Abstract:
The result of the study on population status and habitat preference of Heuglin’s gazelle in
KSNP is presented in this thesis. This study was aimed to undertake the current population
size and habitat preference of Heuglin’s gazelle in KSNP, Northwestern, Ethiopia. Total
count method was used to estimate the population size of Heuglin’s gazelles in the present
study site. The population size estimated, both during wet and dry seasons, using 10
counting blocks (6 - 10 Km2 area) in four habitat types from June 2019 to April 2020.
Habitat preference was assessed based on the abundance of herds and individuals
frequently observed in four habitat types during data collection period. Chi-square test,
Chi-square goodness of fit, Kruskal Wallis test and Wilcoxon test were used to analyze the
data. The mean population size were 220 ± 9.85 (SE) and 189 ± 7.55 (SE) individuals
during the wet and dry season, respectively; whereas, mean of individuals within a seasons
were 204.5 (≈ 205). There was a decrease in individuals by 31.2% between the 2016 and
the present estimates. There was no significant variation in the number of individuals
observed during the wet and dry seasons (Z = - 1.604, P = 0.109). The overall density of
the species was 2.23 individuals/km2. Most frequently observed herd sizes were 5 and 2
animals in wet and dry seasons, respectively. However, was no significant variation
between the herd size encountered during wet and dry seasons (Z = - 1.342, P = 0.18).
Population of the species was characterized by more adult individuals. However, there was
no significant difference between the number of individuals in each age category during
both wet and dry seasons (χ2 = 4.6, df = 2, P = 0.11). In case of sex, the population of the
species was characterized by more female individuals. Even though, there was no
significant difference between the number of individuals in each sex category during wet
and dry seasons (χ2 = 5.56, df = 2, P = 0.063). Age ratio of Juvenile unknown sex to adult
was greater in wet season and the sex ratio male to female were also greater during the wet
season biasing to females. Higher numbers of individual gazelles were observed in
wooded grassland in both seasons; whereas, no one gazelle was recorded in woodland
habitat type during the wet season. There was a significant difference in their occurrence
in four habitat types regardless of seasons (χ2 = 7.5, df = 3, P = 0.03). Finally, the studies
suggests that, effective conservation measures should be implemented in current study
area to halt the declining in number of the species and maintain their habitat; since, the
populations of the species are highly decreasing due to natural and anthropogenic factors