Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary

Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary
IUCN category II (national park)[1]
a herd Swayne's hartebeest
Location in Ethiopia
Location	Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Nearest city	Hawassa
Coordinates	7°11′N 38°20′E
Area	54 km^2 (21 sq mi)
Established	1972
Governing body	Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA)

Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary is a protected area in the Oromia Region (or kilil) of Ethiopia, dedicated especially to the protection of the Swayne's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei). Covering 54 square kilometers, the reserve is located some 10 kilometers south of the Shashemene-Arba Minch road near the town of Aje.^[2]

Wildlife

Fauna

The sanctuary provides a home to one of Ethiopia's endemic subspecies, the Swayne Hartebeest with a population of 500 individuals roaming across the grasslands. Other species such as Bohor Reedbuck, Warthog, Greater kudu, and Oribi roam within the area of the sanctuary. Crested porcupine, Aardvark, and Abyssinian hare are also observed within the area for coexistence. ^[3]

Conservation

Although the sanctuary was set aside to protect the largest population of Swayne's hartebeest in Ethiopia, a mammal endemic to the country, the original herd of 3,000 animals has dwindled to a few hundred due to poaching. Nevertheless, according to the travel writer Philip Briggs "the small size of the reserve and open terrain make it the one place in Ethiopia where Swayne's hartebeest sightings are practically guaranteed."^[2]

Woody plant encroachment is an additional factor that leads to changes in animal habitat. During the course of 30 years, the sanctuary area covered by grassland declined by 9.8% while the total area covered by bushland increased by 21.4%.^[4]

Notes

1. UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 28 February 2022. [1]
2. Philip Briggs, Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 5th edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt, 2009), p. 464
3. Sultan Dalu, Mustefa & Amano, Teyiba & Alemayo, Ejigu. (2017). Contributions of Protected Area for Local Community Livelihood: The Case of Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary, South Eastern Ethiopia.
4. Kabeta, Lello; Dalle, Gemedo; Tolera, Motuma; Kelboro, Girma (2020-10-01). "Bush encroachment and impacts on grass biomass in Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary, Ethiopia". Biodiversity. 21 (4): 217–226. doi:10.1080/14888386.2020.1844595. ISSN 1488-8386.