Ethiopia has over 20 national parks, administered by federal or regional governments. These parks are homes for different bio-diversities and are blessings of the country as they take the lion share for the nation’s forest coverage and wildlife resource. Most wildlife is mostly found within and around the protected areas. In addition, as the home for over six thousand different species of plants, 10 percent endemic, these parks are the reserves of the country’s forest resource.
These parks are the ecological hubs helping the country to balance nature. On top of that, they are among the top tourist destinations of the country parallel to the country’s historic tourist attraction sites. As the home of different beautiful wildlife, including endemic wildlife, Ethiopia’s national parks are generating income both for the community and the nation in general. Almost all endemic wild animals including the endemic once are found within these protected national parks.
Alatish /Alitash/ National Park is among these national parks with huge ecological and biodiversity reserves. In addition to its ecological and wildlife conservation, this site is enriched in historical, cultural and traditional attractions. Established in 2005, the Alatish National Park is found in Quara Wereda of Amhara State. Currently, the park which covers 2,666 square kilometers is now under the supervision of the federal government.
The general topography of the park is flat to undulating plains, with a general slope or inclination from the south to the north, interrupted by valleys, streams, scattered hills, and seasonal wetlands. According to a recent article published at a local website, the park shares boundaries in the south with Benishangul Gumuz regional State, in the west with Sudan’s Dinder National Park, in the east with Bembaho, Gelego and Mahdid.
The park is largely covered by woodland vegetation ecosystem and the topography of the park includes valleys, streams, scattered hills and mountains including its Twin Mountains of Amdog are its special features. The park is home for different mammals, birds and other wildlife. Elephant, Greater and Lesser Kudu, Lion and Leopard are among the known mammals found in Alatish National Park and from bird species, Ostrich, Chestnut billed starling and other bird species lives within the park.
The park is home for over 30 larger mammal species and over 200 recorded bird species, though the number of bird species inhabiting the park is estimated to be more than 250. In addition, seven types of reptiles and amphibians are recorded in the park.
Alatish National Park has a variety of fauna which requires conservation. It is especially rich in reptile diversity such as African rock python, monitor lizard, cobra, black mamba and Blanding’s tree snake. It also harbors endangered and rare species of Elephant, Leopard, Lion and also the low risk but conservation dependent lesser kudu and Greater kudu. Permanent but intermittent rivers bordering the park like Aayima and Gelegu provide a huge amount of fish resources to the local communities besides being the main water sources of people and animals.
Alatish National Park is found in an arid and semi-arid ecological zone between the high mountains of the Simen in North Gondar Zone of Amhara State and the Sahel zone in Sudan. Due to this reason, the biodiversity attributes of Alatish Park are diversified and rich.
Alatish Park has its own unique features with a number of historical and cultural assets. Of these, a large Baobab tree at Omedla and the ethnic composition of the area made up of different ethnic groups with their unique cultural traditions makes the area an important tourist attraction.
In terms of tourism potential, the park has a capacity for tourism development with numerous tourist attractions. As a natural attraction, Alatish National Park has various plants, and animals such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. In its spectacular landscape, the park is more or less flat with very few scattered beautiful conical peaks. The landscape is dominated by dry woodland savanna and the riverine forest can also be potential tourist attractions.
Historically, the area is known during the Italian invasion when Emperor Haile Selassie I returned to his country after the victory over the invading army. Emperor Haile Selassie returned to Ethiopia through Sudan and spent seven days at Omedla, a place found at the edge of the park. For the Emperor’s temporary rest, a cave was prepared from a big tree, with the capacity of accommodating eight people.
The tree has entrance doors carved with the first letters of the king’s full name and a seat for a guard, according to history books. In addition to its historical values and the ecological and topography features, Alatish National Park is attractive due to the lifestyle of the population of the area and their ways of dressing styles together create a beautiful mix and hence are special attractions worth visiting.
Bordering Sudan’s Dinder National Park, Alatish National Park has a significant trans-boundary role between Ethiopia and Sudan mainly in conserving different wildlife. As a source of various rivers that drain into Sudan, the Alatish Park is the source of important tributaries of the Nile River and the water sources flowing to Sudan from the river is an important water source for the people and animals in Sudan.
COMPILED BY DARGIE KAHSAY
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 25 MAY 2022
