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20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Family in Mokoro

A family makes their way through the water channels in the Bangweulu Wetlands in Zambia heading back to their village. Their boat is a mokoro which is carved out of the large tree trunk. This marshland is one of the few habitats left for the Shoebill Stork, a highly endangered bird. The families in the local villages and people who go out fishing on their canoes report any nest locations and help monitor them. They help ensure the safety of young storks as a community. This voluntary program managed through African Parks has assisted increasing the number of shoebills surviving to adulthood in Bangweulu.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Zambia
Camera: ILCE-7RM4
Copyright: © Beverly Houwing