry seasons while crude protein, lipid, ash and crude fibre values were significantly different when stored only in dry season. Mineral elements phosphorus, sodium, copper, magnesium and iron showed a significant difference when stored at both temperatures and seasons using both kilns. Mineral elements were found to be most stable in smoke-dried catfish samples when stored at controlled temperatures. This work proved that standardizing smoke-drying process using both kilns resulted in good quality smoke-dried catfish but showed that higher biochemical values were obtained when EFK is used. Key words: Nigeria, Smoke-drying Kilns, Seasons, Ambient, Controlled Temperatures


2003 ◽  
Vol 256 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald R. Cunha ◽  
Yuzhuo Wang ◽  
Ned J. Place ◽  
Wenhui Liu ◽  
Larry Baskin ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lívia Borges dos Santos ◽  
Cyntia Goulart Côrrea Bruno ◽  
Jean Carlos Santos

Abstract: Aim To analyze the efficiency of organic and inorganic substrates in samples of benthic macroinvertebrates of riparian forests from the Cerrado. Specific objectives (i) characterize the ecological succession and taxonomic richness of benthic macroinvertebrates in stream affluent of a riparian forest; (ii) analyze the influence of seasonality on the colonization of macroinvertebrates; and (iii) determine the effect of the types of artificial substrates on the richness, composition and abundance of the benthic community. Methods Sampling was carried out in the rainy and dry seasons, and we installed in the watercourse two types of substrates: organic (leaf packs) and inorganic (bricks), organized in pairs. Six samples per season were done to verify colonization, succession, richness and abundance of benthic community. The substrates were carefully sorted and the organisms were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Results The ecological succession was clearly observed, with the initial occurrence of Chironomidae and Baetidae (considered early colonizers), and a late occurrence of organisms such as Helotrephidae and Trichoptera (considered late colonizers). No significant difference was found in the richness and abundance among the studied seasons (rainy and dry), but the organic substrate was significantly higher than the inorganic substrate for these parameters. Conclusion Organic artificial substrates are more efficient in characterizing the community of benthic macroinvertebrates in the study area, because they are more similar to the conditions of the substrate found naturally in the environment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abebe Alemu ◽  
Hossein Azadi

These days, one of the global challenges is the growing demand for food. To be more specific, seafood bases play a key role in filling the nutritional requirements of human beings. In Africa (Ethiopia) the public expenses to improve productive capacity in aquatic food are increasing. Additionally, the expenses in dams and in fishers’ capacity building have increased households’ engagement in the fishery sector in Ethiopia. Cooperatives’ productive capacity has been strengthened by the government and other non-government organizations with the supply of fishing boats, refrigerators, fish nets and other office supplies. However, the effect of such public expenses in bringing changes in the households’ livelihood and welfare has never been assessed in this study area. This paper aims to investigate what motivates the households to fish and assess the effect of fisheries on the households’ livelihood and welfare. A structured survey consisting of 313 rural households was administered using trained enumerators in two kebeles located close to the Tekeze dam, Northern Ethiopia. The result indicates that socioeconomic characteristics, such as age (young), sex, education, and active family size were driving the households to fishing. Access to market and access to support are driving farmers to fisheries. There is a significant difference in fishing households’ income which is higher than non-fishing households. The results also indicate that there are lesser income inequalities among fishery households operating in cooperatives compared to private fishery households.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Tesfahun Mekuanint ◽  
Yemane Tsehaye ◽  
Yemane G. Egziabher

Effects of row spacing, blended fertilizer rates, and varieties on some agronomic traits of chickpea were evaluated with the objective of investigating response of Kabuli and Desi type chick pea varieties to blended fertilizers rates and interrow spacing. The study was done using split plot design interrow spacing as a main plot, and fertilizer and variety as a subplot, where three row spacings (20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm) were assigned to the main plot while the factorial combination of four blended (NPSB) fertilizer rates (0 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, and 150 kg/ha) and representative of Kabuli and Desi type chickpea varieties such as Arerti and Mariye, respectively, were assigned to the subplot. Main effect of interrow spacing did not show significant difference on many studied agronomic parameters. Similarly, main effect of blended fertilizer rates and varieties did not reveal a significant difference for the studied parameters. However, significant differences were obtained on phenology, yield components, and yield for the varieties. Blended fertilizer rates utilized in Tselemti District did not show differences in most of studied traits. Reasonable row spacing of 20 cm for both types of chickpea could be used for the studied area.


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