Part 7/11:
Regions such as Sunda and Sahul, once land bridges connecting Asia to Australia, transformed into isolated ecosystems following the last Ice Age as rising sea levels flooded these lands. Consequently, while a water barrier might seem traversable for animals, the evolutionary adaptations that occurred in isolated ecosystems over millions of years rendered such crossings impossible for most species. This drastic difference in climate and habitat presented significant challenges for any animal attempting to venture into foreign territory.