Heiko de Groot

Eastern Poland is one of Europe's last wild regions; the Biebrza lowlands make up the biggest national park in Poland and are of the utmost value for beavers, otters and countless aquatic birds.

The forest is like an organism, ancient and full of mechanisms. Its plants need water and are temperature-dependent. Nevertheless, it survives in a wide variety of locations around the world. How does it manage to adapt to even the most adverse conditions?

Animals are true superheroes. They have superpowers that we humans can only dream of. Some grow back their limbs after they have lost them. Others let huge bones grow on their heads at a rapid speed. And some can go into hibernation for months without losing muscle. Their skills could help humans against Alzheimer’s, heart attack and osteoporosis. But these superpowers are still a mystery. How do animals do that? Scientists are trying to solve the riddles to help save human lives.

Once raccoons were brought to Germany for their fur. Today many people wish them gone. There are approximately half a million raccoons living in Germany and they are spreading throughout Europe. It all started in the first half of the last century with fur farms. Since fur produced in captivity was of lesser quality than fur from the wild, it was decided to release two gestate pairs into the forest. They came upon ideal living conditions and multiplied busily. For a long time, there were no studies on how raccoons affect native species. Only in the last years have German biologists started to shed light on it with surprising and mainly comforting conclusions.

Stories of extraordinary lives and extraordinary lands across the globe.

Explore how Australia's geographic isolation has resulted in the creation of some of the planets strangest and most unique creatures.