Artificial waterhole type selection data for elephant and rhino

Artificial water provisioning occurs in southern African nature reserves,
with different game species preferring specific waterhole types. Movement
patterns and behaviour of elephant and rhino are associated with water
availability. These mega-herbivores affect the environment and species
they encounter, especially at waterholes which are focal points for
congregation and interaction. Understanding artificial waterhole type
preferences is important, particularly during times of water shortage,
allowing managers to manipulate numbers and types of waterholes. This
study investigates elephant and rhino use of waterholes in the Olifants
West Nature Reserve, South Africa. Waterhole types in the study area are
earth dams, concrete pans, reservoirs and troughs. Visitation frequency,
proportion of visits, time visited, and variables affecting frequency of
visits were investigated using camera traps. Findings indicated that
elephants preferred reservoirs, black rhino preferred earth dams, and
white rhino preferred troughs. Different social groupings had distinct
preferences for different waterhole types. Elephant breeding herds
preferred reservoirs, while bachelor groups avoided them and preferred
earth dams. Black and white rhino bachelor groups preferred troughs, and
cows and bull-and-cow groups preferred earth dams. Data from this study
will facilitate implementation of efficient conservation plans for
existing areas containing the study species, and for potential release
sites.   artificial waterhole use