Crop raiding behaviors of the Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) and the
Vervet monkey (Chlorocebu spygerythrus) in southern Ethiopia:
implications for primate conservation and agricultural loss mitigation
Abstract
Species and subspecies of primates occur in different parts of Ethiopia,
and some of them are successful crop raiders. The study aimed to
investigate the population status of the Anubis baboon (Papio anubis)
and Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) and crop raiding activities
in southern Ethiopia. The data was collected through direct observation
of 14 transects during both the dry and wet seasons. The information on
the impact of the primates on the local farmers was collected via a
questionnaire survey. A non-parametric chi-square test was used to
compare the seasonal variations in species composition and abundance of
individuals among the habitats. There was no significant relationship
between Chlorocebus pygerythrus (χ2 = 0.437, df = 1, p >
0.05) and Papio anubis population size during the wet and dry seasons in
either habitat type (χ2 = 0.013, df = 1, p > 0.05). Most of
the Papio anubis and Chlorocebus pygerythrus were recorded at the
sub-adult stage in both habitats. The highest crop-damage record by the
Papio anubis was at the ripened stage, whereas that by Chlorocebus
pygerythrus was at the flowering stage. The least damage recorded by
both Papio anubis and Chlorocebus pygerythrus was at the seedling stage.
The annual loss of the maize crop by the primates was estimated at
approximately $297. Watching and chasing were the most popular methods
of primate crop loss mitigation. There is a need for effective forest
management and the formulation of conservation strategies to maintain
primate status and to minimize crop loss.