East Ethiopia's Awash National Park, which attracts the greatest number of foreign tourists, is going to stop operation due to shortage of budget, the park's management said Tuesday.

Arega Mekonen, manager of the park, said the federal government had not allocated a budget for the park, adding that workers are facing problems since pastoralists in the area graze their cattle in the park.

The park had seven camps, of which four have stopped work and only three are active, Arega said.

Awash park is a haven for various wild animals like deer, rhino, wild goat, baboons, lions, birds and many other animals. However, since pastoralists now not only feed their cattle in the park but also shoot the wild animals in sight, the animals are fleeing the park, Arega explained.

Awash, a park registered in the international protection of natural heritage, has the Awash waterfall, Awash gorge, hot springs, Dumpolmo forest, Mt. Fentale and volcanoes, he said.

Awash is capable of taking care of itself and provide lots of benefits to the country. Between 1996 and 2006 the park had been a source of over 40 million birr (US$4.6 million) income, according to Arega.

Itu and Kereyu pastoralist tribes from Oromia state do not have pasture land and water and therefore keep their cattle in the park. The Oromia state said it would develop the land and settle the pastoralists, he said.

There are 34 guards in seven camps. But since this is not enough Arega called upon the federal government to provide a lasting solution to the problem.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2006)