Abstract:
Primates are the mammals of the order Primate that is characterized by advanced development of
binocular vision and enlargement of the cerebral hemispheres. The aim of this study was to
investigate the abundance, diversity, and distribution of primates on Welel Mountain. From
August 2017 to February 2018, we collected data from different parts of Welel Mountain during
wet and dry seasons of the year and analyzed them using SPSS version 20. We identified four
primate species: Chlorocebus aethiops, Cercopithecus mitis, Papio anubis, and Colobus guereza.
We conducted t-test analysis for abundance and distribution of primates in wet and dry season of
the year, and the P value obtained was 0.20. The mean percentages of primates in forest,
woodland, and shrubs were 43.16%, 32.26%, and 24.58%, respectively. Shannon-Wiener
diversity index (H′) value was higher in wet season than in dry season. The current study showed
that the species are distributed more evenly in wet season than in dry season, and the number of
young individuals is more than that of adults. This indicates that currently the status of primates
population on Welel Mountain is good. Therefore, to keep the status of primates in the study area
effective, wildlife management and conservation policy should be formulated.
