One of the most inspiring events in nature is the migration of animals. These massive movements are often carried out in search of new habitats.
The Great Migration of animals is a vital part of our planet’s natural ecosystem. It shows that the world’s habitats are connected. Here are some of the world’s greatest migrations.
Sea Turtles
These sea turtles are known to make incredible journeys in the ocean to lay their eggs and feed.
Recently, scientists were able to track the movements of several leatherback sea turtles, which traveled across the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Canada and the US. One of the animals’ most impressive feats was returning to the beach where it was born. A loggerhead sea turtle named Yoshi, which was released after spending 20 years at the Two Oceans Aquarium, traveled 22,000 miles.
Baleen Whales
The journey of giant baleen whales is longer than that of most other marine mammals. One of these is the gray whale, which makes an annual migration of up to 14,000 miles.
During the winter, various species travel to warm tropical waters to mate and deliver their babies. They then swim to the cold waters of the Antarctic or the Arctic to nourish themselves during the summer. The timing of this migration has been affected by climate change and warmer temperatures.
Dragonflies
Until 2009, scientists did not know how far the long-distance migration of dragonflies went. Through a study, they were able to track the insects’ journey from India to the Maldives, Seychelles, Mozambique, Uganda, and back. These little winged insects have a flying range of over 4,400 miles of open ocean water.
The epic migration of these insects spans four generations. Each generation takes part in the journey, which is considered to be the longest-known insect migration. It’s believed that the insects follow the seasons of rain in various regions such as India and southern Africa.
Wildebeest
One of the most popular animal migration events is the annual migration of millions of African Wildebeests. These animals travel thousands of miles each year to search for greener pastures. The Great Migration occurs every year and involves millions of wildebeest. They travel from the southern part of Tanzania’s Serengeti Desert to the Masai Mara in Kenya and then back.
The spectacle of the migration is witnessed as the animals cross the crocodile-infested waters. They are also chased by lions and die due to starvation, disease, and drowning.
The vast grasslands of Africa would not exist without the animals’ migration. The vital habitats that these animals rely on are maintained through migration.
