Provision of water to wildlife is critical during drought periods in Protected Areas (PA). The objectives of the study were to: (i) assess the distribution of artificial and natural water sources, (ii) assess if there is any relation between borehole depths and borehole water yields, and (iii) assess rainfall trends in relation to borehole yields in Mid Zambezi Protected Area (PA). A combination of remote sensing, water divining, borehole drilling, and visual observations was used to collect data in four PAs in Mid Zambezi in November 2019. Drilled boreholes had mean depths of 74 metres. There were no significant differences in borehole depths and boreholes water yield, Borehole depth: (Kruskal-Wallis χ 2 test = 10,8, df = 9, p > 0.05) and borehole water yield Kruskal-Wallis χ 2 test = 7,3, df = 11, p > 0.05). A negative correlation was recorded between the boreholes depth and borehole water yields (r = −0.32, n = 18, p < 0.05). The gradual decline in rainfall in the Zambezi valley was ascertained to be related to low borehole water yields and increased borehole depths in some PA. The study recommends another study on the perceived negative impacts of artificial water sources in the wildlife ecosystem.

Wildlife hosts many pathogens of economic importance and is considered as a reservoir of important tick-borne diseases of livestock in southern Africa. The species composition of ticks parasitizing buffalo (Syncerus caffer), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and elephant (Loxodonta africana) was investigated in five protected parks in the Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe. A total of 1104 adult ticks was collected from 75 adult animals comprising five buffaloes, five elephants and five impalas drawn from five protected wildlife parks. Five tick species belonging to two genera were recovered, with Rhipicephalus decoloratus being the most prevalent species in all the three animal groups. Amblyomma hebraeum was only recovered from buffaloes whereas Rhipicephalus zambeziensis was recovered from buffalos and elephants. Significant differences in mean tick species distribution and concentration were observed amongst the wildlife parks and these appeared to be influenced by the number of hosts in each park. The study revealed that buffaloes are the major host of R. decoloratus in the Zambezi valley. The presence of these ixodid ticks within the Zambezi valley may have significant ecological and economic impacts on wildlife conservation, domestic animals and human health.

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Background and Research Aims Globally, concerns over a decline in insect pollinator abundance have been raised. Although bees were noted to be key pollinating agents for approximately 52 of the leading 115 global food commodities, they are currently exposed to risks ranging from a variety of diseases and environmental threats emanating from changes in land use, farming practices and climate change. The study reviewed the habitat and distribution of common stingless bees and honeybees species in African savanna ecosystems. The review focused mainly on (i) profiling stingless bee and honeybee species, habitat and distribution within African savanna ecosystems and (ii) assessing factors affecting stingless bees and honeybees in habitat selection within the savanna ecosystem. Methods A meta-synthesis of existing literature with a qualitative orientation was used for the review process and 90 published documents were consulted between 1970 and 2021. Results The review findings indicated that there are 19 stingless bee species and 13 subspecies of Apis mellifera found in Africa. The A. mellifera scutellata and A. mellifera adansonii were reported to be widely distributed across the African savanna ecosystem. Conclusion The migration and swarming of bees play a pivotal role in the general stingless bees and honey bees distribution within the savanna ecosystem. Implications for Conservation The persistence of stingless bees and honeybees within savanna ecosystems depends on the adoption of the best conservation policies derived from economic and ecological services associated with bee conservation.