Seven Worlds, One Planet

Antarctica is a land of survivors enduring the most hostile conditions on Earth. Despite the fact that 98% of the mainland is covered in ice, species from krill and penguins to elephant seals and fin whales have flourished and diversified. However, their biggest challenges await them as the Southern Ocean warms due to climate change.

Asia is the largest and most extreme continent on our planet, stretching from the Arctic Circle in the north to the tropical forests on the equator. The animals here face the hottest deserts, tallest jungles and highest mountains found anywhere on Earth.

South America - the most species-rich continent on Earth. From the bone-dry deserts of the Atacama, where penguins weave their way through snapping sea lions, to the lush cloud forests of the Andes, where Andean bears scale trees in search of elusive fruits, South America is full of the unusual and ingenious.

Australia has been isolated for millions of years after being cast adrift at the time of the dinosaurs. The weird and wonderful animals marooned here are like nowhere else on earth, from kangaroos and six-foot-tall cassowaries to tiny tropical fish and the largest number of shark species in the world.

Europe is a crowded continent transformed by mankind, where extraordinary animals are found in surprising places. Today, just four percent of Europe is protected wilderness, but recent conservation efforts have thrown a lifeline to a lucky few species. Only by protecting the wilderness that remains and creating new wild spaces can a future for Europe's precious wildlife be ensured.

More than any other continent, North America is defined by extreme weather and seasonal change, from the brutal winters in Canada's Yukon to the warm winds of the Gulf of Mexico. For animals that live here, this poses great challenges, but for those with a pioneering spirit, it can also offer great rewards.

Africa is home to the greatest wildlife gatherings on Earth. From vast tropical rainforests and the rich Serengeti grasslands to the Great Rift Valley and deserts that cover one-third of the continent, Africa's unique animals have managed to thrive despite the increasing threat that comes from human activity.