Countries
Albania
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Anders Geidemark from Sweden explored five of the little-known national parks of Albania for Wild Wonders, including Lake Prespa, Lake Skadar and Karavasta Lagoons. He also photographed the beautiful Blue Eye Spring and various aspects of traditional Albanian agriculture.
Andorra
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Magnus Elander (Sweden) visited Andorra, which is the largest of the six "tiny states" of Europe, with an area of just 468 square kilometres. Perched high in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, Andorra boasts 65 peaks over 2000 metres and a rich mountain flora and fauna. Highlights include the endangered Pyrenean brook salamander, and a good population of griffon vultures.
Austria
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Three Wild Wonders of Europe missions headed for Austria. Laszlo Novak photographed the dramatic roost of 4 million bramlings at Loedersdorf in Steiermark. Grzegorz Lesniewski worked in the Hohe Tauern National Park focussing on marmots, ibex and Alpine flowers. Niall Benvie took his studio to the field in the Fliesser Sonnenhaenge of the Austrian Tyrol, capturing delicate studies of wildflowers and insects.
Azores & Madeira (Portugal)
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Three Wild Wonders missions headed for the far-flung Portuguese archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores. Nuno Sa photographed the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal, Magnus Lundgren showcased the amazing marine life of the Azores, including whales and dolphins, and Milan Radisics worked in the laurisilva forests of Madeira and documented the endemic plantlife of the region.
Baltic States
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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The three Baltic States all received one Wild Wonders mission. Mark Hamblin from the UK documented Lithuania's national bird the white stork, and the Kuronian Spit sand dunes. Spain's Diego Lopez photographed the bogs and forests of Kemeri National Park, Siltere National Park and Moricsala Strict Nature Reserve in Latvia. Finn Lassi Rautiainen focussed on the rare
great snipe breeding in Estonia's Matsalu National Park.
Belarus
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Bence Máté (Hungary) visited the Pripyat National Park in Belarus, where he used his trademark floating hide technique to capture dramatic low-level images of the diverse breeding waterbirds, including white-winged black terns, black and white storks and Europe's second-largest population of the declining great snipe.
Belgium
24 Aug 2014 12:00 am
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Maurizio Biancarelli (Italy) travelled to Hallerbos in Belgium to capture the beauty of spring beech woods full of flowering bluebells and wild garlic.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Ellio della Ferrera (Italy) took on the dangerous mission to explore the wild places of Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the aid of a local guide and a map of the minefields. He discovered ancient riverine oak forests, karst plateaux rich in wildflowers and the dramatic waterfalls on the Trebizat River.
Bulgaria
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Dietmar Nill (Germany) photographed birdlife and bats in the Nikopol area of Bulgaria and Manuel Presti (Italy) photographed rare geese on Durankulak Lake.
Canary Islands (Spain)
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Croatia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Cyprus
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Peter Lilja (Sweden) visited the island of Cyprus in spring, focussing on the riches of its Mediterranean flora and photographing various endemic plant and bird species, as well as the black pine forests and ancient cypress trees of the Troodos Mountains.
Czech Republic
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Jose Ruiz from Spain travelled to the Czech Republic to showcase the autumn colours in the Ceske Svycarsko (Bohemian Switzerland) National Park and the dramatic escarpment of the Elbe Valley.
Denmark
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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The German photographers Florian Moellers and Sandra Bartocha present contrasting view of Denmark. Florian captured images of the rutting red and fallow deer in the Klampenborg Dyrehaven
beechwoods near Copenhagen, whilst Sandra photographed the shifting light on the coastal dunes of Skagen, varied habitats of Thy National Park and the dramatic chalk cliffs of Mon Island. In addition Swedish photographer Martin Falklind documented the brown trout of Bornholm.
Estonia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Lassi Rautiainen (Finland) undertook the Wild Wonders Estonia mission, working in the Matsalu National Park. Estonia is the smallest of the three Baltic states, but nonetheless boasts 1000 lakes and 1500 islands. Matsalu is an important breeding site for many wetland bird species, and one of the highlights is the endangered great snipe.
European Union
27 Jun 2016 12:00 am
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We celebrate the biodiversity of the 28 European Union countries featured in the Wild Wonders of Europe project. They share some of the most effective environmental legislation in the world. The EU plays a crucial role in developing policy and legislation to protect the environment and has specific targets for biodiversity conservation with legislative protection for key habitats and species. EU legislation also covers the key issues of air pollution, waste and climate change.
Finland
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Finland is renowned for its extensive forests and myriad of lakes. Peter Cairns (UK), Staffan Widstrand (Sweden) and Sven Zacek (Estonia) fulfilled the Finnish Wild Wonders missions.
Staffan focussed on the large carnivores - brown bear, wolf and wolverine; Sven photographed the winter taiga forest, Northern Lights, great grey owls and other bird species; Pete concentrated on capturing dramatic shots of ospreys fishing.
France
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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France is a country of great contrasts and varied habitats and was the focus for six Wild Wonders missions. Theo Allofs (Germany) visited the Camargue for its flamingos and wild horses; Frank Krahmer (Germany) captured atmospheric landscapes of Mont Blanc and its spectacular Alpine landscapes; Ingo Arndt (Germany) tracked down the elusive mouflon in the Haut-Languedoc National Park; Verena Popp-Hackner (Austria) shot the dramatic mountains and waterfalls of the
Pyrenees; Niall Benvie (UK) produced delicate studies of mountain flowers and insects; and Linda Pitkin (UK) explored the underwater world around Corsica, including encounters with giant groupers.
Georgia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Georgia is a small country with dramatic and varied landscapes, with some of Europe's highest mountains in the Caucasus, lush rhododendron forests and arid semi-deserts near the border with Azerbaijan. Georg Popp (Austria) worked for Wild Wonders in a number of Georgia's national parks, including Vashlovani and Borjami Kharagauli.
Germany
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Germany is one of the most industrialised European countries, with a population of more than 80 million people. However, it still retains a wide variety of excellent wildlife habitats, including forests, wetlands, coastal marshes, heathland and peat bogs. Laszlo Novak (Hungary) visited the Wattenmeer or Waddensee National Park on the North Sea coast, Europe's largest national park and one of the most productive habitats on Earth, with spectacular flocks of wildfowl and waders.
German photographer Dieter Damschen spent time in the Elbe Biosphere Reserve in Lower Saxony, home to large numbers of breeding waterbirds, including black storks, egrets and white-tailed sea eagles. Florian Moellers (Germany) focussed on the autumn crane flocks migrating through Brandenburg.
Greece
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Greece is well known as a holiday destination and for its cultural treasures, but it also has many natural and wildlife riches, including superb wetlands, mountains and forests, and many endemic plants and reptiles. Jari Peltomaki (Finland) produced spectacular images of the Dalmatian pelicans of Lake Kerkini, Christian Ziegler (Germany) focussed on a variety of reptile species, including tortoises, snakes, chameleons and other lizards. Stefano Unterthiner (Italy) documented the endangered Eleanora's falcon in its Dodecanese breeding grounds. Peter Lilja (Sweden) photographed the spectacular Spring flowers of Crete, Greece's largest island. Milan Radisics
(Hungary) travelled to the mountains and forests of the Pindos National Park and to the monasteries of Meteora, perched high on rocks which are actually the eroded remains of an ancient delta.
Greenland
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Kai Jensen (Norway) visited Greenland for Wild Wonders of Europe, photographing the icebergs, arctic foxes, whales and gyr falcons of Disko Bay on the west coast of the world's largest island.
Hungary
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Hungary is renowned for the richness and variety of its birdlife, its extensive Puszta grasslands, and for the wetlands of its steppe lakes and Danube floodplain. Florian Moellers, Laszlo Novak, Milan Radisics and Markus Varesvuo documented for Wild Wonders of Europe Hungary's colourful birdlife, including bee-eaters, rollers, red-footed falcons, egrets and spoonbills, the life-cycle of the mayfly, and the reintroduction of Przewalski's horse to the Hortobagy National Park, the largest nature reserve in Hungary.
Iceland
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Iceland is a land of fire and ice, unique in Europe due to its sparse human population and volcanic landscape, with 130 active volancanos, and many thermal pools and geysers, as well as the world's third largest icefield. Four Wild Wonders photographers travelled to Iceland to document different aspects of its natural heritage. Mark Carwardine (UK) photographed humpback whales off the north coast, local photographer Daniel Bergmann documented gyr falcons and a host of other breeding birds around Lake Myvatn, and Orsolya Haarberg (Hungary) trained her lens on the rugged landscapes, spectacular waterfalls and seabird colonies. Magnus Lundgren (Norway) produced dramatic underwater images from Silva in Thingvellir National Park of the tectonic boundary between the European and North American plates.
Ireland
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Pal Hermansen visited the rugged coasts of the Republic of Ireland, from Donegal to Clare to Saltee Island in County Wexford. He focussed largely on seabirds including gannets and auks, and Irish specialities such as the rock dove and corncrake, as well as the spectacuar Cliffs of Moher and unique limestone pavements of the Burren.
Italy
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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While famous as one of the great cultural and historic centres of Europe, Italy is also a hotspot for biodiversity and endemic species, with 23 national parks and 22 marine nature reserves. A grand total of 8 Wild Wonders missions headed for Italy, focussing on the wonderful wildflowers and forests of the southern national parks - Gargano, Pollino and Monti Sibillini, the spectacular peaks of the Alps and Dolomites with their chamois and ibex populations in the Gran Paradiso National Park, and the wild wonders of Sardinia (mouflon) and Sicily and the Aoelian Islands (Etna and Stromboli volancos). These missions were undertaken by Sandra Bartocha and Claudia Mueller (Germany), Erlend Haarberg (Norway), Olivier Grunewald (France), Ingo Arndt and Frank Krahmer (Germany).
Latvia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Spanish photographer Diego Lopez's assignment took him to Latvia, one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Europe. 44% of the country is forested, and there are thought to be 80,000 beavers still surviving in the wild, many of which live in the 19,000 hectare Teici State Reserve, the largest protected bog in the Baltic. One of Diego's target species was the Black Stork: 10% of the world's population breed in Latvia's forests, along with many other marshland species endangered elsewhere in Europe.
Liechtenstein
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Liechtenstein measures just 24km x 12.5km and is the fourth smallest state in Europe. However, it possesses great natural riches and 1600 plant species occur in its mountains and forests, and all Alpine areas of Liechtenstein have been declared an integral floral reserve to proctect plants such as the edelweiss and gentians. Edwin Giesbers from Holland trained his macro lens on the beautiful wildflowers and associated insects of Liechtenstein's Alpine meadows.
Lithuania
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Mark Hamblin (UK) travelled to Lithuania to photograph the White Stork, Lithuania's National Bird. 14,000 pairs breed in Lithuania's protected areas, which make up 12% of the country. Lithuania has a low population density, allowing animals such as the stork, which are threatened elsewhere in Europe, to thrive. Mark also documented the Curonian Spit, almost 100km of sand dunes which reach a height of 67 metres.
Luxembourg
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Jesper Tonning (Denmark) captured the varied habitats of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for Wild Wonders, working in the northern Oesling region of the Ardennes, with its dense forests, flower meadows and fast-flowing streams.
Macedonia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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David Maitland (UK) undertook a Wild Wonders Mission to the Galicica National Park in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, which contains Europe's most diverse lake ecosystems in Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, with very large levels of species endemism, including the Lake Ohrid bleak or scoranza.
Malta
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Solvin Zankl explored the underwater riches of the Mediterranean Sea surrounding Malta for Wild Wonders of Europe, discovering seahorses, squid, moray eels and spider crabs. He also photographed captive shoals of the endangered bluefin tuna.
Moldova
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Laurent Geslin (France) visited Moldova, working at Lake Belau and in the Codrii Forest Reserve.
He focussed on the large numbers of white pelicans and other waterbirds, and the fauna of Moldova's forest and grassland regions, including the shy wildcat.
Monaco
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Monaco is Europe's second smallest country and one of the most densely populated. Franco Banfi (Switzerland) documented for Wild Wonders the surprising underwater riches of the Larvotto Marine Reserve, including artificial reefs crowded with fish and marine life.
Montenegro
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Milan Radisics (Hungary) explored the mountainous Balkan country of Montenegro for Wild Wonders of Europe. He focussed on Durmitor National Park and Lake Skadar National Park. Lake Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans, with important breeding bird populations including whiskered terns. The Durmitor UNESCO World Heritage Site embraces the dramatic Tara River Gorge, the second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon.
Norway
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Mountains, fjords, tundra, forests, rivers and lakes - Norway possesses some of the most amazing habitats in Europe. For Wild Wonders of Europe, Vincent Munier captured the musk oxen of Dovrefjell National Park, Staffan Widstrand focussed on the spectacular sea eagles and golden eagles of the fjords, and Magnus Lundgren dived to photograph the rich marine life of the Lofoten Islands, Moere and Saltstraumen, the bizarre ghost sharks of Trondheim Fjord and the big salmon of Orkla River. Three photographers - Peter Cairns, Mireille de la Lez and Ole Jorgen Liodden - ventured north to Svalbard, where they encountered polar bears, reindeer, Arctic foxes and a wealth of birdlife.
Poland
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Stefano Unterthiner (Italy) travelled to Bialowieza National Park in the winter to photograph one of Europe's great conservation success stories - the European bison. These animals became extinct in the wild during the 1920s but today a herd of 1,400 live in the forested parts of the park, the result of a re-introduction programme in the 1950s. Diego Lopez (Spain) tracked down spotted sousliks in central Poland, one of the last European strongholds of this endangered species.
Portugal
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Portugal is the westernmost part of continental Europe, and Wild Wonders missions focussed on its wild coasts and far-flung archipelagos. Local photographer Luis Quinta photographed the unique cliff-nesting white storks of Cabo Sardao on the Alentejo coast. Nuno Sa, also from Portugal, documented the endangered Mediterranean monk seals of Desertas Islands, Madeira, 1000 km to the west, while Milan Radisics focussed on Madeiran landscapes and flora. A further 800 km to the west, Magnus Lundgren visited the Azores to showcase - from above water and below - one of the most spectacular whale- and dolphin-watching locations in the world.
Romania
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Romania has some of the great wilderness areas of Eastern Europe. The rugged, heavily forested Carpathian Mountains of Transsylvania hold healthy populations of brown bears. Cornelia Doerr documented the landscapes, agriculture, wildlife and plants of this region. Meanwhile, Manuel Presti concentrated on the vast wetlands of the Danube Delta, which hold important bird populations, including Europe's largest white pelican colony.
Russia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Russia is the largest country in Europe, with vast wilderness areas. Two Wild Wonders missions covered the country. Russian photographer Igor Spilenok travelled to the Kalmykian steppe to document the steppe wildlife, including the demoiselle crane and the critically endangered Russian sub-species of saiga antelope. Tom Schandy (Norway) headed for the Caucasus, location
of Europe's highest mountain, Mount Elbrus (5642 metres), to photograph the high peaks, endemic plants and dense Nordmann fir forests.
San Marino
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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San Marino is the third smallest country in Europe (only Vatican City and Monaco are smaller) and also the oldest republic in the world, having been founded in 301AD. Florian Moellers (Germany) found some hidden gems in this densely populated state, around the precipitous Monte Titano, including the Italian cave salamander, endemic to Italy and San Marino.
Serbia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Ruben Smit (The Netherlands) photographed in two key areas of Serbia for Wild Wonders - the Djerdap National Park (including the Iron Gate Gorge on the River Danube) and the Gornje Podunavlje Ramsar Site, with abundant wild boar and diverse insect life in the ancient riverine forests and meadows on the Danube floodplain.
Slovakia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Slovakia is a country of contrasts, with high mountains, extensive grasslands and primeval forests. Italian photographer Bruno d'Amicis and German photographer Konrad Wothe
documented the varied fauna and flora of Slovakia, including the sousliks and hamsters of the eastern grasslands, fire salamanders, woodpeckers and imperial eagles in the forest reserves and national parks, and brown bears and red deer in the high Tatras Mountains.
Slovenia
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Daniel Zupanc (Austria) worked in the Triglav National Park in Slovenia, highlighting the dramatic mountain peaks, wildflower meadows, forests and waterfalls of this region of the Julian Alps, including the resident ibex. Slovenia is one of the most heavily forested countries in Europe and possesses a wealth of underground rivers and caves due to the porous limestone of its Karst landscapes.
Spain
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Spain is a large country with very diverse landscapes and habitats, which are showcased in eleven Wild Wonders missions. It is also the nearest country in Europe to Africa, with arid plains, many reptile species and Europe's largest vulture population. Resident photographer Inaki Relanzon produced detailed coverage of all the main islands of the Canaries, while Diego Lopez shot the Bay of Cadiz and its flamingo flocks. Magnus Elander and Staffan Widstrand (both Sweden) tackled some of the more spectacular bird and mammal species - lammergeiers in the Ordesa National Park, Spanish ibex in the Sierra de Gredos and great bustards and white storks in Extremadura. Verena Popp-Hackner (Austria) shot the coastlines of the Bay of Biscay in the Basque country, while Laurent Geslin (France) produced intriguing images of the urban peregrines of Barcelona. Niall Benvie (UK) focussed on the reptiles, insects and flowers of Andalucia, while Pete Oxford (UK) achieved unique shots of Europe's most endangered mammal, the Iberian lynx.
Sweden
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Sweden is renowned for its lakes, forests and rocky coastline, and for the Arctic wilderness of Lappland. Eight Wild Wonders photographers visited this country. Stefano Unterthiner shot wintering whooper swans at Lake Tysslingen and cranes at Lake Hornborga. Peter Cairns headed north to Sarek National Park in Laponia with its reindeer and tundra. Peter Cairns and Erlend Haarberg worked in the birch and conifer forests of Bergslagen, vibrant with lekking capercaillies and black grouse and several spectacular owl species. Orsolya Haarberg composed beautiful images of the Stockholm Archipelago, and residents Martin Falklind and Staffan Widstrand
photographed trout feeding on mayfly, and owls, moose and delicate wildflowers. Meanwhile Magnus Lundgren and Michel Roggo show the underwater environment.
Switzerland
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Switzerland lies at the heart of the Alps and is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe,
with 48 peaks over 4000 metres. The Swiss National Park is the oldest in central Europe, while the
Matterhorn (4478m) is one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the world. Verena Popp-Hackner (Austria) and resident photographer Michel Roggo documented Switzerland for Wild Wonders. Verena focussed on the Matterhorn under different light conditions, while Michel reveals the underwater life of the many fish species which breed in Switzerland's lakes, rivers and streams.
The Netherlands
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Three photographers documented wildlife highlights in The Netherlands.
Mark Hamblin (UK) travelled to Oostvaardersplassen, a wetland and grassland area reclaimed from the sea in 1968, where a herd of Konik horses, closely related to the original wild horse, along with Red deer and Heck cattle maintain the 2,000 hectares of grassland. He concentrated on documenting the horses' behaviour.
Jari Peltomaki (Finland) photographed birdlife, particularly avocets, on the island of Texel and Florian Mollers (Germany) documented Great cormorants in Ijsselmeer.
Turkey
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Solvin Zankl (Germany) photographed the nesting grounds of the endangered loggerhead turtle at the Dalyan Delta in Turkey for Wild Wonders, documenting nest-building, eggs hatching and the turtle hatchlings heading for the Mediterranean Sea.
Ukraine
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Ukraine is a vast country with three globally recognised biodiversity hotspots. Grzegorz Lesniewski (Poland) explored the Bagerova steppe in the Crimea for Wild Wonders, discovering abundant wildlife including red-footed falcons, sousliks, glass lizards, bat colonies, ruddy shelducks and demoiselle cranes.
United Kingdom
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Six photographers carried out 9 missions for Wild Wonders in the UK, working in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There was a strong emphasis on the great riches of the British coastline, re-introduced species and urban wildlife. Laurie Campbell worked with bottle-nosed dolphins in the Moray Firth and otters in the River Tweed, Pete Cairns with capercaillies and red squirrels in the Cairngorms, and Laurent Geslin with urban foxes in London and Bristol, plus the grey seal colony at Donna Nook in Lincolnshire. Juan Carlos Munoz travelled to mid-Wales to photograph red kites, Nuno Sa went diving with basking sharks in the Inner Hebrides, and Danny Green visited some of Scotland's most dramatic gannetries.
Vatican City
25 Aug 2014 04:31 pm
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Laurent Geslin (France) visited the Vatican City, the smallest state in Europe, occupying just 44 hectares within the city of Rome, with a population of around 800. The Vatican is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only one consisting of a whole state. The Vatican gardens are home to a surprsing wealth of wildlife, including the aptly named monk parakeets, kestrels and a variety of other bird and insect life.
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