episode description
In the heart of southwestern Africa lies a land of stark beauty and ancient rhythms. Where the harshness of the environment shapes all who dwell here. A trail of footprints tells the tale of a journey that has been repeated for generations. These are the tracks of the true titans of one of toughest terrains on earth – these are the tracks of the desert elephants of Namibia. Once, the desert elephants roamed these sands in the thousands but today, their numbers have dwindled and only around 150 individuals remain. The scarcity of food has meant that any life that is here subsists rather than thrives amongst these dunes that tower up to 300m and constantly shift with the winds. While closely related to their Savanna cousins, the desert elephants have longer legs and boarder feet to help with the soft sand they tread upon, and have become accustomed to using sand and dust to bathe in, rather than the scarce water that they save for drinking. While it may seem that everything is stacked against them, these elephants have just welcomed new members to the family, and where there’s life, there’s hope, so enjoy the journey with these gentle giants of the desert.
