Tropical Africa has greater mammalian diversity than any other area of the world 1. This region supports most of the mammalian fauna 23. Fifteen per cent of large mammalian species distribution and abundance are found in most forest and savannah regions in Africa and it is of the utmost importance to protect them for the role they play in the ecosystem 4.

Ethiopia is one of the countries found in the eastern horn of Africa5. which is endowed with spectacular landscape and topography from which diverse habitats and associated flora and fauna are found 67. Unique resources of wildlife, scenic beauties and diverse culture immersed in a long history have been visited since long ago 7. Geographically, stratified into several ecological units, the associated diversity in climate and the varieties of ecosystems have rendered the country has a diverse, rare, unique and endemic species of wildlife 8. In the near past, these wild animals (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish) were abundant in a bewildering variety, but currently in a declining state due to anthropogenic pressures 679. The country is also rich in its faunal diversity 10. The Ethiopian mammal fauna consists of 326 species, under 144 genera, 43 families and 14 orders 1011. The number of mammals in Ethiopia is much higher than in other African countries 12.

Mammals are mainly concentrated in the southern parts and southwest border and adjacent areas of the country 12. The mountain massifs in the north and centre parts are also home to many endemic species of mammals, particularly the Ethiopia wolf (Canis simensis), Gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada), Menelik’s bushbuck (Tragelaphus scripus Meneliki), Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni), Starch’s hare (Lepus Starcki) ,Swayne’s, hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), Bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) and Waliai Ibex (Capra walie) 111213. Evan et al., 2020). The Ethiopian wild fauna are comprised of 326 mammals, 918 birds, 240 reptiles, 200 fish, 71 amphibians and 1,225 arthropods (324 butterflies) (EWCA, 2020). Of these; 177 (57 small to large mammals, 19 birds, 25 reptiles, 30 amphibians, 41 fresh-water fishes, and 7 arthropod species) are endemic species, which results in the countries’ status as a global biodiversity hotspot 71011.

The main challenges of mammals in the protected areas of the country include overgrazing and encroachment from pastoral people, shifting cultivation and permanent agriculture, human settlements, increased demand and extraction of fuelwood, wood logging, construction materials, uncontrolled fires, illegal poaching and hunting, charcoal burning, illegal fishing and extraction of other natural resources 71415 The invasive plant species and native plant species encroachment are also new agenda threat to extinction of mammalian specie and their habitat 16 . The loss of forests and protected areas are underpinned by population growth, unsustainable natural resource management, poor enforcement of existing legislation, uncertain land tenure, the impact of climate change and very low public awareness of the importance of biodiversity 1718. The objectives of the study are therefore as follows; develop distribution map of diurnal large mammals and identify major threats to diurnal large mammals in the study area. Therefore, the present study would have highly valuable to provide the baseline information about the current status and effective conservation approaches.

During the present investigation, a total of 20 diurnal large mammalian species were identified and recorded in the Bayo community managed forest in both the dry and wet seasons. In the survey, all of these species were recorded within the randomly selected sampling habitats of the two major habitat types.

Species composition was assessed based on season and habitat types. Accordingly, 19 and 20 species were recorded during wet and dry seasons, respectively. Hence, seasonal variation in the number of species of mammals was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.024, df= 1, p>0.05) (Table 4). On a habitat basis, more number species (n= 17, wet season; n=18, dry season) was recorded in wooded grassland habitat than forestland (n= 10, wet season; n=14, dry season). DE Brazza’s monkey and Giant forest Hog were recorded only from forestland whereas Patas monkey (Erytherocebus patas), Lesser kudu (Traglaphus imberbis), Guenther's Dik-dik (Medagua guentheri), Defassa waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defessa), Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) and Ground pangolin (Phataginus temminckii smutus) were recorded only in wooded grassland habitat Table 3 (Table 4 and Figure 7, Figure 8 ).

In terms of number of mammalian species identified, the study area comprises relatively lower and higher number of species as compared to other similar studies in the country. For instance, lower records include 10 species in Geremba Mountain Fragments community-managed area, Southern Ethiopia 30; 12 species in Mengaza communal forest, East Gojjam31; 19 species in Michole Community Protected Forest, Southern Ethiopia 4, and 19 species in Wondo Genet Forest Patches 23. On the other hand, higher record include 27 species in Adaba Community Forest, West Arsi Zone, Southeast Ethiopia 32, and 22 species in Fragmented Remnant Forests around Asella Town, Ethiopia 33 In general, high reproductive success, adaptability to different habitats, diversified foraging behaviour, food source availability and high tolerance level to anthropogenic disturbances might attribute to high species richness in the study area3234.

The present study show the highest number of mammals was recorded in forest than wooded grassland habitat in the study area. The species richness was highest in wooded grassland (17) compared to forestland (10) in the wet season, while as wooded grassland (18) compared to forestland (14) in dry season respectively. This study similar to Mammalian distribution was higher number in forestland than wooded grassland in Tululujia Wildlife Reserve, Southwestern Ethiopia 35, The distributed in the wooded grassland highest than forest land in the Nech Sar National Park, Ethiopia 36. others hands different species distribution is higher in the natural moist Afro montane forest than Modified Afro montane forest and wooded grassland in Nensebo Forest, Southern Ethiopia 37. The highest species number recorded in the natural forest habitat during the dry season than Wooded grassland and agro forestry land in Wondo Genet Forest Patches 23. Different study Higher numbers of mammals distributed in the bushland area, followed by open grassland, riverine forest in Humbo Community-Based Forest Area, Southern Ethiopia 34.High numbers species in the wooded grassland might be due to relatively better vegetation diversity in the study area. 38suggest that high numbers of species in vegetation supports a high numers of mammalian species

Poaching, grazing, human-induced fire, fuelwood extraction, population growth, habitat change, overharvesting, and invasive species were the major threats to BCMF. Although only 31.25% of respondents agreed on the occurrence of illegal hunting in the study area, the presence of animal products such as horns and skin in many houses of households might indicate a higher level of poaching in the area. According to some respondents the area used to host Elephants (Loxodonta African) six decades ago but now it locally disappeared. The FGD revealed that large antelopes are the most preferred targets of poaching. Similar results were reported from earlier studies such as n Echefa Forest and Wetland (Proposed In-situ Conservation Site) 3940, Wabe forest fragments, Gurage zone 41; and in Harenna Forest, South East Ethiopia 42. Human- induced fire is also commonly practised in the forest by Muri, Bodi, Banchi, Dime and Konso ethnic groups to get new fresh grass and reduce bush encroachment. The practice of human-induced fire in protected areas was also reported by 43 in and Around Jer Silase Monastry in Amhara Region. Although grazing in the forest is less frequent, local communities in the study area harvest grasses based on the consent of the local community leader. This similar in Mengaza communal forest, East Gojjam 31 and in Geremba Mountain Fragments, Southern Ethiopia 30. This contradicts the finding of 43 around Jer Silase Monastry in Amhara Region, and Harenna Forest, South East Ethiopia 44 is highly practiced.

Invasive plant species encroachment is a major threat to the extinction of mammalian species, and very common agenda in worldwide 4546. In most of the Ethiopian protected areas invasiveness and encroachment of unpalatable plant species is increasing from time to time 1647. Invasive plant species that occurred in the study area include parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorous), mesquite trees (Prosopis juliflora), lantana weed (Lantana Camara). These species are reported in different protected areas of the country 4849

In the study area, there is the human-wildlife conflict that causes crop damage, livestock depredation and threatening to human life. However, crop damage was the most pronounced problem in the study area. Crop damage was reported as the most serious problem of human-wildlife conflict in many earlier studies 50515354

Respondents' positive attitude towards BCMF indicates the occurrence of better awareness about forest conservation as well as the proper realization of the benefits obtained from the forest. In general, due to the recent awareness creation made by REDD+, threats in BCMF is decreasing. Studies at Choke mountain forest 55, Harenna Forest 44, and in Menz-Gera Midir District, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia 56 and 51 reported a similar result to the present finding.

The occurrence of 20 mammalian species that belong to six orders and eight families indicates that BCMF is an important area that harbours diverse mammalian species. Thus, it is very important to sustain the existence of these species by strengthening the conservation approach practised in the area. Significant difference in species composition was observed between habitat types. Hence, the highest species richness was recorded in the wooded grassland whereas the lowest was in forestland. Therefore, this indicates habitat type determined the distribution of some species. On the other hand, seasonal variation in the number of mammals was not statistically significant. Thus, the season was not a factor to determine species richness in the study area.

In the study area, there are anthropogenic threats on wild animals such as poaching, human-induced fire, grazing, habitat modification, population growth and so on. On the other side, crop damage, livestock depredation and threatening to human life are the negative values of wildlife in the study area. However, due to the recent awareness creation made by REDD+, the local community has developed a positive attitude towards wild animals in the study area.

Based on the findings of the present study, the following recommendations are forwarded

Illegal activities such as poaching, fuel wood collection and grass cutting in the Bayo community managed forest should be controlled, developing awareness of the community and respective role of them & other stakeholders ;

Other ecological aspects such as feeding ecology, diurnal activity pattern and behavioral ecology should be studied in order to obtain better understanding about mammals in the study area;

As BCMF is endowed with high biodiversity, survey on small mammals, avians, and carnivores species should also be encouraged;

The local government should promote the study area and provide appropriate support towards it conservation.