trekking and viewpoint of three lakes, including Langano. Lake Chitu, a small blue-green saline lake, is found south of Lake Shalla which was covered in Blue-green algae. Wildlife Flora The habitat of Abijatta-Shalla National Park contains open grasslands, dry savannas, arid shrublands, and deciduous woodland that were dominated by Acacia trees, which include umbrella thorn acacias, red acacias, gum acacias, Acacia etibicas, Egyptian balsams or Bedenas, and sycamore figs. Fauna Mammals Abijatta-Shalla National Park is home to 76 species of mammals which includes Grant’s gazelles, Bohor Reedbucks, Oribis, Common Warthogs, Greater Kudus, Caracals, Honey badgers, Colobus monkeys, Aardvarks, Spotted Hyenas, Greater kudus, klipspringers, porcupines, Olive baboons, and Black-backed Jackals. Other species that were abundant in Abijatta-Shalla National Park, such as lions, giraffes, waterbucks, buffalos, and Swayne's hartebeests, were locally extirpated due to hunting or possibly habitat loss. Other mammalian species that are endemic to this park include Scott’s hairy bat (myotis Scotti), white-toothed shrew (crocidura phaeura), Mahomet’s mouse (mus Mahomet), Ethiopian white-footed mouse (Stenocephalemys albipes), Ethiopian grass rat (arvicanthis abyssinicus), and Harrington’s scrub rat (Desmomys Harringtoni). Avifauna The park is also home to 300 species of birds that are listed as endemics, residents, and migratory. Common Ostriches and Somali Ostriches are mostly common for their breeding. Greater flamingoes and Lesser flamingoes commonly thrived on Abijatta, Chitu, and Shalla for algae-feeding and breeding areas. Great white pelicans only settled on Lake Shalla which also serves as both a breeding site and a feeding ground along with several species of storks, herons, egrets, plovers, and cormorants. Other bird species such as parrots, ducks, eagles, owls, hornbills, barbets, bee-eaters, and pigeons are also flourish within these scrublands. Wattled Ibis and Yellow-fronted Parrot are the only know endemic species known in Ethiopia. Black-winged lovebird, White-winged cliff chat, and Abyssinian Black-headed oriole are near-endemic species found within the park's habitat. See also List of national parks of Ethiopia References External links World Database on Protected Areas factsheet on Abijatta-Shalla National Park Abijatta-Shalla National Park avibase National parks of Ethiopia Protected areas of Oromia Region Ethiopian Highlands Important Bird Areas of Ethiopia