Human-wildlife conflict interest: the psychometric reasons for the death of 28 hippos in the Gibe Sheleko National park (2019), Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examines a hot issue that has received a lot of attention in 2019, Ethiopia, which is the death of over 28 hippos in Gibe-Sheleko National Park (GSNP) in southern Ethiopia, which has gone undiscovered until now. A psychometric explanation for the extinction of hippos was developed using a qualitative research approach that included in-depth interviews (28), focus groups (3), and key informant participants (3) who were carefully selected. Concerning the cause of the hippos' death we found three psychometric reasons: (1) the government-owned farm and the park’s irresponsible management system are the primary causes of hippos’ deaths, (2) crop, cattle, and property damage by the hippos, and (3) personal defense from the animals’ attack. We found that the Ministry of Environment and Forests should support park administrative governments in upgrading habitat to boost food and water availability and prevent animal migration from park forests to habitations. Furthermore, we discovered that national and international media outlets performed their investigations into the interaction between the Gibe Woreda people and the animals following the deaths of over 28 hippos in the region. We understand that this had occurred for a political plot to get public attention and media publicity.