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Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...

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to just two m<strong>on</strong>tane sites in Harenna Forest. For this reas<strong>on</strong>, <strong>the</strong>se species are of high c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong><br />

priority. Recently, <strong>Bale</strong> has been subject to devastating levels of deforestati<strong>on</strong> (a ten-fold increase<br />

in deforestati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>the</strong> last ten years, Teshome et al. this editi<strong>on</strong>). Without immediate c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong><br />

acti<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong>se species are likely to become threatened with extincti<strong>on</strong>. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, as is <strong>the</strong> case for<br />

amphibians worldwide, <strong>the</strong> survival of Ethiopian amphibians faces threat from climate change and<br />

a pathogenic fungal disease.<br />

One of <strong>the</strong> most comprehensive reference materials <strong>on</strong> Ethiopian amphibians has been <strong>the</strong><br />

catalogue compiled by M.J. Largen, who also collected several specimens from <strong>the</strong> field in <strong>the</strong><br />

1970s and 1980s (Largen and Spawls this editi<strong>on</strong>). However, despite his efforts, several questi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> tax<strong>on</strong>omy and biology of <strong>the</strong>se fauna remain unanswered. With several unexplored areas<br />

across Ethiopia, <strong>the</strong>re are a large number of habitats that require systematic surveying for better<br />

understanding of <strong>the</strong> natural history and c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> status of amphibian fauna. In additi<strong>on</strong> to<br />

internati<strong>on</strong>al experts c<strong>on</strong>ducting research in <strong>the</strong> area, intensive training and participati<strong>on</strong> of local<br />

researchers in <strong>the</strong> field will ultimately be most important to answer <strong>the</strong> many varied research questi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

This will also facilitate acquaintance of <strong>the</strong> local community towards <strong>the</strong> value of amphibians in<br />

<strong>the</strong> envir<strong>on</strong>ment. Am<strong>on</strong>g o<strong>the</strong>r workers in this area, <strong>the</strong> authors of this paper are working <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

systematics, biogeography and c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> of Ethiopian amphibians, in particular of those in <strong>the</strong><br />

highlands. The future preservati<strong>on</strong> of Ethiopian amphibians will depend up<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tinued research<br />

and appropriate applicati<strong>on</strong> of c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> opti<strong>on</strong>s, a race against time.<br />

We are interested in hearing about any observati<strong>on</strong>s or queries <strong>on</strong> amphibians in Ethiopia.<br />

Please c<strong>on</strong>tact us at: abbefish@yahoo.com. We are grateful to <strong>the</strong> Faculty of Science (Addis Ababa<br />

University) and <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Wildlife C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> Authority for facilitating field works to our<br />

group.<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>Walia</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>Special</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Editi<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> <strong>Mountains</strong> 93

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