Water

Water is a critical link between wildlife, livestock, and human livelihood in the Ruaha Ecosystem.  Water stress due to a diminishing water supply, especially in the dry seasons, concentrates wildlife, livestock, and humans into close proximity, potentially increasing the threat of zoonotic disease transmission.  The Heath for Animals and Livelihood Improvement (HALI) Project recognizes the critical impact of water quality on health, and has developed an integrated water program to improve water quality and disease surveillance.

A Maasai child draws water from the same pond being used by livestock. (Photo by J. Brownlie)

HALI team is sampling water in the Ruaha area to detect zoonotic bacterial and protozoal pathogens, and to assess whether or not pathogen presence differs for sites used by a combination of wildlife, livestock and/or people.  Water sites are located along the Great Ruaha River and its major tributaries and vary in their degree of utilization by wildlife, livestock and people.

At each water quality measures are collected and water is collected for bacterial analysis. Fresh fecal samples within 50 m of the water are being collected for bacterial culture and parasite detection. Scat and other sign of animal presence (tracks, scrapes, and visual observation) are being recorded and used to identify what species are frequenting the area. Human utilization of the area is also assessed. This methodology allow the HALI team to determine what species are utilizing the sampling sites; what fecal pathogens are being shed by species near the water and whether or not those pathogens are present in the water itself; and pathogen presence relative to the overall quality of the water.

Elephants cross the Great Ruaha River. (Photo by M. Clifford)