Wild Ways of the Coast

Sea turtles frequently spend several decades at sea before they return to their birthplace to lay their own eggs. Orcas have developed well-honed hunting skills for particular areas of coastline. Spinner dolphins retreat to shallow inlets to regain their strength after long, night-time hunts in the open seas. Sally lightfoot crabs venture out onto rocks to eat algae that only becomes accessible at low tide. The inhabitants of mangrove forests share the riches on offer with marine animals grazing at high tide and land animals doing the same when the tide is out.

Completely different habitats have sprung up along the world's diverse coastlines over time. Geologists estimate that there are approximately one million kilometres of coastline on Earth. They are merely a small area of the planet's entire landmass but they are shaped by land and sea. These wild border areas are home to an incredible range of wild life. Some animals spend all of their lives here. Others only come to visit...