Maze National Park
| Maze National Park | |
|---|---|
  Location in Ethiopia | |
| Location | Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, Ethiopia |
| Nearest city | Arba Minch |
| Coordinates | 6°25′N 37°14′E / 6.417°N 37.233°E |
| Area | 210 km2 (81 sq mi) |
| Established | 2005 |
| Governing body | Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority |
Maze National Park is a national park in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region of Ethiopia. It is located 460 km southwest of Addis Ababa and 248 km from Hawassa. It covers 210 square kilometers or 2020 hectare. Maze was founded in 2005, and is managed by the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority.[2]
History
The park drives its name after Maze River that transverses through its length. The park was established in 2005. Maze Park served as a hunting area for Swayne's hartebeest and Buffalo.[2]
Geography
Elevations within the park range between 1000 and 1200 meters above sea level. rainy seasons extend from March to September with estimated range from 800 to 1600 mm per annum.[3] Mount Gughe ,which rises to 4200 meter above sea level is found on the boundary of the park. Bilbo hot springs found ,at the upper parts of Maze River, in the parks southern parts , has geysers that spout steam in to the air.[4] There are natural stone caves in the park called Wonja stone caves. This natural stone cave holds upto 300 people.[5]
Wildlife
Flora
The maze national park is covered by savannah grassland with scattered deciduous board leaf trees. The park is filled with different type of vegetation that grow on in different altitudes in various areas of the park. Some of the vegetations that grow in the park are the Bush land vegetation, wood land vegetation, Savannah Grassland and the riverine forest.
Fauna
Maze National Park is home to 37 species of mammals and 196 species of birds. The park is noted for its population of the endangered Swayne's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei),[3][4] and is said to be second only to Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary in importance for that subspecies.[5] There are about 300 Hartebeests at Maze National Park. Other animals who are common here are African buffalos, Anubis baboons, Lions, Leopards, Vervet monkeys, oribis, Bohor reedbucks, waterbucks, bushbucks, Lesser kudus, Greater kudus, cheetahs, warthogs, servals, and Bushpigs.
References
- ^ UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Maze from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 27 February 2022. [1]
- ^ "Maze National Park (MzNP)". Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
- ^ Datiko, Demeke; Afework Bekele (2011). "Population status and human impact on the endangered Swayne's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Nechisar Plains, Nechisar National Park, Ethiopia". African Journal of Ecology. 49 (3): 311–319. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2011.01266.x. ISSN 0141-6707.
- ^ Tekalign, W; A Bekele (2012). "Current Population Status of the Endangered Endemic Subspecies of Swayne's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia". Ethiopian Journal of Science. 34 (1). ISSN 0379-2897.
- ^ A Glimpse at Biodiversity Hotspots of Ethiopia (PDF). Ethiopian Wildlife & Natural History Society. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-16.
External links