World of the Wild

Grasslands cover nearly fifty percent of the African continent African grasslands support vast and diverse wildlife Due to the grasslands open and uncovered nature predators are much easier to spot giving smaller animals a chance to run away hide and survive Thanks to the lack of hiding places for predators the African savannah regions support a much greater diversity of wildlife than temperate

It might look uniform from the air as we fly over it but the oceans are deep and varied The underwater landscape comprises continental shelves volcanoes mountains valleys trenches and large flat plains similar to the landscape on land only on a much larger scale Ocean habitats come in all forms Underwater creatures make homes wherever survival is assured

Deserts dry arid landscapes environments of intense sun heat and very little rain The desert is an extreme environment where wildlife has had to adapt to survive Many of the animals that live in deserts have adopted a nocturnal lifestyle surfacing only at night when it is cooler Reptiles snakes lizards scorpions and small birds are the primary animals found in true deserts In semidesert regions

The Amazon A magnificent broadleafed rainforest The heart of Brazil The Amazon basin covers an impressive 7 million square kilometers Rainforests are often known as the lungs of our planet The Amazon Rainforest is the largest Its value in terms of the oxygen it provides and the Carbon Dioxide it consumes is immeasurable It is home to splendid exquisite plant and animal species–the most diverse

The masters of the sky are the winged predators of the aerial world Their unique techniques have evolved and developed to perfection Whether swooping in from high altitudes at a phenomenal speed to strike an unsuspecting target from above flicking and darting between trees in a lethal tail chase or ghosting silently through the night in pursuit of prey they excite our admiration and inspire awe

The Arctic is alive with a fascinating assortment of wildlife and species unique to this Polar environment Most are rarely or never seen outside the Arctic Circle They live and thrive in a hostile environment of ice polar desert windswept open tundra ancient glacial formations subzero sea temperatures and an incredible variety of geographical topography from open plains and valleys to mountainous

Explore the captivating wildlife and history of the great American prairies Once a vast temperate grassland stretching across North America the plains transformed dramatically due to agriculture development From the midwest to the Rocky Mountains and into Canada and the northern states discover the unique composition of grasses herbs and shrubs that once thrived shaping this distinctive ecosystem

Some of the most beautiful rainforests jungle landscapes and wildlife are in Asia The rainforests of Asia stretch from India and Burma in the west to Malaysia and Java and Borneo in the east The Great teak forests and Jungles have long been threatened by cash crops intensive logging and industrial farming in Asia Slash and burn agriculture has also taken a heavy toll on the ecostructure and

Swamps wetlands marshes bogs and fens are found worldwide generally in more temperate regions with fast vegetation growth Large crabs dwell in the saltwater swamps along with snapping turtles and even crocodiles and alligators Lizards and amphibians live in and around the waters edge One species of snake has adapted to eating fish Large aquatic birds such as the ibis and the heron standing in the

One of Australias most remarkable natural gifts is the Great Barrier Reef It is the worlds largest coral reef acknowledged as one of the seven wonders of the natural world and viewed from a greater distance its easy to understand why It is larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth visible from space The Great Barrier Reef supports a vast array of life forms In this

Lakes and rivers are created by streams high in the mountains Freshwater springs rain drawn up as moisture from the oceans and melting snow all ebb rush and flow down into our rivers and streams Streams rivers and lakes are home to countless animal species A wide variety of species from insects to amphibians reptiles fish birds and even mammals are found in rivers lakes and streams all around the

Islands come in all shapes and sizes all over the world Any landmass surrounded by water is an island They are found in seas oceans lakes and rivers Atolls Islets keys or cays are formed either as a result of land breaking away water encroaching on the land or volcanic eruptions on the sea bed Islands are often isolated which leads to the development of unique flora fauna and wildlife The

Wildlife that inhabits mountainous regions has been able to survive successfully at high altitudes Any creature that lives in the mountains must also be able to cope with changing temperatures Many species of hoofed and herbivorous mammals such as goats deer sheep and llamas have adapted well to living high in the mountains and are often found grazing on ledges and cliff faces These herbivores in