Botswana’s zebra migration: Africa’s longest mammal migration
Written by Ayo Gospodinova
Ancient migration routes are again being followed, as fences come down and zebras take the paths once followed by their ancestors.
If you visit Botswana’s Nxai Pan National Park during the dry season, when the arid landscape is as dry as a bone, it might be difficult to imagine that this region once witnessed the seasonal migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras that visit in search of lush, nutritious grazing. During the rainy season, the Nxai Pan transforms into a green paradise, with pools of standing water and lush grass and herbs as far as the eye can see.
Research has now shown that this seasonal migration may have been longer than the more famous Serengeti/Maasai Mara migration. Unfortunately, the rapid development of farming and beef production led to the construction of veterinary fences that stretch for hundreds of kilometres, across Botswana cutting off much of this migration route. Today some of these fences are being removed, and the ancient routes are being utilised again, leading to one of Botswana’s best-kept secrets – the zebra migration.
Read more here: https://africageographic.com/stories/botswanas-zebra-migration-africas-longest-mammal-migration/
Written by Ayo Gospodinova
Ancient migration routes are again being followed, as fences come down and zebras take the paths once followed by their ancestors.
If you visit Botswana’s Nxai Pan National Park during the dry season, when the arid landscape is as dry as a bone, it might be difficult to imagine that this region once witnessed the seasonal migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras that visit in search of lush, nutritious grazing. During the rainy season, the Nxai Pan transforms into a green paradise, with pools of standing water and lush grass and herbs as far as the eye can see.
Research has now shown that this seasonal migration may have been longer than the more famous Serengeti/Maasai Mara migration. Unfortunately, the rapid development of farming and beef production led to the construction of veterinary fences that stretch for hundreds of kilometres, across Botswana cutting off much of this migration route. Today some of these fences are being removed, and the ancient routes are being utilised again, leading to one of Botswana’s best-kept secrets – the zebra migration.
Read more here: https://africageographic.com/stories/botswanas-zebra-migration-africas-longest-mammal-migration/
