Just a few miles off the coasts of France and Italy, the Mediterranean shelters a remarkable diversity of marine life. Plankton blooms sustain giants, floating objects become refuges, and unexpected relationships help animals survive in the open sea. A migrating fin whale connects this intricate ecosystem, where even the smallest creatures play a vital role.
Sperm whales gather around a birth and defend their young, while devil rays perform elaborate courtship displays. These encounters reveal the complex lives of animals rarely observed from shore. Yet this abundance remains vulnerable to fishing pressure, shipping traffic and warming waters. The Pelagos sanctuary embodies efforts to protect this wildlife, with encouraging signs for some species and continuing threats to others.
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