Page 31 - Discover Botswana 24th Edition 2024

www.discoverbotswanathebook.biz 31
O KAVA N G O
shrimp, mites, water fleas, sponges, mollusks, beetles and bugs.
As visitors we might all miss the giant water bug whose males
carry their eggs on their backs, protecting them from predators
until they hatch. This ‘smaller majority’ of species plays a
hugely important role in pollinating plants, cleaning water, and
forming the base of the food chain without which little else in
the Delta would survive.
Guests may come for the herds of lechwe and starlit nights with
lions roaring in the distance. Local communities might rely on
the fish and tswii. But it is essential that all appreciate this other
world beneath the water, its importance to the ecosystem, and
the fascinating stories that can be uncovered when you delve
deep down below the surface.
ROB TAYLOR
Rob grew up in the iSimangaliso
Wetland Park, a world heritage site
in South Africa, as the son of the
park ecologist. He was interested in
conservation and ecology from a young
age and went on to study ecology at
university. He worked as a research
technician in Kruger National Park
before specializing in wetland and
aquatic ecology conducting wetlands
and river health assessments throughout
southern Africa. Rob now lives in
another watery world heritage site, the
Okavango Delta in Botswana. Rob is
the Botswana research coordinator on
the National Geographic Okavango
Wilderness Project. He compliments a
small group of scientists on expeditions
through Angola, Namibia and Botswana
where they conduct research and
baseline assessments on vital rivers
feeding the Okavango Delta. Rob
has particular passions for aquatic
plants and invertebrates and is a keen
advocate for citizen science as a way of
connecting people and nature.
Facing page top left: A Dark Sprite (Pseudagrion deningi )
perches on a water lily bud - they spend most of their life
underwater as larvae only emerging as winged adults to
find mates and reproduce. Image: Kostadin Luchansky
Facing page top right: The crystal clear waters of the
Okavango Delta. Image: Chris Boyes
Facing page bottom right: African Jacanas (Actophilornis
africanus) are well adapted to life on floating vegetation
- their long toes help them balance on unstable surfaces.
Image: John Hilton
Facing page bottom left: African Jacanas lay their
beautifully ‘painted’ eggs on floating mats of vegetation
relying on camouflage to ensure their safety. Image:
Anand Varma
Left: A hidden world to most who visit the Okavango;
the detail of a carnivorous Leafy Bladderwort (Utricularia
foliosa) - the swollen bladders with trap door entrances
clearly visible. Image: Anand Varma
Bottom: Angolan Reed Frogs vary in colour and pattern
making them each individually unique. Image: Karabo
Moilwa
Following pages: A poster
displaying some of the aquatic
life found in the Okavango Delta.
This poster was commissioned
as an educational display for
schools, communities and
visitors to highlight the diversity
of life under the water and the
importance of preserving these
aquatic ecosystems. Artwork:
Fernando Hugo Fernandes