The Rufford Foundation Final Report

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1 The Rufford Foundation Final Report Congratulations on the completion of your project that was supported by The Rufford Foundation. We ask all grant recipients to complete a Final Report Form that helps us to gauge the success of our grant giving. The Final Report must be sent in word format and not PDF format or any other format. We understand that projects often do not follow the predicted course but knowledge of your experiences is valuable to us and others who may be undertaking similar work. Please be as honest as you can in answering the questions remember that negative experiences are just as valuable as positive ones if they help others to learn from them. Please complete the form in English and be as clear and concise as you can. Please note that the information may be edited for clarity. We will ask for further information if required. If you have any other materials produced by the project, particularly a few relevant photographs, please send these to us separately. Please submit your final report to jane@rufford.org. Thank you for your help. Josh Cole, Grants Director Grant Recipient Details Your name Misganaw Tamrat Gessese Conservation status of endangered hartebeest (A. Project title b. tora and A. b. lelwel) and critically endangered Black Rhinoceros in Ethiopia RSG reference Reporting period Amount of grant 4930 Your address Date of this report 12/10/2017 misganawtamrat@yahoo.com

2 Fully Partially Not 1. Please indicate the level of achievement of the project s original objectives and include any relevant comments on factors affecting this. Objective Comments Survey to determine if tora hartebeest is still existing in the wild Distribution pattern of Lelwel hartebeest Search on the Black Rhinoceros in Ethiopia Population estimate of Swayne's hartebeest in Ethiopia We manage to survey 35 sites along 1900 km distance along the potential zones Tora and questioned 2000 local inhabitants. No clue for the current existence of Tora. To our judgment, Tora is gone as no recent records from Eritrea as well. Yet, it may need further work to declare its extinction in the most inaccessible areas due to security reasons both in Ethiopia and Eritrea. We have counted 42 individuals of lelwel hartebeest in Omo and Mago national parks and 12 individuals further north west about 39 km of the park. Regardless of the huge effort in transect survey in the area which was claimed to have black rhinoceros, no clue was found for its existence. Of the 1200 local inhabitants, 1120 respond no for rhinoceros existence in the area and 78 respond on its existence about 5 to 10 years ago. Only two individuals respond to see rhinoceros during the last one year. To our judgment, black rhinoceros is unlikely to exist in the area surveyed in this study. With a robust total count on divided blocks in Senkele and Maze National Parks, we estimated 511 and 1100 individuals respectively, which is much larger than the previous national estimates of 840 individuals within three protected areas.

3 2. Please explain any unforeseen difficulties that arose during the project and how these were tackled (if relevant). With extreme hot weather condition and lack of infrastructure for transport makes most of the potential range inaccessible. Water was very scarce across the survey area and some of the areas are not safe to spend night to make survey during early morning before the rise of the strong sunlight. We did our best in camping to the closest village to our survey area and work with the locals people who are familiar with the region. 3. Briefly describe the three most important outcomes of your project. 1. The survey for the tora shade light a possibility of the taxon extinction, and urge survey in case some last remaining individuals of the taxon still exist in localities not covered by this area, in particular in its historic range in Eritrea. 2. This study provides a reliable population estimate of the endangered lewel about 47 individuals in non-protected area in between two national parks, Mago and Omo. With no urgent plans to protect the currently existing small population, Ethiopia will be second to Kenya to lose such magnificent antelope. 3. This study provides a total population estimate of the endemic Swayne s hartebeest that shows almost double population size which is about 1611 individuals at two localities (Senkele Swayne s Hartebeest Sanctuary and Maze National Park) from the estimates done in The previous national estimate was 840 individuals within three protected areas (the aforementioned protected areas and Nech Sar National Park) in Briefly describe the involvement of local communities and how they have benefitted from the project (if relevant). Across this study, members of the local community were integral part of the survey and played a key role for the success of the project. While it be not bring a significant benefit, those involved in the project got additional income from the project and get knowledge on biodiversity survey methods. 5. Are there any plans to continue this work? Yes, I wish to study habitat use and impacts of livestock grazing of lelwel and Swayne s hartebeest. Lelwel is near to extermination in Ethiopia with a population size of less than 60 individuals. Understanding the movement pattern and habitat use of the lelwel may help for the conservation effort for the last remaining individuals. Swayne s hartebeest on the other hand has a better population size (1,611individuals), and our estimate provide much larger population size than the previous estimate. Yet, the population are currently under increasing pressure. With a relatively larger protected area (182Km 2 ) and reliable water source (rivers crossing the park), Maze National park is the only promising protected area for the conservation of the Swayne s hartebeest with the current situation. I would like to focus my near future project on habitat selection and impacts of livestock grazing in

4 Difference Actual Amount Budgeted Amount the park which I think to be critical research question for the conservation of management of the species. 6. How do you plan to share the results of your work with others? I have started writing a manuscript on conservation status of the hartebeest hartbeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus; a, b. Totra, a, b. swyane and a.b.lelwel), Ethiopia aiming for Oryx journal. 7. Timescale: Over what period was The Rufford Foundation grant used? How does this compare to the anticipated or actual length of the project? The survey was conducted for 12.5 months starting from August 2016 up to mid- August It was anticipated for 22 months at the beginning. Fortunately, it was completed within shorter period than the pre-planned time due to the support of staffs working in the National Parks and locals living in and around the survey areas. 8. Budget: Please provide a breakdown of budgeted versus actual expenditure and the reasons for any differences. All figures should be in sterling, indicating the local exchange rate used. Item Comments Per diem for field assistants The per diem cost for assistants became higher than the anticipated Fuel cost The distance covered was longer than the first plan Renting Isuzu The paved roads are not much track comfortable for Isuzu transportation Renting mules Longer distances between survey area and camels and camp sites were covered by mule and camel transportation Total I expend some extra pounds from the pre-planned budget 9. Looking ahead, what do you feel are the important next steps? For the a.b. tora, further survey may be needed in case there are some remaining population. This study may be carried out by Ethiopian wildlife conservation authority, security officers and international community with a considerable logistic supply. There is still hope to save a.b. lewel in the Mago and Omo National Parks. Saving a population of less than 60 individuals however need extensive effort. During the survey, the population were sited outside the park, but this could be seasonal.

5 Details of the movement pattern, habitat use and possibly illegal hunting on lewel are needed. Swayne s hartebeest population estimate was larger than the previous estimate population. The population in Senkele Swayne s Hartebeest Sanctuary is only 15 km 2 in size surrounded by human settlement along with a large livestock population. In our population estimate in recognised blocks, we estimated 511 individuals with large livestock population. Senkele Swayne s hartebeest Sanctuary is home for 511 individuals but with a size of only 15 km 2. Water is scarce causing deaths of many animals during the dry season. Since the surrounding area is taken by human settlement, and the sanctuary is currently used by thousands of livestock, the future of this population is hard to imagine. Translocation of some of the individuals could be an option, but the previous trail did not work. In 1974, 203 animals were caught at Senkele and translocated to the Awash National Park (90 individuals) and the proposed Nachisar National Park (113 individuals: Lewis and Wilson, 1977). The population in Awash was exterminated a decade ago. The population in Nachisar National Park was reported to decline to 12 individuals in 2010, but not a single individual is currently reported in from the park. To my knowledge, no monitoring has been done to understand the reason behind the failure of the introduction. While I personally cannot have a conclusive solution for the conservation of this particular population, it is out of question urgent conservation measure is needed to manage the population. It will be of my great interest to be part of the plan. The population in Maze national park is relatively in larger protected area (182 km 2 ), but still the area is under increasing livestock grazing and human pressure. Minimizing the impacts of human intervention, and understand the impacts of the yearly annual fire may be a priority for the managers. 10. Did you use The Rufford Foundation logo in any materials produced in relation to this project? Did the RSGF receive any publicity during the course of your work? I used the RSGF logo during my presentation at the University of Oslo. So far I spend much of my time in field work and organizing my data. I will use the RFL materials in my future publication and presentation. 11. Any other comments? Survival of the hartebeest in Ethiopia is currently hanged in a balance. It needs effort by a national and international community to let the species exist in the future.

The Rufford Foundation Final Report

The Rufford Foundation Final Report Congratulations on the completion of your project that was supported by The Rufford Small Grants Foundation. We ask all grant recipients to complete a Final Report Form