Encompassing 6,982 km2 (2,696 sq mi), the sanctuary embraces the valleys of the Erer, Dakata and Fafen as well as the Gobele and Borale rivers; all are tributaries of the Shabelle River. Elevations range from 1000 to 1750 meters above sea level, with the lowest elevations at the southern part of the protected area.[3] Located near Dakata River valley, the sanctuary presents a landmark to one of the most unique lower hoodoos, originated during the Precambrian era, known as the Valley Of Marvels or Dakata's Rock Valley which provide a good attraction for tourists.[4]
Wildlife
Flora
Babile Elephant Sanctuary provides 237 plant species with 57 families.[5] In addition to its vegetation, the sanctuary is covered in semi-arid areas of dense Acacia woodlands, thick scrublands, closed savannahs, evergreen shrubs, and widespread cactus areas. The woody species such as umbrella thorn acacia, Dwarf Euphorbia, thorny acacia, Acacia etbaica, Egyptian balsam, Prickly pear, Balanites glabra, Bird plum, Snuff-box tree, Toothbrush tree, and Tamarind that accounted for only 1.4% of the total density which are considered near threatened. Even though prickly pear cactuses are invasive to Ethiopia since the 18th century, they are considered sustainable for elephants to feed during arid conditions. [6]
The bird list of 227 species includes the Salvadori's seedeater (Crithagra xantholaema), which is endemic to southeastern Ethiopia.[8]
Conservation
Threats
From the 1970s-80s, Babile Elephant Sanctuary was established to protect the remnants of Northeastern African elephants following the loss of 90% of its population in Ethiopia caused by illegal poaching. However, the elephant population of the sanctuary is under critical condition due to habitat loss and illegal poaching. In addition to the effect of elephant population decline, researchers discovered that human activities such as illegal farming, ethnic conflict, overgrazing of livestock, and deforestation caused by local settlement of pastoralists and farmers, who lived within the sanctuary, disrupt elephants' migratory patterns and feeding areas resulting in human-elephant conflict. As a result, the sanctuary lost partial northwestern areas to the illegal settlement with seventy-five percent of land converted to agriculture and land grazing. Invasive plants such as lantana flowers and long-thorn kiawe shrubs start to intoxicate the environment, most likely threatening livestock and wildlife.[9][10][11]
Visitor accommodations and Reconstruction plans
Despite its establishment, the sanctuary suffers poor management from the park rangers because of its unfunded effect from training, poverty, and environmental neglect. Conditions at this sanctuary are primitive, and it is not equipped for tourists,[12] but the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced plans to remedy this shortcoming. In addition to protecting elephants and restoring the sanctuary's former areas, Born Free Foundation, Elephant Protection Initiative, Elephant Crisis Fund, and Ethiopia Wildlife Conservation Authority set up discussions on developing a field project to help restore the sanctuary's area and legal management which requires attention from both government and the people.[13]
References
^UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Babile Elephant from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 28 February 2022. [1]
^Seifu, Mesfin; Beyene, Fekadu (December 2014). "Local livelihoods and institutions in managing wildlife ecosystems: The case of Babile Elephant Sanctuary in Ethiopia". Journal for Nature Conservation. 22 (6): 559–569. Bibcode:2014JNatC..22..559S. doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2014.08.013.
^EWCA and WSD (2010) Management Plan of Babile Elephant Sanctuary. Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia. 216pp.
^Neil, E., & Greengrass, E. (2022). Illegal settlement in the Babille Elephant Sanctuary is threatening the resident elephant population. Oryx, 56(3), 457-464. doi:10.1017/S0030605320001088
^Philip Briggs, Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 3rd edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt, 2002), p. 367
