Gemsbok (Oryx gazella), Gemsbok National Park, Namibia Photograph by © WWF-Canon/Rick WEYERHAEUSER   Afrotropics Deserts and Xeric Shrublands   227,100 square miles (588,100 square kilometers) -- about twice the size of Arizona Relatively Stable/Intact

· Where the Kalahari Lion is King
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Where the Kalahari Lion is King

In the Kalahari Xeric Savanna ecoregion, regal lions bask in the sun atop orange sand dunes, while cheetahs rest on rock perches, keeping a watchful eye on springbok, gemsbok, and wildebeest in the arid grassy savanna below. Such a scene is common in this beautiful ecoregion, but life here is far from idyllic. The animals and plants that survive here must endure extremely harsh conditions, as temperatures can vary as much as 50°F (30°C) in one day, and long periods of drought are often met with harsh and violent thunderstorms. From the gemsbok cucumber to the gemsbok antelope, the plants and animals here show an amazing array of adaptations to meet the challenges of life in this ecoregion.

Special Features

The harsh climate of the Kalahari Xeric Savanna is characterized by great extremes in both temperature and rainfall. For example, temperatures can plummet to 7° F (–14° C) on winter nights and then soar to 86° F(30° C) during the day. And rainfall is extremely patchy throughout the region, with long periods of dry weather often broken by brief and violent thunderstorms. The Kalahari sands are poor in nutrients, with a thin layer of iron oxide giving them a characteristic reddish-brown color. In the rock below these sands, however, there is a treasure trove of mineral wealth in the form of diamonds, copper, and coal.

	The majestic Kalahari lion is distinct from other African lions in that it is taller at the shoulder and lighter in color. Also, the males have black rather than dark brown manes.

Wild Side

The Kalahari Xeric Savanna is a land of cats, from leopards and Kalahari lions (a subspecies of lion) to cheetahs and caracals. Even the skies are filled with predators, such as martial eagles and eagle-owls. One prey species is the meerkat, which lives in packs of up to 30 individuals in a complex social structure. Meerkats rely on sentries that stand upright and watch for predators, such as snakes and jackals, while other members of the pack forage. With so many predators on the prowl, the ungulates here have found safety in numbers; female springboks and wildebeest often give birth within a week or two of each other. Although the young are vulnerable during the first month of their life, their predators are territorial and only eat until they’re full. If births were staggered, the predators would be provided with a constant source of easy prey. But because they are born at the same time, the calves and lambs have an increased chance of survival. When the harsh climate here turns dry and antelopes become scarce, Kalahari lions prey on porcupines, though they must be careful in their pursuit, as the porcupines’ sharp quills make for hazardous hunting.

The open, grassy savannas of the Kalahari are punctuated by trees such as camelthorn and shepherd’s tree, which provide shade, food, and refuge for a variety of plants and animals. In the heat of the sun, both humans and animals find important sources of water in succulent fruits such as creeping tsamma melons and gemsbok cucumbers. High in camelthorn and other trees, sociable weavers protect themselves from the extreme temperatures by gathering in amazing communal nests weighing as much as 2,200 pounds (1000 kg). Each nest may house up to 300 birds and helps keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. On the dry, rocky ground below live Cape cobras, rock monitors, and many kinds of geckos, skinks, and scorpions.

Cause for Concern

Although nearly 20 percent of the Kalahari Xeric Savanna is protected, the majority of the region faces serious threats from heavy grazing and the construction of cattle fences that obstruct the migratory routes of wild ungulates. Heavy grazing by cattle alters the habitat by increasing the number of woody plants and decreasing the grass cover, a phenomenon known as bush encroachment. What’s more, fences have proven disastrous for native wildlife such as the blue wildebeest and hartebeest. These animals must migrate to find adequate food and water in the harsh Kalahari environment. In desperate efforts to migrate, many of them become caught in fences, while others suffer slow and painful deaths through thirst and starvation. Additional threats to wildlife in this area include mining and indiscriminate killing of predators, such as lions and wild dogs that wander onto the land of livestock ranchers.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.