Europe's Amazon

The Danube is the largest preserved wetland on the continent, a sanctuary for thousands of species - many are the last of their kind. Conservationists are working to preserve and restore these precious habitats before it’s too late.

With dikes removed, nature came back to life on Ermakov Island. With nature taking control, plants returned, fish and birds followed in huge numbers, and insects started to flourish.

Made up of more than 18,500 birds, this pelican mega-colony is the Danube Delta’s largest. The Delta offers more than fish; it also provides the pelicans a pristine habitat.

Meet the fen raft spider. It can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes but surfaces when it’s time to hunt. It uses surface tension of the water to pick up vibrations to catch its dinner.