Medium to large sized mammal species diversity and habitat association in Kafta-Sheraro biosphere, northern Ethiopia

Effective wildlife management and conservation strategies rely on sound data regarding faunal diversity and habitat preference. This study investigated medium to large mammal diversity, habitat preference, and abundance in Kafta-Sheraro National Park from March to August 2019. The park was stratified into four habitat types, and systematic sampling technique were applied to establish permanent transects within each. Species were identified and counted along transects. Statistical analyses were conducted using Python, PAST, and ArcGIS. A total of 11,054 individual animals belonging to 28 medium to large-bodied mammal species were recorded in the park. Six of the recorded species are classified as globally threatened, including the endangered African elephant (Loxodonta africana), the vulnerable leopard (Panthera pardus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), and red-fronted gazelle (Eudorcas rufifrons), and near-threatened striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena). Seasonal species richness varied significantly in riverine forests and woodlands (p ≤ 0.05). Grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) and anubis baboon (Papio anubis), were together comprising 47.68% of the total population of recorded, while leopard (Panthera pardus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), aardvark (Orycteropus afer), civet (Civettictis civetta) and crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) were least abundant (<1%). Mammals’ population were highest in bushland (3,111 ± 87.18), followed by grassland (2,917 ± 75.71), riverine forest (2,632 ± 88.03) and woodland (394 ± 93.62). Orycteropus afer was exclusive to bushland habitat. Bushland had the highest dry season diversity (H′ = 2.58), while woodland habitat had the lowest wet season diversity (H′ = 2.03). Wet season evenness was highest in grassland (J = 0.54). Long-term studies and conservation are crucial for Kafta-Sheraro National Park’s threatened species.