Kalahari – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

White-browed sparrow-weaver. Richard Packwood/ Getty Images

February 22, 2024

Kalahari weaver birds lay bigger eggs when they have female helpers to feed nestlings

Pablo Capilla-Lasheras, University of Glasgow

The study shows that bird mothers can adjust egg size depending on their social conditions. This counters the idea that, with more help, mothers lay smaller eggs.

A replica of the famous Linton Panel. Courtesy Rock Art Research Institute/Origins Centre

November 26, 2022

Rock art: how South Africa’s coat of arms got to feature an ancient San painting

Sam Challis, University of the Witwatersrand

A new exhibition in Johannesburg focuses on the beliefs and paintings of the San people.

The carcass of a Grévy’s zebra, an endangered species which exists only in the northern part of Kenya, where drought is ongoing. Photo by FREDRIK LERNERYD/AFP via Getty Images

November 13, 2022

Climate change and wildlife: 3 studies that reveal the devastating toll on Africa’s animals

Moina Spooner, The Conversation

Changing habitat ranges, competition for food and water, and biological effects of climate change all pose threats to wildlife.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills struggled to breed at high temperatures. Nicholas B. Pattinson

May 31, 2022

Hotter Kalahari desert may stop hornbills breeding by 2027

Nicholas B. Pattinson, University of Cape Town

Without successful breeding, the hornbill population will not survive, and will quickly become locally extinct.

Ga-Mohana Hill in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. Benjamin Schoville

March 31, 2021

Ancient southern Kalahari was more important to human evolution than previously thought

Benjamin Schoville, The University of Queensland; Jessica von der Meden, University of Cape Town; Robyn Pickering, University of Cape Town, and Wendy Khumalo, University of Cape Town

People were drawn to Ga-Mohana for many reasons. Surface water was likely among them.

March 31, 2021

Ancient eggshells and a hoard of crystals reveal early human innovation and ritual in the Kalahari

Jayne Wilkins, Griffith University and Sechaba Maape, University of the Witwatersrand

Researchers unearthed the 105,000-year-old artefacts from a spiritual site in southern Africa. Although far from the coast, the area is associated with stories of a great water snake.

Disappearance of aardvarks from dry ecosystems could have devastating consequences for the many other animals that rely on their burrows. Kelsey Green

November 27, 2020

Daytime sightings of elusive aardvarks hint at troubled times in the Kalahari

Robyn Hetem, University of the Witwatersrand and Nora Marie Weyer, University of the Witwatersrand

Aardvarks are nocturnal animals but climate change is altering that and it’s a problem.

Livestock ultimately came to South Africa from the north in a migratory event. Shutterstock

October 24, 2016

The story of how livestock made its way to southern Africa

Karim Sadr, University of the Witwatersrand

There are many theories on how livestock made its way to South Africa. The answer is quite complex and not as simple as one would think.

You are what you eat – and so’s your festive lamb, in terms of flavour. Shutterstock

January 6, 2016

It’s true: what a sheep eats affects the taste of your lamb roast

Nicolette Hall, University of Pretoria

Lamb and mutton meat from parts of South Africa have a unique taste, which, according to science, depends on what the animal eats.

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