Behavioral Activity and Ranging Patterns of the Endemic Gelada Monkey (Theropithecus gelada) in and Around Jer Silase Monastry in North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract The study aimed to investigate the activity, ranging patterns, and habitat use of gelada monkeys. Understanding of behavioral ecology of primates in Jer Silase Monastery is crucial to their conservation and monitoring strategies. The study was carried out from January 2021 to October 2021 by considering both dry and wet seasons and by stratifying the study area as natural forest, cliff/rocky, and farmland. The instantaneous scan sampling method was employed to collect behavioral data. The activity pattern of three selected focal groups of geladas was studied, and predominant behavioral activities recorded GPS points every 15-minute intervals from beginning 7:00 h to dusk at 18:00 hr for 12 days per month. Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare the seasonal variation of the behavioral activity patterns of geladas in the wet and dry seasons. A chi-square test (c2) of independence was also employed to examine the gelada monkeys’ behavior differently in different habitat types. Home range and day range length were determined by using Open Jump Toolbox (MOVEAN), and statistically tested by Mann–Whitney U test. A total of 5592 individual activity records were obtained during 2312 scan sampling on 120 study days. Feeding comprised 54.52% of the total scan, followed by moving 20.67% and socialization 11.95%. Habitat utilization of the gelada monkey in the three habitat types has a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 329.13, df = 2, p = 0.004). The result of multivariate analysis demonstrated that month has a statistically significant effect on an activity time budget Roy’s Largest Root = 2.7, F = 13.2, df = 4, p < 001, partial η2 = 0.653. The highest mean monthly travel distance of the focal group over the entire course of gelada recorded at the Cliff/rocky habitat was 2817.61 ± 582.57 m during the wet season. Geladas travel a longer daily range length and cover a wider home range size in the dry season. This shows the quality of the habitat is decreasing due to livestock grazing, agricultural expansion, and charcoal production. Therefore, to minimize such effects on gelada monkeys’ appropriate conservation measures should be implemented to conserve the gelada baboon.