Forest-dwelling African wild dogs in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Ethiopia harbours several relict populations of African wild dogs Lycaon pictus, but most data is anecdotal. Wild dogs are known to occur atypically in the montane wet forest of Harenna in the southern slopes of Bale Mountains National Park, southeastern Ethiopia. A questionnaire-survey of 90 Harenna forest residents investigated the local people’s knowledge and attitudes to wild dogs. Wild dog sightings were reported throughout Harenna forest, between the lower forest boundary at about 1,400m asl and an upper altitudinal limit of 2,400m, although dogs have been found as high as 4,000m in Afroalpine grassland. A declining trend in sightings was implied and only one large pack of 30 wild dogs may occur in the area. This is consistent with a maximum of about 1,500km2 of suitable forest in and outside the National Park, supporting a reasonable density of suitable midsize mammalian prey. Wild dogs in Harenna are threatened by encroachment and loss of suitable forest habitat, a decline in prey species through competition with livestock, persecution by pastoralists, disease and occasional road casualties. Conservation action is needed to increase awareness, reduce the rate at which habitat is being lost and protect the prey base.