Page 10 - ACT Paws and Hooves - Spring 2025
P. 10
STUDENT
STORIES
Wildlife scholar
investigates waterhole
use in African herbivores
Postgraduate student Eleanor Eleanor explored how predator
Robinson conducted a unique presence and seasonal resource
study into the anti-predation availability affected the daily
behaviours of African herbivores, activity patterns, group sizes,
made possible by a scholarship and multi-species associations
from the ACT and generous support of these herbivores.
from the Aitchison-Tait Trust. Eleanor found that smaller herbivores,
such as impala and duiker, showed Eleanor
This project, conducted as part of increased overlap in their daily activity
Eleanor’s Master’s degree in Wild patterns with predators during the Beyond the fieldwork, Eleanor gained
Animal Biology at the RVC, dry season. “In the dry season, valuable technical and professional
investigated how body size and perennial waterholes are the only skills, including analysing camera trap
season influenced the anti-predation available source of water for wildlife,” images and developing advanced
strategies of herbivores in response Eleanor explained, “Due to their statistical models.
to some of Africa’s most notorious physiology, smaller herbivores often Currently interning at the United
carnivores. The project’s findings cannot incur the costs of avoiding Nations Environment Programme
offer unique insights into how these waterholes during times of in Nairobi, Eleanor is hoping the skills
herbivores negotiate trade-offs resource scarcity. Thus, they face and knowledge she has gained
between avoiding predation a tough trade-off, seemingly through this opportunity will help her
whilst maintaining access to prioritising water and nutrient to pursue a meaningful career
essential resources for reproduction access over avoiding predation.” conserving African wildlife.
and survival. The ACT-supported research also Thanks to support from the
During a ten-week research period uncovered species-level differences Aitchison-Tait Trust, we can fund
at the Greater Makalali Private in anti-predation behaviour. Waterbuck up to two Wild Animal Research
Game Reserve in South Africa, visited waterholes in larger groups Scholarships per year. Charitable
Eleanor investigated how herbivores during the dry season, while zebra trusts and legacy gifts enable us to
responded to the fluctuating predation and impala tended to avoid support students like Eleanor and
risk surrounding waterholes – waterholes at risky times. These improve animal health and
which serve as crucial gathering variations highlight the complex conservation around the globe.
Eleanor Robinson: spots for animals in arid African strategies used by herbivores to Find out more about legacy giving
savannas. Reflecting on the survive in environments with seasonal on page 15.
variation in resource availability.
I am grateful to the ACT for experience, Eleanor said: “Observing
these wild animals in their natural
the opportunity to immerse myself habitat was so insightful, considering Zebras at the waterhole
the significant degradation
in a field which I am so passionate occurring across African savannas,
it is imperative for us to better
about. It has reinforced my passion understand how resource scarcity is
for conservation, and I am excited impacting the ecological dynamics
within these ecosystems.”
to begin a career centred around Eleanor’s study focused on four
protecting wildlife. predators – lions, leopards, spotted
hyenas and cheetahs – and their
interactions with herbivores, including
impala, wildebeest and zebra.
Through camera trap analysis,
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