Watch agonising BBC footage of baby ostriches making a perilous journey for water and survival in the soaring heat of the Kalahari Desert

While adult ostriches, such as leopards and meerkats, can acquire all water they need to survive from their food, the baby ostriches in this gripping BBC Earth video need water.

If the chicks don’t drink in the next 24 hours, the will certainly die. However, finding water in the vast Kalahari Desert isn’t easy.

They set out onto the Etosha Salt Pan, a vast, dry salt basin. It’s a deadly journey, and the father tries to shade the chicks from the midday sun with his wings.

Will the chicks survive the 40°C heat?

Watch baby ostriches fight for survival

This footage is taken from the BBC’s Africa.

Main image: BBC Earth