Animals of the Okavango Delta Trivia Quiz

Answer:

The daily activities of the African elephant literally change the physical shape of the Okavango Delta. The very act of moving their large bodies through the area creates a unique network of water channels. This also changes and creates the flow of water which helps keep the landscape from being choked with silt. By knocking down large trees to reach the upper leaves, the elephants open up the canopy. This allows sunlight to reach the ground, promoting the growth of grasses that support grazing animals like zebras and wildebeests. During the dry season, they use their powerful trunks and tusks to dig deep into dry riverbeds to reach underground springs.

Hippos follow the same underwater paths every night as they move from deep lagoons to their grazing grounds on the islands. These "hippo trails" act as deep water canals. Their dung provides a massive influx of nitrogen and phosphorus into the water, which fuels the growth of algae and microscopic organisms that form the base of the area's food chain. Also, the deep pools hippos stir up provide refuge for various fish species, particularly during the low-water season when smaller ponds might otherwise dry up or overheat. The sitatunga is often called the "ghost of the delta" because it is the most elusive and specialized antelope in Africa. It actually lives in the water, utilizing things such as snowshoe-like hooves, a waterproof coat, and a nose that can act like a snorkel.

Because they must traverse deep channels and hunt in thick mud, the lions of the delta have developed significantly more muscular forequarters and broader shoulders than their savannah-dwelling cousins. They use water to their advantage, driving large animals like the Cape buffalo into the mud to be mired and hunted. Wild dogs are endurance hunters. These endangered animals chase prey across the floodplains until the animal tires. This helps them maintain the growing population of antelope and other prey. Though they are excellent hunters themselves, hyenas eat the carcasses of dead animals which prevents the spread of disease.

With over 440 recorded species, birds are the Okavango Delta's most diverse group of animals. The African fish eagle, a raptor nesting high in the trees, requires a healthy fish population to thrive. The ginger-colored Pel's fishing owl is one of the few owls in the world that specializes in fishing while also balancing the population of surface-dwelling fish and frogs. Nearly 80% of the world's population of the slaty egret water bird lives in the delta. They prefer to forage in shallow waters alongside antelope. As the larger animals move through the water, they disturb small fish and insects, which the egrets then snap up. The Malachite kingfisher excavates long tunnels into the riverbanks which helps aerate the area. The jacanas use loud, screeching calls to warn other animals that a predator is approaching.