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

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Figure 1. The <strong>Bale</strong> m<strong>on</strong>key (Cercopi<strong>the</strong>cus djamdjamensis) taken by Sisay Taye (19/03/2007) in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Harenna Forest.<br />

A Harenna Forest expediti<strong>on</strong> in 1986 collected <strong>the</strong> specimen of <strong>Bale</strong> m<strong>on</strong>key but ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />

c<strong>on</strong>sidered it as Sykes m<strong>on</strong>key (Hillman 1986) - whose range is known to be in Somalia. In <strong>the</strong><br />

Harenna Forest, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> m<strong>on</strong>key was first recorded by Lernould (1988).<br />

According to historical informati<strong>on</strong>, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> m<strong>on</strong>key was originally distributed throughout<br />

<strong>the</strong> higher altitudes of <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian massifs (Kingd<strong>on</strong> 1997). But over time, <strong>the</strong>ir range was reduced<br />

due to loss of habitat and probably through hybridizati<strong>on</strong> with vervet or grivet m<strong>on</strong>keys (Kingd<strong>on</strong><br />

1997). Currently, <strong>Bale</strong> m<strong>on</strong>keys are thought to be restricted to <strong>the</strong> forest in south-east of <strong>the</strong> country<br />

(Kingd<strong>on</strong> 1997), but little informati<strong>on</strong> has been published about <strong>the</strong>m. Kingd<strong>on</strong> (1997) believes<br />

that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> m<strong>on</strong>key deserves recogniti<strong>on</strong> as an endangered species because of its restricted habitat.<br />

The m<strong>on</strong>key has been recorded in <strong>the</strong> Harenna over time but little is known of its populati<strong>on</strong> size or<br />

habitat associati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

The aim of this study was to c<strong>on</strong>duct a preliminary assessment of <strong>the</strong> populati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>the</strong><br />

Harenna and to document <strong>the</strong> distributi<strong>on</strong> and habitat associati<strong>on</strong>s for <strong>the</strong> species. This survey<br />

provides baseline informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> abundance of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> m<strong>on</strong>key and a sampling protocol that<br />

can be used for guiding <strong>the</strong> design of an appropriate m<strong>on</strong>itoring and management strategy for <strong>the</strong><br />

species and its habitat.<br />

Methods<br />

Study site<br />

The study area is located in <strong>the</strong> Harenna Forest, in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn secti<strong>on</strong> of <strong>Bale</strong> <strong>Mountains</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />

Park. Starting just below <strong>the</strong> escarpment, <strong>the</strong> study area includes <strong>the</strong> bamboo z<strong>on</strong>e (2700-3400<br />

m a.s.l), <strong>the</strong> bamboo-Schefflera-Hagenia z<strong>on</strong>e (2300-2700 m a.s.l), <strong>the</strong> Aningeria z<strong>on</strong>e (2000-<br />

2300 m a.s.l) and Crot<strong>on</strong>- Syzgium z<strong>on</strong>e (1600-2000 m a.s.l). The study area was located in two<br />

areas, Harenna Rira and Harenna Wegie, within <strong>the</strong> park boundary. The largest porti<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> study<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> 81

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