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Botswana is well known for its diverse range of wildlife.
Most of the major African game species can be found, along with
a number of species that are endemic to the region.
Compared to the rest of Africa the wildlife has been well protected
from the scourge of poaching. The statistical picture reveals
that the country is home to 164 species of mammals, 157 of reptile,
80 of fish, about 600 of bird and uncountable different kinds
of insects.
Approximately 164 species of mammals have been recorded in Botswana.
The wildlife is of the very best in Africa and highly concentrated
around the Okavango Delta region, which provides an abundant
of food for all mammals, reptiles, insects and birds. This unique
eco system is home to all animals of Botswana. There are 550
bird species in Botswana.
The Government of Botswana has set aside thousands of square
kilometres of national territory as protected areas (around
17% of the country area) and wildlife management areas (around
20% of the country). Among the largest protected areas in Botswana
are Chobe National Park in the north, Central Kalahari Game
Reserve (second largest protected area in the world), Moremi
Game Reserve in Okavango Delta and the recently launched Kgalagadi
Transfrontier Park, which spans the border between Botswana
and South Africa. In addition, the government carefully monitors
42 Controlled Hunting Areas, where hunters may shoot small quantities
of game. Authorities issue only a limited number of shooting
permits each year.
The natural distribution of Botswana's vegetation is closely
related to rainfall patterns. Most of the country (around 90%)
is covered by savanna of three types - shrub, tree or grass
savanna. Shrub savanna is in the southwest, while tree savanna
(a mixture of trees and grass) is in the rest of the country.
Small areas of Botswana are forested. Acacias and mophane are
the most common tree species in the country. True forests occur
only in the far north, along the banks of the Chobe River.
The dominant woodland species in the south and central regions
is acacia in its several forms - camel thorn, black thorn and
others. In the more kindly north, the acacia gives way to ironwood
(mophane), silver leaf (mogonono), marula and in the northern
parts of Makgadikgadi pans, to the baobab.
Over 3,000 species of plants have been recorded in Botswana,
650 of which are woody plants. Of particular interest are the
numerous wild edible plants, which rural residents, particularly
Bushmen, make considerable use of. Over 200 edible plant species
have been recorded. Mophane "worm" is considered as
a delicacy, and the caterpillars are collected to be dried in
the sun and then either roasted, fried or eaten raw.
Most valuable of the plants are the tsamma melon (Citrullus
lanatus) and the wild cucumber (family Cucurbitaceae), harvested
for the water they contain. |
