Wildlife in Ethiopia is protected by the forest and wildlife Conservation and Development Proclamation No 192 of 1980 and other relevant legislation. These laws define categories of wildlife and provides for their protection and in some cases utilization. These laws also provide for the administration by Ethiopia of its obligations under various international conventions and treaties for the protection of the environment, notably CITES (Conventions on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora).

Hunting is still legal in Ethiopia; but the list of species is periodically revised in the interests of conservation. These are 18 controlled areas for those who wish to hunt on payment of a special fee.

Four types of hunting license are currently available;
1. General hunting license; enables the hunting of most crop raiding and smaller animals bush pig, dik-dik, duiker, hare, warthog, vervet monkey, Anubis baboon, and porcupine. The number to be hunted is limited and license is valid for the four months only.

2. Supplementary license, under this license some fifty different species of mammals, and ostrich are included. The most important are Menelik bushbuck, crocodile, elephant, grant’s gazelle, Soemmering’s gazelle, gerenuk, hippopotamus, klipspringer, greater and lesser kudu, leopard, mountain Nyala, Oribi, Beisa oryx, Bohor and Chandler’s reedbuck, Defnassa waterbuck, serval cat, Caracal, gelada and hamadryad baboons, buffalo, and lion.

Hunting areas; the hunting area for most of the above mentioned plains game, leopard and lion is the Awash valley all year round.
Hunting for most species also occurs in the Omo valley in South West Kaffa from July to January.

Hunting for big games, such as buffalo and elephant, occurs in Gambella from December to May.

In Mizan Teferi (monatane forest areas of kaffa and Illubabor), Elephant and leopard hunting is from November to May.

Arissi, Bale, and parts of the Chercher Mountain are the area for Mountain Nyala and, Menelik’s bushbuck. Hunting is possible all year round, but is not recommended from July to October because of rain and fog.

3. Game bird license; under this license, up to ten of any one species or all species combined are allowed in one day; ducks, francolins, geese, quail, partridge, guinea fowl, sand grouse, pigeons, and doves. The season is from 1st October to 31 March; the license is valid for two months.
4. Snipe license; all species, except painted snipe (Rostratula bengalensis) can be hunted-up to thirty in one day. The season is from 10 November to 6 August. The license is valid for 3 months.

General information on hunting;
A) Prohibited areas; Hunting is strictly prohibited in National parks, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries. Hunting without a permit in a controlled hunting area is also forbidden.
B) Prohibited species;
Aard wolf Rhinoceros
Dibatag Wild Ass
Airaffe Patas monkey
Ardvark Cheetah
Walia Ibex Pelceln’s Gazelle
Spekes Gazelle Trova Hartebeest
African hunting dog Simien fox
Beira Antelope Bat –eared fox
Dugong Grevy zebra
Swaynes Hartebeest

C) Prohibited methods of hunting; hunters are not permitted to:
- Use fire to drive or surround game
- Use any artificial lights for hunting, except for specified nocturnal animals
- Use dogs to hunt down and chase any game animals other than game birds
- Hunt during night, except for specified nocturnal animals
- Shoot from a motor vehicle, motor driven boat, or aircraft
- Use hides or blinds
- Use a grenade or explosive, poison, or any toxic substance.
- Use bows, handheld pistols, air guns, air rifles, and air pistols.

D) Registration of trophy and certificate of lawful possession after hunt, the trophy should be registered and application should be made for a certificate of lawful possession at the licensing office.

E) Export of Trophy; trophies are allowed to be exported only through a customs port exists. An export permit for trophies may be issued by the hunting license office up on the production of a certificate of lawful possession and veterinary certificate. Original receipts of all payment made for hunting licenses and professional hunters services must be submitted in order to obtain approval for export from the National bank. Comp able CITES export permits are also issued by the license office to facilitate import destination.

F) Wounding of game animals; all hunters are legally bound to follow up and kill any animal they have wounded. In the case of dangerous animals, when wounded and lost, a full report must be made to the nearest official of the Wild life Conservation organization, district administration office, or police office in charge of the area.

G) Fees and conditions:
All license and capitation fees are to be paid in advance and are non-refundable. There is also an extra ivory payment after hunting elephant.

For further information on any of these matters please contact:
The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organization,
P.O. Box 386, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Telephone 00251-115-151477 and 00251-115- 151507
Fax 00251-115-514190
E-mail: ewco@telecom.net.et
Source: Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organization

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