Sanctuary

1.1. Harar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Harar Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as the Babille Elephant Sanctuary) is a protected area in Ethiopia. It is located in the Misraq (East) Hararghe Zone of the Oromia Region, south of Babille, with a central latitude and longitude of 8°45′N 42°38′ECoordinates: 8°45′N 42°38′E. Encompassing 6,982 square kilometres, the Sanctuary embraces the valleys of the Erer, Daketa and Fafen as well as the Gobele and Borale rivers; all are tributaries of the Shabelle River. Elevations range from 1000 to 1750 metres above sea level, with the lowest elevations at the southern part of the protected area.

The Sanctuary was created to for the conservation of the native elephant sub-species (Loxodonta africana oleansie), and is also home for the black-maned lion.Conditions at this sanctuary are primitive, and it is not equipped for tourists,[3] although the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced plans to remedy this shortcoming.

1.2. Kuni-Muktar Mountain Nyala Sanctuary

Kuni-Muktar Mountain Nyala Sanctuary is a protected area and wildlife sanctuary in Ethiopia. It was set up in 1989 through the intervention of the Zoological Society of London to safeguard a small decreasing population of the critically endangered Tragelaphus buxtoni or Mountain Nyala.

Mountain Nyala, endemic to Ethiopia, are that country's biggest and rarest antelope, but also a most prized hunt for a few, the total cost of a photo and a head trophy ranging between 35,000 and 50,000 USD. Though this animal was reported extinct in the sanctuary by 1996, it was found present in small numbers by a local count in 2002, and an Italian mission confirmed its presence in 2008. The remnant population is estimated at 70-80 by Vigano based on ground observation and counts and at 200 by Evangelista, based on satellite photography and a prediction method. The same mission noted actions by a local hunter to obtain permission to obtain trophies through a stratagem. The Ethiopian Environment Protection Authority reportedly began legal action against the hunter in December 2008

1.3. Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary

The Senkelle Wldlife Sanctuary is located 48km west of Hawassa, it is 340 kms south of Addis Ababa and covers an area of 54km2. The sanctuary was originally established to protect the endemic and endangered antelope species called Swayne’s hartebeests. The sanctuary is located in between Oromia and SNNPRS and managed by the Ethiopian Wildlife Cconservation Authority. The open acacia woodland of the reserve is quite scenic and some of the animals are easily spotted, specially the Swayne’s hartebeests, the population of which is currently estimated at between 600 and 800. The sanctuary harbor other wild animals including Bohor, reedbucks, greater kudus, orbis antelopes, spotted hyenas, serval and civet cats, caracals, warthogs, common jackals as well as 91 species of bird

1.4.Stephanie Wildlife Sanctuary

Stephanie Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area and wildlife sanctuary in Ethiopia

1.5. Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary

Yabello Sancutury lies 565 Km south of Addis Ababa on the Awasa-Moyale highway. It is 10km east of Yabello town in Borena Zone, Oromia Regional State. It was primarily set up to protect and conserve the Swayne’s Hartbeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynii, an endemic Hrtbeest. While the average elevation throughout is 1700 masl, it can range from 1400 to 2000 masl. Areas around Yabello recive an annual rainfall of around 700 mm. The main rainy season extends from April to May. Shorter and less reliable rains occur during October. Mean annual temperature is 190C with a mean minimum and maximum of 13 and 250C, respectively. High temperature are usually recorded from January to February. The dominant vegetation community is savannah with different woody and herbaceous plants. The major trees are Acacia drepanalobium, A.brevispica, and A. horida. Lower altitudes exhibit Balanties aegyptiaca and Commiphora-Terminalia Vegitation mixtures. Juniperus procera and Olea europea subsp cuspidate forests used to cover most of the hills in the past. Remnant forest trees can still be observes around the hills surrounding Yabello even today. The Borena pastoralists are the dominant tribe here and they still practice pastoralism in the rangelands of Borena. The park is important for a number of mammals as well as rare bird species. At least 210 species of birds have been recorded of which 62 are Somali-Masai Biome species. Mammal species include Swayne’s Hartebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Grant ’s gazelle and Guenther’s Dik-Dik. The park affords protection to the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest and is the home of the endemic and vulnerable Ethiopian Bush Crow and White-tailed Swallow are also restricted-range species. Other non-endemic but globally threatened species includes the Taita Falcon. With 62 Somali-Masai Biome birds, the site affords protection to 64% of Ethiopia’s Somali-Masai Biome assemblage. Other interesting birds found here include Ostrich, Short-tailed Larck, Pringle’s puff-back, Northern Grey Tit, Abyssinian Grosbeak Canary, Vulturine Guinea Fowl, Somali Sparrow, Black-capped social Weaver, Donaldson-Smith Nightjar, Star-spotted Nightjar, Grey-headed Social Weaver and Magpie Starling. The site is good for Burchell’s Zebra and smaller numbers of Grant’s Gazelle and Gerenuk