Is the reduction of the water provisioning program accomplishing desired goals?: The influence of waterhole closure near Shingwedzi on small mammal diversity

Given the detrimental effects of the artificial watering program in the Kruger
National Park, a number of artificial watering points have been closed. This study
examined the effect of waterhole closures in the Shingwedzi area on rodent populations
through live trapping methods, with particular attention paid to abundance, richness, and
diversity. In contrast to similar studies conducted near Punda Maria, we did not find a
significant difference between the populations around closed versus open waterholes. As
rodents can be used as environmental indicators, this suggests that closure of waterholes
alone is not enough to improve the biodiversity of these disturbed sites. Further studies
should consider seasonality, as this was a winter assessment.