Bugeranus carunculatus - The wattled crane is the largest and rarest crane in Africa and the second largest crane in the world. Cranes and herons are similar in appearance, but they are unrelated and easy to distinguish; cranes fly with necks outstretched, herons fly with necks pulled back. The wattled crane relies more on wetlands for nesting sites and food sources than the other crane species. The largest concentration of wattled cranes can be found in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
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Drought and desertification are two important issues confronting the people of Botswana on a daily basis. Surface water in the form of lakes and rivers are sparse in Botswana. The people are overly dependent on ground water as their primary source for personal consumption and farming needs. Approximately 71% of the country’s land is used for raising cattle. This places a heavy strain on water resources and causes depletion of ground water, desertification of the land, and soil erosion.
