The United Kingdom in an island nation surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the Irish Sea to the west, the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. These waters are home to whales, dolphins, seals, sharks, deep-sea fish and cold-water corals. Today, however, many of these species are threatened by overfishing, shipping traffic and marine pollution.
On land, the UK is home to hundreds of bird species as well as small mammals such as fox, hare and deer. But many of the country’s forest habitats are threatened by development, deforestation and air pollution.