Wildlife hazards at Airports. Wildlife and the Aviation Industry in Ethiopia

Master's Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Environmental Sciences, grade: 3.71, Addis Ababa University (Developmental studies), course: Disaster and risk management, language: English, abstract: The study aimed to assess the effects of wildlife hazards at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Monitoring wildlife numbers and other wild animals, activity pattern and abundance within the study area generates a complimentary source of data, which is more suited for developing efficient hazard management mechanisms. Different wildlife's commonly causes damage to aviation industry around the world. The study findings recorded about 70 species of wildlife including plants during the study period. The study results illustrated that some of the wildlife animals either living in or visiting the airport have often caused threats to aircraft operation in the airport directly or indirectly. Only between 2014 and 2018, 416 strikes were reported at the airport. The total amount of cost due to wildlife strike for the last six years was estimated at 4, 768,310.00 USD. Thus, it is recommended that Addis Ababa Bole International Airport should establish proactive systematic approach to deal with wildlife hazard than reactive or traditional approach.