The Desperate Search for Water in the Desert
In The Desperate Search for Water in the Desert, narrator Sir David Attenborough details the race for survival in one of the harshest environments on Earth. A mother elephant and her calf, separated from their herd by a dust storm, press on toward a life-giving river delta. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: What causes so many animals to make this difficult trek (i.e., what are they leaving and what are they seeking)?
A: It is the dry season in southern Africa, so they have to walk to the swamps of the Okavango Delta where there is water.
Q: What makes dust storms so dangerous to animals?
A: It can cause them to lose their way in search of water; it can cause them to become separated from their herd and more vulnerable to predators.
Q: What might happen if Earth’s deserts continue to grow every year?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may suggest that the migration to water will become too great for some animals and they’ll die out.
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