WIL DL IFE H A BI TAT A N D CA RRY IN G C APA CIT Y

by
Godwell Ole Meingat aki
SP
ANEST PRO JECT CO ORD INA
TO R
IRI NG A
Email: olemeingat aki@gmail.com

Review

What is wildlife management?

What is wildlife conservation?
History of Wildlife Management
Describe the values of wildlife.

Wildlife conservation VS Wildlife management?

Wildlife Conservation

The wise use of natural resources in

our environment.
Wildlife Management

Is the application of scientific knowledge

and technical skills to protect, conserve,
enhance, limit or create the wildlife habitat.

Wildlife Conservation is divided in 4 parts.

i. Educationlearning

how to conserve wildlife and its

resources (History and Culture, Public policy, Legislations) etc
ii.Researchusing science to better understand the needs and
requirements of wildlife and its habitat.( animal population,
interactions, environment, diseases etc)
iii. Law Enforcementensures that all laws related to wildlife
are followed.
iv.Wildlife Management Habitat manipulation and population
manipulation to achieve a positive goal.

Conclusion: Wildlife Management is part and parcel of

Wildlife Conservation.

Wildlife habitat and Carrying

Capacity

Species range:

A maximum geographic area in

which a species could occur.

The suitable habitat is not usually

considered.eg. Wildebeest and Zebra
geographical area in East Africa.
Range are smaller than usually
indicated on maps because of barriers,
mountains rift valley, lakes etc

Habitat

Is a space or environment or an environment

in which a particular species is suitable to
live.
Is an area or areas within a species range. A
habitat is characterized by a community of
biotic organisms. The biotic community
involves the association of plants and
animals. e.g miombo woodlands; common
trees : Brachystegia- Julbernadia and
Combretum spp. Miombo wild animals; Sable
Antelope, Greater Kudu

Essential Habitat
requirements

Food
Water
Cover and Shelter

These essential habitat requirements are

important for survival ( welfare factors)

FOOD

A habitat has to provide the necessary

- Quantity
- Quality
- Type of food
Cater for se-age classes and
physiological status of animals

Animals differs in nutritional

requirements due to

Sexual dimorphism( Physical structure)

Reproduction status e.g. pregnancy and
lactation
Growth and development especially
young ones
Development of secondary sexual
characteristics e.g. horns, special
feathers

COVER AND OR SHELTER

Cover:
Any structural resource of the environment that
enhances reproduction and or survival of animals
by providing any of the natural functions of the
species. E.g. water, ,cliff vegetation
Shelter:
Any structural resource that provides protection
of animal from weather conditions such as wind,
sun, rain

A habitat must provide different types of

cover, including;
Feeding cover,
Escape cover
Breeding cover
Nesting cover e.g. birds, crocodiles hid their
eggs, some birds make nests at end the
branch where animals/birds cannot reach
their nests.

Brooding cover- a place where

birds/animals can grow up the place must
have enough Water, air, light
Roosting a place where birds and animals
sleep. E.g. baboon, marabou storks,
monkeys.
Cover requirements vary between species
and within species. E.g. sex age, classes
just in manner as food requirement varies.

WATER

A Dietary need for many chemical and physical

processes in animals. (about 75-80%) of human
bodies.
A requirement for evaporative cooling in hot
environments
An essential component of wildlife habitat.
Amount of water needed by animals depends on
the type of species e.g.. Buffaloes needs large
amount of water and drinks water every day,
likewise zebras, Rhinos, etc
Therefore these animals are found near the places
where there is a source of water.

Some animals live in water and during

night they come out e.g. hippopotamus
Some animals like Oryx, eland, and
gazelles need less amount of water and
are found in dry areas. Most of their
water is obtained from grasses which
they feed on.
In any wildlife habitat an ample amount
of water must be available and should be
well distributed

 Water

can be a limiting and critical factor

for animals in the habitat, because animals
cannot survive in a habitat which has no
water.
Generally the quality, quantity and
interspersion of the habitat requirements
will determine the number and animals that
can be sustained in a particular habitat

CARRYING CAPACITY

The number of animals that can be supported or

sustained in a particular habitat is called
Carrying Capacity.

The number and quality of animals of a given

species that a habitat can support at a given
time interval without detrimental impacts on the
habitat.

**Definitions depends on the objectives of keeping

the animals in the area

Economic or optimum carrying capacity

A level where individuals in a population have

available resources needed for existence
Individuals approach maximum size with good
health and therefore have high productivity
This C.C is lower than the maximum carrying
capacity
Applicable mainly in livestock where the
maximum sustained production of meat, milk
etc is the main objective- ( economic carrying
capacity- aims at maximum economic returns).

Maximum Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals that can be

supported by the resources of an area at a bare
survival level or subsistence level
In wildlife management the term ecological or
environmental carrying capacity is used because of
the factors of environment operate on the populations
It is applicable in areas where animals are
harvested/hunted
At this level, there is just enough resource for an
individuals But the resources are not enough for
maximum body growth, vigour and good health.

EFFECTS OF EXCEEDING CARRYING

CAPACITY
1.

2.

3.
4.

5.

Decline in the general health of the

animals because of insufficient resources
to sustain life
There will be over grazing and
overbrowning
Soil erosion
Change in floristic and or vegetation
composition- long term effect
Population crash Death of animals due to
lack of enough food, effect of diseases, the
population tend to fluctuate to a point
below the carrying capacity.