Yitayih Yibelu, Ejigu Dessalegn, Mola Misganaw
Mizan Tepi University, College of Natural and Computational Science, Department of Biology, P.O. Box 121, Tepi, Ethiopia.
Bahir Dar University, College of Science, Department of Biology, P.O.Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
BMC Zool. 2021 Mar 6;6(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s40850-021-00066-w.
Human-monkey conflict exists in different forms all over the world and is experienced more in developing countries. The conflict between human and grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) ranks among the main threats to biodiversity conservation and has become frequent and severe in different parts of Africa. A study on population size and human-grivet monkey conflict in Zegie Peninsula was carried out from August 2019 to March 2020; the study comprised both the wet and dry seasons. The line transect method was used to collect data on the population size of grivet monkeys. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to study the human-grivet monkey conflict and its conservation status.
The estimated population of grivets in the study area was 5046. Population structure of grivets indicated that there were 637 adult males, 1246 adult females, 1839 juveniles, and 1324 infants. The number of grivets in different habitat was; 1925 grivets in agricultural area, 1568 in lakeshore, 988 in forest and 565 grivets in shrub. Grivet population estimate between the wet and dry seasons did not show significant differences (χ = 0.941, df = 1, p > 0.05). But there was a significant difference in the population estimate of grivets among the different habitats (χ = 239.135, df = 3, p < 0.05 and among their age/sex (χ = 504.102, df = 3, p < 0.05. Based on the questionnaire result the most problematic crop pests in the area were grivet monkeys (96.4%), bush pigs (52.3%), porcupine (46.3%) and squirrels cover (33.2%). The result of discussions held with focus groups and questionnaires in the study area showed that grivet monkeys damage crops (98.4%), chicken depredation (49.5%), steal and snatch human food (32%), disturbing communities (11.3%) in the area. Most (62%) of the respondents noted that guava is the most vulnerable crop followed by papaya, mango, avocado to be damaged by grivet monkeys.
The total number of grivet monkey in the study area is 5046. The number of grivet monkeys varies based on their sex/age and their habitat type. There is no significant difference in their number according to season since the movement of grivets is restricted to the area (there is no migration in the area). The increasing population number leads the occurrence of human grivet monkey conflict in the area and this inversely affects grivet monkeys. There was a human-grivet monkey conflict in the Peninsula and grivets damaged crops, not only crops but also predating poultry, stealing eggs, and human food. Consequently, grivets were killed in response to the damage they caused to crops. Grivet's habitat in the Peninsula is highly disturbed because the local people cut trees for sale to support their livelihood. Awareness creation of the residents about wildlife and their habitat is necessary, and people should understand the impact of deforestation, illegal hunting, and the role of grivets in the ecosystem at large. Hence there is a need to protect the forest in order to ensure sustainable conservation of biodiversity in general and grivet monkeys in particular.
人与猴的冲突在世界各地以不同形式存在，在发展中国家更为常见。人类与灰沼狸猴（Chlorocebus aethiops）之间的冲突是生物多样性保护面临的主要威胁之一，在非洲不同地区已变得频繁且严重。2019年8月至2020年3月，在泽吉半岛开展了一项关于灰沼狸猴种群规模及人与灰沼狸猴冲突的研究；该研究涵盖了雨季和旱季。采用样线法收集灰沼狸猴种群规模的数据。通过问卷调查和焦点小组讨论来研究人与灰沼狸猴的冲突及其保护状况。
研究区域内灰沼狸猴的估计种群数量为5046只。灰沼狸猴的种群结构显示，有成年雄性637只、成年雌性1246只、幼猴1839只和幼崽1324只。不同栖息地的灰沼狸猴数量分别为：农业区1925只、湖岸1568只、森林988只和灌木丛565只。雨季和旱季之间灰沼狸猴种群数量估计无显著差异（χ = 0.941，自由度 = 1，p > 0.05）。但不同栖息地的灰沼狸猴种群数量估计存在显著差异（χ = 239.135，自由度 = 3，p < 0.05），且在年龄/性别方面也存在显著差异（χ = 504.102，自由度 = 3，p < 0.05）。根据问卷调查结果，该地区最具问题的农作物害虫是灰沼狸猴（96.4%）、野猪（52.3%）、豪猪（46.3%）和松鼠（33.2%）。在研究区域与焦点小组进行讨论以及问卷调查的结果显示，灰沼狸猴会破坏农作物（98.4%）、捕食家禽（49.5%）、偷窃和抢夺人类食物（32%）以及干扰社区（11.3%）。大多数（62%）受访者指出，番石榴是最易受灰沼狸猴破坏的作物，其次是木瓜、芒果、鳄梨。
研究区域内灰沼狸猴的总数为5046只。灰沼狸猴的数量因性别/年龄和栖息地类型而异。由于灰沼狸猴的活动局限于该区域（该地区没有迁徙现象），其数量按季节无显著差异。种群数量的增加导致该地区人与灰沼狸猴冲突的发生，这反过来又影响了灰沼狸猴。半岛地区存在人与灰沼狸猴的冲突，灰沼狸猴不仅破坏农作物，还捕食家禽、偷蛋和抢夺人类食物。因此，人们会因灰沼狸猴对农作物造成的破坏而将其捕杀。半岛地区灰沼狸猴的栖息地受到严重干扰，因为当地居民砍伐树木出售以维持生计。有必要提高居民对野生动物及其栖息地的认识，人们应了解森林砍伐、非法捕猎的影响以及灰沼狸猴在整个生态系统中的作用。因此，有必要保护森林，以确保生物多样性的可持续保护，特别是灰沼狸猴的保护。
