While rainforests usually rank near first place in terms of biodiversity, the animals’ elusiveness can sometimes lead to a challenging wildlife-viewing experience. Wetlands, however, serve up fauna on a silver plate and are as rich in biodiversity as rainforests and coral reefs.
Their shallow, nutrient-packed waters are an ideal breeding ground for organisms that are critical for our planet’s food web, which in turn supports a wide variety of species of birds, fish, amphibians, shellfish, and insects.
Birding is, of course, a top wildlife viewing activity in wetlands, but with a little more attention to detail, a variety of animals can be spotted. For instance, Florida’s Everglades offer endangered Florida panthers, while capybaras—the world’s largest rodents—roam Brazil’s Pantanal, and freshwater crocodiles lure prey in northern Australia’s swamps.
Beyond biodiversity, wetlands…
