Insight into Bale Mountain’s Bio Diversity

You find yourself standing on an ethereal land, suspended in the air. Majestic birds of prey soar high above, while the extraordinary Ethiopian wolf stealthily hunts for rodents below. Welcome to the Sanetti plateau, a remarkable expanse that holds the distinction of being the largest continuous area of its altitude on the entire African continent. Perched proudly above the clouds, this plateau offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness Africa’s rarest canid—the Ethiopian wolf.

The Sanetti plateau represents just one facet of the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP), which encompasses a remarkable diversity of distinct and unique habitats. Venture south, and you’ll encounter the Harenna escarpment, a dramatic drop from 4,000 meters to 2,000 meters over a mere 8 kilometers, leading you into the tranquil and unexplored Harenna forest. Here, a patch of tree heath known as Erica sp., common to the Western world, thrives in astonishing proportions within the Bale Mountains. The Harenna forest, Ethiopia’s second-largest forest and the country’s largest cloud forest, harbors the renowned wild forest coffee and remains a haven for elusive wildlife.

To the north lies the Gaysay grasslands and the juniper woodlands, which serve as the habitat for the endangered and endemic mountain nyala, as well as numerous endemic bird species. Recognized by UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Tentative List in 2009, the Bale Mountains stand as Ethiopia’s best-kept secret. These mountains dominate the southeastern edge of the Rift Valley highlands and boast the largest expanse of Afroalpine habitat in the world. The Bale Mountains face a critical challenge: without successful conservation efforts and a shift towards sustainable resource management, more mammal species would face extinction here than in any other area of equivalent size on the planet.

Ethiopia ranks among the top 25 countries with the highest biodiversity, and the Bale Mountains claim an extraordinary concentration of endemic species. Within the park, you’ll discover 26 percent of Ethiopia’s endemic species, including a wealth of unique, endangered mammals. The avian diversity is equally captivating, with over 300 bird species calling the Bale Mountains home. Among them, six are endemic to Ethiopia and eleven are shared with neighboring Eritrea. The African Bird Club has recognized the Bale Mountains as the fourth-best birding spot in Africa.

The Bale Mountains hold supreme importance for numerous reasons. They sustain the lives of endemic and endangered species, while also providing water resources for over 12 million people and their livestock in the southeastern region of Ethiopia, northern Kenya, and Somalia. The Bale Mountains National Park offers unparalleled opportunities for mountain walking, horse trekking, and scenic drives. It grants you the privilege of encountering elusive mammals such as the mountain nyala and Ethiopian wolf, as well as remarkable birds like the wattled crane and bearded vulture.

Yet, perhaps the true allure of the Bale Mountains lies in its ability to offer an escape from the bustle of city life. Here, peace, serenity, and beauty converge, providing a sanctuary for those seeking respite in nature’s embrace.

The Ethiopian Wolf:

The Ethiopian wolf stands as the rarest canid on our planet, facing the grim reality of being Africa’s most endangered carnivore. Its closest living relatives are the grey wolves and coyotes. Originating from Eurasia, the Ethiopian wolf ancestor made its way across during the Pleistocene period, less than 100,000 years ago, when lower sea levels connected Africa and the Middle East. At that time, the highlands of Ethiopia were predominantly Afroalpine grasslands and heathlands, providing an ideal habitat for numerous small mammals, particularly grass rats and molerats. This Afroalpine environment, teeming with rodents, shaped the Ethiopian wolf’s evolution into a specialized rodent hunter, featuring an elongated muzzle, long legs, and a distinctive reddish coat adorned with white markings and a darker tail tip. Adult male Ethiopian wolves weigh between 14 and 20 kilograms, while adult females range from 11 to 16 kilograms in weight.

Ethiopian wolves are social animals that live in packs consisting of 2 to 18 individuals, which share and defend an exclusive territory. Unlike many other social carnivores, Ethiopian wolves prefer to forage and feed alone during the day. In the Bale Mountains, they are most often seen foraging or walking in the early morning and late afternoon, occasionally gathering in small groups to greet one another or mark their territory boundaries with scent. Dens are used solely during the short breeding season by pups and nursing females, while the rest of the pack sleeps in the open but contributes to protecting the den from predators and providing food for the young.

Restricted to just six isolated mountaintop areas within the Ethiopian highlands, the Ethiopian wolf faces a perilous existence. With a global population estimated to be between 400 and 520 individuals, it remains highly endangered. Consequently, legal protections have been put in place within Ethiopia to safeguard its survival, prohibiting any activities that could jeopardize its existence. The rapid expansion of cattle and crop farming poses a severe threat, as do diseases such as rabies and canine distemper transmitted from domestic dogs. Recent outbreaks of these diseases, transmitted from domestic dogs, have caused significant population declines in the Bale Mountains, where the majority of the Ethiopian wolf population resides, with only small pockets found in nearby mountain ranges.

The mountain nyala

The mountain nyala holds the distinction of being the last large ungulate to be discovered in Africa. This remarkable species is exclusively found in Ethiopia, specifically south of the Rift Valley. Once widely distributed in the southeast highlands of Ethiopia, the mountain nyala has experienced a significant decline in both range and population over the past few decades due to habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion and hunting. Presently, there are approximately 3,700 nyala remaining in the Bale Mountains, with 30 to 40 percent of them found within the boundaries of the national park. This signifies that the park is home to the majority of the population, with only small populations residing in nearby mountain ranges.

Mountain nyala possess distinctive white spots and stripes on their sides, although these markings are more prominent in males. Male nyala typically weigh between 180 and 320 kilograms, while females weigh between 150 and 200 kilograms. Mature males develop a mane of erectile hairs along their spines.

These majestic creatures are often observed in small family groups composed of females and their calves. Calves can be born throughout the year, but there is a peak in births between December and March. The calves remain with their mothers for up to two years. At around two years of age, females can conceive, and after a gestation period of approximately nine months, they give birth to a single calf. During this time, juvenile males develop secondary sexual characteristics such as horns, a dark spinal mane, and behaviors that bring them into conflict with adult males. They typically leave their family groups to join “bachelor” groups consisting of other males. Within these groups, a dominance hierarchy is established through tussles among younger males and ritualized, strutting displays among older males. The perceived size of the males increases when displaying their erectile hairs. These displays can culminate in brief, intense clashes of horns if neither male backs down. As the male nyala age, they generally become solitary.

The species inhabits a wide ecological zone, ranging from 1,800 meters to 3,750 meters in altitude. Size, color, and feeding habits exhibit slight variations corresponding to altitudinal differences. Females predominantly graze when grass is available during the wet season but switch to browsing during the dry season. In contrast, males primarily browse throughout the year. The mountain nyala’s diet includes St. John’s wort, African or wild wormwood (Artemesia afra), Gallium semensis, Hagenia abyssinica, Cape Gold (Helichrysum splendidum), Discopodium spp., and Thistle (Carduus spp.). In the absence of grass during the dry season, the mountain nyala migrate to woodlands across different altitudes in search of food. The woodland is vital for their survival as they rely on it for sustenance.

The Harenna Forest
The Harenna Forest is a dense and lush forest located in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. It covers a significant portion of the mountain range and is known for its incredible biodiversity.

Within the forest, you will find a diverse array of flora, including various species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. The canopy of the forest is thick and provides ample shade, creating a cool and serene environment. The vegetation in the Harenna Forest is incredibly diverse, thanks to its unique microclimate. This microclimate supports the growth of a wide range of plant species, contributing to the overall richness of the forest.

The Harenna Forest is also home to a variety of wildlife. Elephants, lions, and numerous bird species can be found within its boundaries. The dense vegetation and ample food sources make it an ideal habitat for these animals. Exploring the forest, you may come across unique and fascinating species that are adapted to this specific ecosystem.

Overall, the Harenna Forest of the Bale Mountains is a remarkable natural treasure. Its dense foliage, diverse plant life, and thriving wildlife make it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty of Ethiopia’s natural landscapes.

The People
The People of Bale Mountains

The Bale Mountains are the ancestral home of the Oromo, the largest, single ethnic
group in Africa. Living as pastoralists and farmers, the population grew quickly and
expanded to different corners of the country in the beginning of the 16th century.
Little is known about the Oromo people of the area and how they settled here. They
are part of the eastern Cushitic people stemming from a branch of the Caucasoid
race (which includes Western Asians, Arabs and Europeans), and are distributed from
Shoa in Ethiopia’s north, to Mombasa in Kenya to the south. Some 3,000 years ago, they passed on practices – such as the initiation ceremony of circumcision and the habit of not eating fish – to the Nilotic peoples in the West. Furthermore, they incorporated ideas of the Gada system and cattle husbandry into their own society. The Gada system is based on the principles of classifying a society into 11 functional grades, each of which has its own special roles and status. Currently, people subsist mainly on agriculture. They follow a traditional transhumance system known as the Godantu system, a key feature of traditional human use of the Bale Mountains. In this system livestock, particularly cattle, are sent to higher grazing grounds during the months when crops are growing in lower altitudes, or into the forest for shade during the dry season. However, this should not be confused with the cattle movements that are a consequence of the loss of grazing land outside of the park, thus forcing cattle into the park to graze. Bale houses are circular in shape and locally referred to as mana citaa. Juniper and sometimes eucalyptus are used to make the walls and roofs. The roof is covered with thatched grass cut from citaa (tussock grass) or stubble, specifically barley, and supported by a wooden pillar, which stands in the middle of the floor. The house is divided into portions by walls made of bamboo or mud mixed with barley or grass stubble.