Abstract

This study was conducted in Harenna Forest, Harenna Buluk District, South East Ethiopia to assess threats and conservation challenges of wildlife in Harenna Forests. Data collection was carried out from March to June, 2016 using questionnaire surveys, interviews and focus group discussion. The wildlife threats and conservation challenges of Harenna Forests were varied among different village’s forests. The data revealed that deforestation; habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation; agriculture expansion; settlement; overutilization of forest resources; human-wildlife conflict; fire; district’s administration problems and wildlife hunting were the major wildlife threats in the area. Conservation of wildlife resources in Harenna Forest are challenged mainly due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, habitat fragmentation, and resource extraction. Most of respondents (86.5%) acknowledged that the status of wildlife in the Harenna Forest is decreasing particularly due to the above mentioned anthropogenic causes. Therefore, awareness creation programmes should be organized in the community and it will help to reduce wildlife threats and to develop wildlife management.

Key words: Conservation challenge, Harenna Forest, threat, wildlife.