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Bison, pronghorn and elk amble across Yellowstone’s grasslands. Aspens and willows speckle the forests of pine, spruce, fir and juniper, which shelter grizzlies, black bears, coyotes and gray wolves in their depths, along with three cat species: lynx, bobcats and cougars.
From birds to flowers, the majority of the Earth’s species stem from a few evolutionary “explosions,” where new habitats or traits sparked rapid diversification. These bursts, in fact, explain most of the planet’s biodiversity. Some of those new habitats were ignited by glaciers.
Right now, as you’re probably finalizing your plans for the end-of-the-year holidays, there are some new developments in travel—and family get-togethers—that I think you might find interesting.
A spotted lowland tapir calf rustles through the brush among the flat-topped, clustered rock formations, or tepuis, of Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park in central Colombia. He looks a little like a furry watermelon, with his unique blackish-brown color with white stripes and spots.
At the end of the year, many of our holiday celebrations revolve around food, such as a Thanksgiving feast or a Christmas dinner. This food-intensive season reminds me of a new concept in nature studies: “nature’s chefs.” In essence, nature’s chefs are organisms that provide food—or the illusion of food—to other organisms.
If you’re a wildlife lover and you hear “Churchill, Canada,” you likely think of polar bears. And you’d be right—after all, Churchill is considered the Polar Bear Capital of the World. But Churchill’s polar bears share the limelight with another fascinating creature, this one aquatic: the beluga whale.
An unparalleled destination for wildlife enthusiasts, Churchill, Manitoba, lies along the migration path of beluga whales, polar bears, caribou and more than 200 species of birds. Experience the “Great Migration” of the North as thousands of beluga whales make their way to the warmer waters of the Churchill River estuary to feed, mate and give birth.
Rolling hills, trout-filled streams, and beech forests define the Cotswolds—a pastoral stretch that has nurtured both people and wildlife for centuries. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966, this protected region embodies the timeless connection between rural life and the English countryside.
Big, beautiful and brimming with life, Borneo is a “biological treasure chest,” says Court Whelan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Natural Habitat Adventures.
“The Secret World of Canada’s Coastal Wolves” recently earned first place in the Wildlife/Nature category at the annual San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. Author Joe Yogerst has worked on more than 40 National Geographic books—learn more on his website and Instagram.
By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Edward Savage Iceland is home to some of the most spectacular and photogenic waterfalls in the world. These falls may not always carry vast volumes of water, but their rugged volcanic settings make them mesmerizing.
I like to think of biodiversity as a symphony orchestra, where each note, each instrument—every single part—is needed to make the whole. In the concert called “biodiversity,” then, every species, from microscopic life to towering trees and vast oceans, plays a vital role.
