The attitude of people towards Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) crop foraging activities in sub-Saharan Africa, southern Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT

We studied the attitudes of people towards the crop foraging activities and conservation of the Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia, sub-Saharan Africa, based on questionnaires and direct field observations, to estimate the extent of crop loss. The study indicated that 60.2% (N = 221) of the respondents had a negative attitude towards the Anubis baboon. There was a significant negative correlation between damaged crops and attitude towards Anubis baboons (r = -0.739, p < 0.05). The attitudes towards baboons were more positive in villages more distant from the park. Approximately 35.7% (N = 121) of the respondents near the park boundary faced serious loss of the maize crop. Sixty-one percent (N = 206) of the respondents guarded their fields to prevent crop loss. The existence of a strong conflict was observed between Anubis baboons and the people near the park area. Therefore, the park administration and the inhabitants need to work together to alleviate the conflict between the baboons and the local people.