1. Introduction
Mammals are the most numerous and profitable animal team on the planet, with roughly 5,416 species in existence ( Reale et al ., 2014;Geleta & Bekele, 2016). More than 1150, 360, 320 species of mammals can be seen in Africa (Newbold et al ., 2015), eastern Africa ( Girma et al ., 2012;Diriba et al ., 2020), and Ethiopia ( Tefera, 2011; Amare, 2015; Lavrenchenko & Bekele, 2017) respectively. Fifty five of Ethiopia’s 320 mammalian species are endemic, with 14 orders and 39 families (Rabira et al ., 2015; Lavrenchenko and Bekele, 2017 ). In addition, species of mammals act as an umbrella for terrestrial ecosystems as they make a contribution to the conservation efforts of different species (Bene et al ., 2013; Udy et al ., 2021) and maintain an ecosystem balance. Medium and giant mammal species play a vital role in many of the world’s ecosystems, which include grazing, grazing and seed dispersal (Gebresenbet et al ., 2018; Reeder et al ., 2019; IUCN, 2021). Furthermore, they provide important personal benefits such as food, entertainment, and profits ( Wolf and Ripple, 2018; Penjoret al ., 2021). In contrast, species of mammals have ended up endangered worldwide and regionally due to anthropogenic activities ( Ripple et al ., 2014; Girma & Worku, 2020). Loss of Habitat are major threats to mammals ( Kasso & Bekele, 2017; Wale et al .,2017; Qufa and Bekele, 2019; Asefa et al ., 2020).
Ethiopia is one among the 25 richest biodiversity countries within the world and hosts two of the 34 most famous places within the world. Over 60% of mammal species are medium and enormous (Negeri et al ., 2015). Temperature change and climate are the foremost important predictions of the range of mammal species within the world (Tefera, 2011; Amare, 2015; Belete & Melese, 2016). However, the population of large and medium mammals has declined significantly within the country including protected areas (Rabira et al ., 2015). It is due to the boom of human population, habitat loss, fragmentation, susceptible management of the included areas, and deforestation (Gebresenbetet al ., 2018; Girma & Worku, 2020; Lemma & Tekalign, 2020).
Knowledge on nearby fauna is integral for future conservation techniques and grants fundamental facts for greater complex ecological and biogeographical studies, and which is the first step for conservation action (Botelho et al ., 2012;Fornitano et al ., 2015). Research on the diversity of mammals, their habitat, and abundance has provided facts about human reputation for good conservation measures (Rabira et al ., 2015; Yosef, 2015). Hence, the lack of survey may additionally preclude the preparation of an appropriate administration design in the protected areas (Fornitano et al ., 2015). Moreover, in Ethiopia most studies on mammal species were confined to protected areas (Wale, 2017; Fetene et al ., 2019) but the diversity and distribution status of mammals outside protected areas is not well known (Gebresenbet et al ., 2018). However, the determine about mammals in public locations is important equally (Udy et al ., 2021), even extra so due to the fact of their large dimension anthropogenic pressures (Girma et al ., 2012; Burgin et al ., 2018; Legeseet al ., 2019; Worku & Girma, 2020).
The present study was carried out in the Arjo-Diga Forest of Western Ethiopia and which was demarcated in 2014 for mainstreaming the incentive for biodiversity conservation. The study area site is part of a large forest and it falls within the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hot spot area. It is also in the watershed of Dhidhessa River, which is one of the main tributaries of the Blue Nile River, giving it regional and international importance for biodiversity and hydrology. However, the wider terrain around the forest ecosystem has exacerbated the deterioration of natural resources, and wildlife is facing major challenges as a result of manmade activities, which could lead to complete degradation (Gole, 2017). Understanding the distribution of prominent biological components such as mammal’s species and anthropogenic threats in the area is essential for emergency management practices. In addition, no biological research has been conducted so far in the area. Therefore, to contribute towards closing these gaps and to supply the primary essential quantitative bits of knowledge, the present study will focus on mammalian diversity and threats of medium and large mammals in Arjo Diga Forest, Western Ethiopia.