Data from: Some of supporting data for attitude of respondents towards wildlife conservation

The study was conducted between September 2018 and March 2019 to
investigate the nature and extent of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in the
surrounding area of Alage College, the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia and
to assess the perception of the local people to wildlife. For data
collection, a total of 140 household heads were selected randomly for
interviews from nine villages using structured and semi-structured
questionnaires. Moreover, focus group discussion, key informant
interviews, and personal observation were carried out to obtain additional
information. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test (2 tailed), one-way
ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Likert scale statements were
used to analyze the data. Based on, 66 (47.1%) of the respondents,
households heads, the local people of the area experienced livestock
predation leading to HWC. Whereas, (40.7%, n=57) of the respondents
perceived both crop damage and livestock predation as a cause of conflict.
A total of 932.43 Total Livestock Unit (TLU) of livestock and 218 dogs’
losses were reported by households due to predators over the last five
years. Thus, the largest numbers of livestock (89.9%) and dogs (100%)
attacks was happened due to spotted hyenas. Nearly half of the respondents
(49.3%, n = 69) ranked warthogs as the primary crop raiders, while the
majority of respondents (82.1%, n = 115) reported maize as a severely
damaged cereal crop. More than half, (57.1%, n=80) of respondents used
different methods simultaneously to minimize damage caused by wild
animals. About half, (48.6%, n=68) of respondents had negative attitude
towards wildlife conservation. The level of education and amount of money
imposed as a penalty for illegal grazing were affecting the local
community's attitudes to wildlife conservation. Using effective
methods reduce damage and loss to crop including, improved livestock
husbandry, and creating better awareness to the local community could make
the locals actor of conservation.