Foreword

—Jeff Corwin We are not far away from the point of no return when it comes to life on earth, and we have some radical choices to make. “ “

foreword

Coastal areas are some of the most important habitats for wildlife and California offers a significant portion of the nation’s oceanfront terrain. From migratory birds soaring, sun-bathing colonies of sea lions on the rocky coastline, whales feeding and migrating, nesting sea turtles, kelp forest-loving sea otters—this coastline is critical to many species’ reproduction, feeding, and socialization.

Like my latest show Wildlife Nation, this book showcases the dedicated environmental heroes that protect the natural habitats and the unique creatures that reside along the coastline. Despite the incredible array of life found in and around the great blue deep—our oceans and the coastline face serious dangers. Pollution, climate change, wildfires, exploitation, and acidification all threaten this critical ocean ecosystem and the wildlife that calls it home.

Whether it’s working with scientists who fight to protect elephant seal habitats along the coast of California or bringing three rescued California sea lions back to their homes in the wild—my work with Wildlife Nation has exposed me to both the harm that California wildlife is facing but also the magnificent dedication of local conservation heroes fighting tirelessly to save them. One of those heroes is one of the curators of this book and the President of the Marine Mammal Care Center—a marine animal rehabilitation center that I had the pleasure of working with on my latest series. Helping to rehabilitate injured wildlife has always been a passion of mine and the challenging work that these organizations do is often overlooked. Coastal California, The Wild Life is an opportunity to peek behind-the-scenes and catch a glimpse of the beauty that these conservationists work so hard to protect. The organizations featured in this book fight every day to ensure the survival of iconic California species. Viewing this one-of-a-kind photography allows us to be transported to these locations where we can truly appreciate this unique landscape and its inhabitants. I hope this will inspire you, as it does me, to want to protect them at all costs.

The mountain of environmental destruction we have to overcome is massive—but we must not give up the fight. Every action we take to remediate the harm, makes a difference. We are in the midst of the 6th great extinction, and this one is on us. We’re poisoning them, burning and destroying their habitats, entangling them in fishing gear, and disturbing the ecosystem they rely on for survival. Wildlife are the innocent victims, but it doesn’t stop there.

It’s not just a loss of natural resources that we, and our children, and the next generation will depend upon. There’s a human cost as well. By saving them, we save ourselves. All species on earth cannot survive except as interconnected parts of healthy and vibrant ecosystems. Every species of animal or plant is woven together in the tapestry of life. We must keep this planet healthy and thriving. Not just for the wildlife, but for the future of all life.

Jeff Corwin Wildlife Biologist & Conservationist