Abstract:
The present study was carried out to investigate species diversity and relative abundance of medium and large sized mammals and threats to their survival in Tara Gedam Monastery, South Gondar, Ethiopia. This study was conducted between April and August 2021. The study area was classified into three habitat types: natural forest, bushland and farmland. Line transect method was employed for all three habitats. During the survey period a total of 10 mammalian species were recorded. They belonged to 5 mammalian orders (Primates, Carni-vore, Rodentia, Hyracoidea and Artidactyla). Among 10 species 7 of them; olive baboon (Papio anubis), grivet Monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), bush hyrax (Procavia capensis), bushbuck (Traglaphus scriptus), wild pig (Pontamochoreus larvatus), jackal (Canis aureus) and leopard (Panthera pardus) were recorded by direct observation. The diversity of medium and large sized mammals varied among the three different habitat types. The highest diversity was recorded from forest land (H’=1.25) and the least diversity was recorded in farmland (H’= 0.61) during dry season. During wet season the highest diversity was from bushland (H’ = 1.41) and the least in farmland (H’= 1.08).The most common medium and large sized mammals in the study area during both seasons were olive baboon, grivet monkey, bush hy-rax, bushbuck and wild pig. Olive baboon was the most abundant (43.6%) followed by grivet monkey (31.6%) during both the dry and wet seasons. Field observation, structured question-er and key informant interviews indicated illegal logging of trees for fuel wood and charcoal production, extraction of construction materials, and agricultural land expansion were the main anthropogenic threats in the area. Urgent conservation program is needed to safeguard these animals.