'Cody Rasmussen'

"Antarctica. You know, that giant continent at the bottom of the earth that’s ruled by penguins and seals."
- C.B. Cook, “Twinepathy”

Upon this planet we call home, one can find a great multitude of forms of life. From the birds in the sky to the creatures beneath the waves, the creatures that move upon the earth to the ones that move below it. They are everywhere. Some can be seen in certain places around the world more than others. One of these places is none other than the Antarctic continent.

Despite being one of the most inhospitable places in the world, the continent of Antarctica is teeming with a unique variety of wildlife. Skirting below and across the pack ice, the Leopard seal patrols the water of the continent in search of its prey. Meanwhile the Southern elephant seal comes ashore to rest and mate.

In the skies above the ice soar a multitude of avian species. From the Albatross to the Arctic and Antarctic terns, the South polar skua to the Antarctic petrel, many species of bird lay their eggs and hunt upon this continent. 

As the birds fly above the ice, below it in the depths a world awaits. Humpback whales and Blue whales fill the ocean depths with their songs, while the Orca hunts down its prey. But they are not alone. Antarctic krill make their way through the water in swarms while the Colossal squid lies in wait to ambush its own prey.

Though of all the creatures that inhabit the continent, none is more known worldwide…than the penguin. These flightless birds have long made the continent of Antarctica either their home or their breeding grounds. The Chinstrap and Adélie penguins are two such species that use the continent as their breeding grounds. However, there is one other species that is the most known of the penguins, and braves the harsh Antarctic winters to trek across the ice to their own breeding grounds: The Emperor penguin.

The continent of Antarctica has many wondrous creatures that call it home. The sounds echo throughout the mountains and valleys, constantly reaffirming that life is bountiful there. Keep watch for the next blog post in this series, where it will be based on the creatures of Africa!

“If Antarctica were music it would be Mozart. Art, and it would be Michelangelo. Literature, and it would be Shakespeare. And yet it is something even greater; the only place on earth that is still as it should be. May we never tame it.”
- Andrew Denton

More in this Series: Part 1: North America | Part 2: South America | Part 3: Europe | Part 4: Asia | Part 5: Australia

"Much of human behavior can be explained by watching the wild beasts around us. They are constantly teaching us things about ourselves and the way of the universe, but most people are too blind to watch and listen."
- Suzy Kassem, “Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem”

Upon this planet we call home, one can find a great multitude of forms of life. From the birds in the sky to the creatures beneath the waves, the creatures that move upon the earth to the ones that move below it. They are everywhere. Some can be seen in certain places around the world more than others. One of these places is none other than the Australian continent.

It doesn’t take long for those who visit Australia to see that it has such a wide variety of unique creatures. Birds like the Emu and the Cassowary roam the land, while in the sky the Splendid Fairy-wren and the Tawny Frogmouths take flight.

Alongside the Emu and Cassowary, the land is roamed by creatures such as the Dingo and the Kangaroo; and in the trees the koala makes its home.

While the waters of the continent are host to fish such as the Eel-tailed catfish and the Australian grayling, other creatures like the ever-unique Platypus can be found at times in the waters of Australia and Tasmania. 

Reptiles roam the continent from waters to the desert inlands: the Skink to the Crocodile to the ever venomous Coastal taipan.  Life is everywhere.

Yet like so many other places in the world, many of the creatures of Australia face the constant threat of extinction. Though this is beginning to change with the advances of modern science. In August of 2022, it was announced that the University of Melbourne will partner with a Texas-based Biotechnology company in the effort to bring back the extinct Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) (source).

The continent of Australia has many wondrous creatures that call it home. The sounds echo throughout the mountains and valleys, constantly reaffirming that life is bountiful there.  Keep watch for the next blog post in this series, where it will be based on the creatures of Antarctica.

“We don’t own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife.”
- Steve Irwin

More in this Series: Part 1: North America | Part 2: South America | Part 3: Europe | Part 4: Asia

"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Gandhi

Upon this planet we call home, one can find a great multitude of forms of life. From the birds in the sky to the creatures beneath the waves, the creatures that move upon the earth to the ones that move below it. They are everywhere. Some can be seen in certain places around the world more than others. One of these places is none other than the Asian continent.

When it has the opportunity, nature flourishes. This is something that can be accepted with great certainty, and this is true in regards to Asia. Amongst the mountains and through the skies the birds of the continent soar, from the Japanese tit to the White-rumped vulture to the Indian peafowl. And upon the land move a variety of creatures; whether in the open areas or amongst the forests or even the deserts and mountains. Predators such as the Snow leopard in the mountain ranges and the Tigers stalking the forests, while the Orangutans and the Giant panda go searching for their meals amongst the trees.

Asia is also the dwelling place for a wide variety of lizards and snakes. From the venomous King cobra and Indian cobra to the Burmese python, they are everywhere. Who can forget the Komodo dragon? However, like other continents, so many of these animals are at risk. Due to the growth of cities, much of the native habitats are slowly dwindling away. Yet poaching is one of the greatest risks that these creatures face. From the Snow leopards to the Javan rhinoceroses, the Malayan tiger to the Borneo elephant, they are being hunted for their prized and treasured body parts and even for medicinal purposes. In order to protect these creatures, we must look deeply on who we are as humans.

The continent of Asia has many wondrous creatures that call it home. The sounds echo throughout the mountains and valleys, constantly reaffirming that life is bountiful there. Keep watch for the next blog post in this series, where it will be based on the creatures of Australia.

“Wildlife needs wilderness-not just to survive, but also to live freely. Sadly, many species struggle to survive due to increased human activity and expansion into habitats they call home.”
- Zoe Helene

More in this Series: Part 1: North America | Part 2: South America | Part 3: Europe