Utilization of waterholes in Tsavo National Park (East)

Abstract

SummaryUtilization of waterholes by wildlife was studied between April, 1973 and July, 1974 in Tsavo National Park (East), south of the Voi river. Seasonality was an important factor which influenced the various aspects of waterhole utilization. The numbers of the herbivores utilizing the waterholes increased during the dry season but fell during the rains. Some ungulates also moved near to the artificial waterholes in the dry season but moved away from them during the rains when they drank from natural water‐holes formed in clay pans filled with rain water.A basic pattern of waterhole utilization dominated by small (adult‐size) species during day‐time 06.00–18.00 hours and larger species at night 18.00–06.00 hours is described. The separation in times of arrival and deparature peaks of waterhole utilization, and average coincidence of percentages of paired species populations are used to show that big‐game attained a measure of time‐spaced ecological separation at the waterholes.The water relations of some day‐time and night‐time drinkers are discussed. From the baseline study the management implications of the development of additional waterholes in the park are discussed.