WILD NETHERLANDS

A country below sea level

The Netherlands with one of the highest population densities in Europe has managed to preserve an amazing abundance of concentrated nature - this is truly a model:
The Dutch wadden sea offers indispensable livelihoods for seals, numerous fish and crab species as well as for millions of migratory and resting birds. The extensive dune landscapes of the five islands offer spoonbills, marsh harriers, avocets and oystercatchers perfect breeding grounds. Man-made land reclaimed from the sea is home to one of the largest wild horse populations in Europe alongside foxes who raise their offspring here. Towards the inland, an astonishing microcosm is active in surprising large forest areas in autumn, while red deer and fallow deer meanwhile carry out fierce rutting battles. The Netherlands - an unexpectedly great little country.

WALES

Great Britain´s wild West

Amazing habitats and pure wilderness – that is Wales. Along the westcoast are some of Europe's largest seabird colonies with thousands of Atlantic puffins and gannets. Dolphins and otters search the sea for food and young grey seals fight for survival during devestating storms. Inland red kites roam the sky, flying over playing fox pups in the south and feral goats having fierce rut fights in the north.

WILD SPAIN

The atlantic North

The wilderness of northern Spain offers a fantastic diversity. The Cantabrian Mountains are habitat of around 140 Cantabrian brown bears - the largest bear population in Western Europe. Above the tree line is the realm of Cantabrian chamois. They share their habitat with the colorful wallcreeper. The Asturian Salamander is the only one with a completely yellow tint – in lower elevations he searches for food. The numerous streams of the mountains flow into the Atlantic, inhabited by giant sperm whales and basking sharks.

WILD SPAIN

The mediterranean South

From the spectacular landscapes of Andalusia to the vast areas of the Extremadura: southern Spain is wild. In the shelter of the night genets search for prey. Vultures are more numerous in Spain than anywhere else in Europe. While they prefer carrion, european chameleons and hoppoes appreciate the abundance of insects. With around 30 000 breeding pairs, Spain is one of the most important countries for white storks in Europe. Under water, southern Spain reveals its special magic: the protected areas in the Mediterranean sea offer an incredible biodiversity.

WILD ITALY

From Sardinia to Abruzzo

Off the beaten tracks, the wild side of southern Italy reveals itself. While the spectacular coastline of Sardinia offers an amazing landscape and underwater life, the rugged inland is home to impressive mouflons and wild horses. On Sicily, within sight of the volcano Etna, live fascinating birds like rollers, stone curlews and lesser kestrels. Archaeological sites, thousands of years old, have been taken over by mason bees and reptiles. The mountains of Abruzzo are the wild heart of Italy, inhabited by Abruzzo chamois and lynxes.

WILD ITALY

From the Alpes to Tuscany

The north of Italy, with its diverse landscapes, is home to impressive wildlife. The snow-capped peaks of the Italian Alps are the realm of impressive ibex and chamois, while above them golden eagles and bearded vultures roam the sky. Wolf and bear have found their way back to the wild mountain regions. The Po is the longest river in Italy and forms a huge delta on the Adriatic. In addition to numerous birds-species, flamingos and purple herons breed here. The world-famous Tuscany surprises with tropical-looking bee-eaters, an unexpectedly magnificent insect variety and the last cowboys of Italy.

WILD POLAND

Tatra, Ostsee and Masuren

Where in Europe do bisons live in the wild? And where do probably more migrating birds breed than in any other European country? In Poland. There, nature is full of surprises. The south of the country is dominated by the over 2,000-meter-high peaks of the Tatra. In the northeast the Biebrza forms one of the largest wetlands in Europe, a paradise for rare birds such as ruffs and black necked grebes. In Masuria thousands of white storks breed, more than anywhere else on earth. Rare black storks breed in large forests that reach to the desert-like dunes of the Baltic Sea.

SCOTLAND

Highlands and Islands

Britain's northernmost region offers spectacular landscapes and fascinating wildlife. The Highlands are home to majestic red deer and Ospreys catch fish in the numerous lakes to raise their chicks. Capercaillies have their courtship in the forests, while for the same purpose black grouse prefer open heathland. The magical islands of the Hebrides are home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds, such as the distinctive puffins. The reason is the enormous amount of fish in the sea, serving also otters and dolphins as food.

BAMA AND THE LOST GORILLAS

This film features the world´s first footage of wild Cross River Gorillas. A few years ago, they were thought to be extinct. Until in the Limbe Wildlife Center in Cameroon, the female gorilla Nyango attracted the attention of scientists. It turned out: Nyango is a Cross River Gorilla - are there any more of these unique gorillas and if so, where do they live? The gorilla keeper Alfred Bama goes on an adventurous journey through Cameroon, to get answers to these questions. And indeed, Bama succeeds in observing the last remaining free-living Cross River Gorillas. A triumph - they are not extinct. Not yet. Because of poaching and the loss of their habitat, they are the world's most endangered apes with fewer than 250 animals.

THE WESERBERGLAND

Legendary lower Saxony

The Weserbergland belongs to one of the most beautiful and diverse nature areas in northern Germany. Wild pony herds roam large forests, where red and fallow deer perform their impressive rutting fights in autumn. Bats find refuge in an old church and impressive eagle owls hatch undisturbed on steep cliffs. Numerous streams offer salamanders habitat and fox pups play undisturbed in front of their den on the edge of an idyllic meadow valley.

WILD CROATIA

Natural paradise between Danube and Adriatic

Croatia - a small country with an extraordinary biodiversity. The Adriatic features a rich underwater fauna, dolphins, vultures and endemic reptiles. Right next to the Adriatic steep mountains rise to almost 2.000 meters height. Inside numerous caves can be found, some inhabited by unique olms. The lush forests of Croatia are home to brown bear, lynx and red deer. White tailed eagle and imperial eagle, spoonbill, purple and gray heron live in the lowlands in the east of the country, and some quaint villages are home to more white storks than humans.

OSTFRIESLAND

Seven Islands an one Sea

Ostfriesland, the peninsula in the northeast of Lower Saxony is something special. The coast is a resting place and wintering area for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds. Nordic geese and waders migrate towards the Wadden Sea in autumn or settle on the fat pastures of the marshes - they all find plenty of food here. On the East Frisian Islands, sandwich terns, oystercatchers and spoonbills nest in the shelter of dunes in spring. But they must beware of breeding marsh harriers and seagulls. On the offshore sandbanks of the islands common seals nurse their pups.

BULGARIA

Through the wild Balkan

Bulgaria is a colorful garden with a unique fauna just waiting to be discovered. Along the Black Sea coast, thousands of white storks migrate north to their breeding areas in spring. Bears and wolves live in the more than 2,500-meter high mountains of the Pirin and Rila mountains, while in rugged rock formations vultures search for food. The picturesque Danube lowlands are populated with bee-eaters, rollers and numerous other fascinating species. In the sparsely populated Balkan state between Europe and Asia, a unique flora and fauna has been preserved to this day.