Freshwater

All life needs water to live. Yet water itself is not constantly available, and animal parents must relentlessly adapt to this challenge. Dedication, perseverance and sheer bravery are key to success in the freshwater world.

In the Brazilian Amazon, thousands of turtle parents must predict the timings of the seasonal rains before laying their eggs. If they get it wrong, their hatchlings will drown underground, but if they get it right, it is the beginning of one of earth’s greatest spectacles as thousands of baby turtles follow their mothers' calls into the water. In Namibia, waterholes provide a reliable resource for a desert-dwelling Namaqua sandgrouse father. But he must pick his moment wisely when collecting water for his chicks. One second out, and he will end up in the claws of a raptor.

Some animal parents try to use the power of water to their advantage. In a Caribbean river, a tri-tri goby harnesses the currents to oxygenate his eggs. But before they can even be laid, a once-in-a-lifetime storm sweeps him and everything he’s built downstream. He must climb 1,000 feet of waterfalls to get another chance at parenthood. In the swamplands of Florida, a clever swamp canary parent uses the power of snacks to entice its young hatchlings from the jaws of danger with only moments to spare.

For some, the search for water can feel never-ending. In drought-ridden Kenya, an elephant matriarch and her family must share the remaining water with humans until the rains finally come. When they do, the power of water threatens to turn deadly.

As the climate shifts, freshwater is becoming harder to predict. Humans and wildlife are adapting to changes in freshwater patterns, but we can choose to improve the life chances for the next generation with more reliable freshwater.