Alitash National Park

Alitash National Park, also called Alatish or Alatash National Park,[2] is a national park in North Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. It is adjacent to Sudan's Dinder National Park. The national park was founded in 2006. It derives its name from the Alatash River that has its source in the park and flows to Sudan.[3]

Alitash National Park
Map showing the location of Alitash National Park
Map showing the location of Alitash National Park
Location in Ethiopia
LocationNorth Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Coordinates12°13′20″N 35°28′10″E
Area2,665.7 km2 (1,029.2 sq mi)
Established2006
Governing bodyEthiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA)

Geography

Alatish National Park is located 1080 km northwest of Addis Ababa.[4] It covers an area of 266,570 ha composed of lowland woodlands. The landscape is flat with elevation ranging from 520 meters to 920 meters above sea level.[5] The area of the park contains mountainous river valleys, open grasslands, deciduous woodlands, and scattered hills along with seasonal rivers. The Twin Mountains of Amadog are a special feature in the southwestern corner of the park. [6]The woodlands of Alatish National Park became a suitable habitat for multiple species of birds.[7][8]

Wildlife

Flora

Alitash National Park encompasses seasonal wetlands, riverine ecosystems, wooded grasslands, and diverse woodlands.[8]

Fauna

Alitash National Park hosts 37 mammal species including African elephant, leopard, greater kudu and lesser kudu. Seven species of reptiles include Egyptian cobra, black mamba, Nile monitor and rock python are found within the ecosystem.[8]

In 2016, a population of about 200 lions was discovered in the protected area that is thought to be of Central African origin.[9][10][11]

The 204 bird species present in Alitash National Park include parrots, eagles, plovers, herons, egrets, ibises, buzzards, vultures and cormorants, which are widespread in seasonal woodland areas.[12]

References
  1. UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Alitash from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 27 February 2022.
  2. "Protected Wildlife Areas of Ethiopia". Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016.
  3. "Alatash National Park". 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  4. Berhanu, Assefa & Agitew, Genanew & Abate, Kibrom. (2017). IMPACTS AND PROSPECTS OF ALATISH NATIONAL PARK FOR LOCAL LIVELIHOODS SUSTAINABILITY; NORTH WESTERN, ETHIOPIA. 6. 2250-3994.
  5. "Alatash National Park". 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  6. "Alatash National Park". 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  7. Mengesha, Girma & Bekele, Afework. (2008). Diversity and Relative Abundance of Birds of Alatish National Park, North Gondar, Ethiopia. 34.
  8. Kassegn, B. & Teshome, E. (2018). Opportunities and Challenges for Wildlife Conservation: The Case of Alatish National Park, Northwest Ethiopia. 7. 1–13.
  9. "Lions rediscovered in Ethiopia's Alatash National Park". BBC News. 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  10. "Hidden population of up to 200 lions found in remote Ethiopia". New Scientist. 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  11. Brian Clark Howard (2016). "Once Thought Extinct, 'Lost' Group of Lions Discovered in Africa". National Geographic. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  12. Tesfahun, T. & Ejigu, D. (2022). "Avian communities of Alatish National Park, Ethiopia". International Journal of Zoology: 4108081. doi:10.1155/2022/4108081.


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