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The Flood (Full Episode) | SPECIAL

National Geographic・18 minutes read

The Okavango Delta in the Kalahari transforms annually from a dry landscape to a thriving wildlife haven, with predators like cheetahs and leopards hunting for survival. The flood season brings life to the Delta, attracting grazers, insects, and various bird species, while the drying up of the land creates opportunities for lions to return for food.

Insights

  • The annual flood in the Okavango Delta brings a surge of life, attracting a diverse range of species and transforming the landscape into a flourishing wetland teeming with wildlife.
  • The drying up of the Okavango Delta leads to a shift in the ecosystem, with predators like lions returning to the area due to the abundance of food sources, showcasing the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the environment.

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Recent questions

  • What is the largest sand expanse globally?

    Kalahari

  • How do cheetahs hunt for survival?

    Speed and agility

  • What challenges do predators face during the flood season?

    Hunting opportunities

  • What happens to the Okavango Delta during the dry season?

    Rejuvenated by distant rainfall

  • What animals thrive in the Okavango Delta during the flood season?

    Crocodiles and elephants

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Kalahari's Flood Season: Wildlife Survival and Abundance

  • The Kalahari is the largest sand expanse globally, with the Okavango Delta at its center.
  • Annually, distant rainfall rejuvenates the Okavango Delta during its driest period, creating a wildlife haven.
  • During the dry season, a cheetah mother hunts to feed her three dependent cubs.
  • The cheetah's hunting skills are crucial for survival, relying on speed and agility.
  • The flood season brings challenges for predators like leopards, who wait for the right moment to hunt.
  • The flood season sees the emergence of kagelia trees, attracting vervet monkeys and Impalas.
  • The flood transforms the landscape, drawing grazers back to the delta for sustenance.
  • The flood season poses challenges for buffalo herds, with lions attempting to prey on vulnerable calves.
  • The flood's arrival brings a surge of life, with insects emerging and feeding on the abundance.
  • The flood's peak inundates the land, creating a vast wetland teeming with life, including crocodiles and elephants.

01:03:48

"Okavango Delta Dries Up, Lions Return"

  • The internal tensions among the residents lead to the need for relocation to find a safer place to live.
  • The drying Okavango Delta exposes hidden treasures like rich breeding grounds for aquatic life.
  • Various bird species, like foreign build storks and black egrets, take advantage of the exposed floodplains for feeding.
  • The African skimmers with extended lower beaks thrive in the drying channels, catching small fish for their young.
  • As the Okavango Delta dries up, the land transforms into a savannah, attracting lions back to the area for abundant food sources.
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