Management of water for wildlife

Water requirement depend on: ambient air temperature, solar & thermal radiation, metabolic rate, forage intake, amount & distribution of activity, physiological/behavioral/anatomical/ morphological adaptation (e.g. Black buck, chinkara-increase body temperature) and brain resistance to heat stroke

Sources of water

1. Free water: river, stream, melted ice
2. Preformed: in food
3. Metabolic water: formed in body as a result of oxidation of organic compound that contain H2
4. Addition of water: water holes (common for arid areas)
5. Mitigate the loss of naturally occurring water: check dams, anicut, water harvesting structures, treatment of water catchment

Trade off strategy for water management

1. Diversion- water course
2. One side protected intact from livestock
3. Specify time-to use by livestock : mgmt strategies)
4. Supply water stored at difficult terrain to other convenient place

Approach towards water development

1. Compensatory development: new construction
2. Ameliorative management: make better