Title
Wildlife water utilization and importance of artificial waterholes during dry season at Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Author(s)
Epaphras, A.M.; Gereta, E.; Lejora, I.A.; Ole Meing'ataki, G.E.; Ng'umbi, G.; Kiwango, Y.; Mwangomo, E.; Semanini, F.; Vitalis, L.; Balozi, J.; Mtahiko, M.G.G.
Published
2007
Publisher
Wetlands Ecology and Management
Abstract
Provision of water to wildlife is crucial during dry season along the Great Ruaha River (GRR) in Ruaha National Park due to mismanagement of water resources upstream. This paper shows that wildlife in the dry areas of the park utilizes effectively the water from natural and artificial waterholes dug in the sandy riverbed of the GRR. Artificial water holes help alleviate the effects of artificial water shortage in the river, and because the location of the artificial water holes varies annually, the impact on the vegetation of aggregating herbivores around water holes was minimized. Water quality was comparable in natural and artificial water holes, and was the highest in holes dug by elephants in the sandy river bed. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Keywords
Artificial waterhole; Environmental degradation; Water availability; Waterhole significance; Wildlife water use
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PUB12009