European Eel

The European eel is Critically Endangered, with a population that has declined by 95% since the 1980s. They are elusive creatures, shrouded in mystery. Their eggs hatch in the Sargasso Sea near the island of Bermuda and they travel 4,000 miles as larvae for two years before arriving in Europe and transitioning into eels. This remarkable life cycle was only evidenced by scientists in 2022. For centuries their origin was subject to speculation, such as one theory put forward by a Scottish naturist who was convinced that they started their lives as beetles.