Natural selection is a process that was notably observed by Charles Darwin, an English geologist and biologist, whereby all living things are in competition with each other and those that are “the strongest” survive. This does not necessarily mean that animals need to be physically stronger, rather that a variation such as beak length or wingspan could be crucial to the longevity of the species.

Characteristics such as this as well as the suitability of an animal’s habitat affect how much they can endure; essentially it becomes a competition to see who will best respond to any changes in the environment and certain creatures will become extinct – hence the phrase ‘survival of the fittest’. Those organisms that are best adapted will pass down desirable attributes to their offspring.

Darwin stated that all life forms have evolved in order to withstand the potential dangers of the rapidly changing world that they are living in. He also warned that if animals did not adapt then they would be at risk of becoming extinct; changes that could force a species to go through this process could be a new predator or disease.