Abstract
Farmers' survival is seriously threatened by wild animal species' coexistence and joint use of limited resources. A study on the density of wild animals and their conflicts with nearby farmers was conducted from December 2022 to May 2023 in southwest Ethiopia, Mankira Forest. Using the distance sampling technique, the densities of the wild animal population were estimated. The incidence of conflict between humans and wild animals was measured using a questionnaire given to 241 randomly selected household heads. The estimated densities of spotted hyenas (0.40 ± 0.54), Anubis baboons (11.83 ± 4.4), grivet monkeys (15.18 ± 5.12), black-backed jackals (0.60 ± 0.14), porcupines (0.70 ± 0.12), and warthogs (1.2 ± 0.20 individuals/km2) were recorded. Potatoes, wheat, and maize were the most severely damaged cereal crops. The most prevalent and top-ranked crop-raiding species was the Anubis baboon (N = 104, 43%), which was followed by the grivet monkey (N = 82), the warthog (N = 31), and the porcupine (N = 24). Depredated livestock were cattle, poultry, sheep, donkeys, dogs, horses, and mules. The spotted hyena (N = 118), black-backed jackal (N = 65), primates (N = 39), and leopard (N = 19) were the most commonly recorded predators. Various human activities that impact wildlife include deforestation, charcoal production, livestock grazing, agricultural expansion, and settlement. Guarding was the primary mitigating strategy. Locals living near forest boundaries were particularly susceptible to the impact of wild animals. Reducing livestock damage and crop loss can be achieved through continuous ecological surveying of wild animals and raising community awareness.