Danger on the Mara River
In Danger on the Mara River, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how animals flock to the slow-moving muddy waters of the Mara River in East Africa. The wildebeest are there in search of fresh water; the crocodiles are there for the wildebeest! This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: How does the landscape impact the river?
A: As the land flattens, rivers slow down and lose their destructive power.
Q: What draws animals to the Mara River?
A: For wildebeest, it is a vital source of drinking water; for crocodiles, they know the wildebeest are coming, and they want to hunt them.
Q: What do you predict will happen next?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may predict that the crocodiles will attack, and most wildebeest will get away, but the slow young, injured, or old might get eaten.