wildlifewednesdays: In the deserts of Namibia, water is perhaps the scarcest resource. Animals of th
wildlifewednesdays: In the deserts of Namibia, water is perhaps the scarcest resource. Animals of this size are rare because they require enormous quantities of food and water per day. Yet these elephants have found a way to survive. They acquire water from the plants they eat, resorting to gymnastics to reach the most nutritional branches. Only plants with the deepest roots can survive in desert conditions like these. Because the elephant digestive system is very inefficient, elephants are on a constant search for food. And when there aren’t enough plants around, elephants have the unique ability to sniff out underground water - a trait likely passed down as knowledge in families. Once they pinpoint a good source, they dig until they reach the moisture. They siphon out the sandy water and are then able to drink out of the clean well. These wells are a lifeline for many other desert inhabitants as well. (gifs from NatGeo WILD’s Destination WILD Namibia) -- source link