If you go down to the beach on the Cook Islands, you might be in for a big surprise… sea cucumbers. Lots of them. The seabed and seashore can be littered with the giant slug-like beasts. They might not look pretty but these bloated creatures act as an important filter, similar to an earthworm. It's thought the islands are home to 14 different species of sea cucumber, including some that are eaten and others that are used for medicinal purposes.

The Cook Islands: the paradise destination you’ve probably never heard of

Strange things that have washed up on beaches