Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i BBC Wildlife Magazine

Welcome... This issue is full of unique images of wild animals in proximity to human activity – an urban peregrine nesting in clear view of a householder, shy Italian wolves close to Rome and Naples, and gentoo penguins greeting cruise-ship passengers when they visit the world’s most southerly post office. From all the feedback in your emails and letters, we know how much you appreciate the amazing pictures that the talented wildlife photographers we work with spend many patient hours acquiring. But we’d also like to know how you feel about everything the magazine has to offer, because it will help us develop for the future. So if you could take a short time to complete our reader survey on p57, or online at www.discoverwildlife.com/readersurvey, it would be much appreciated.…

Drone-fly ERISTALIS TENAX Hoverfly with a very long flight season, from March to November. A honeybee mimic, abundant along hedgerows and in woodland and gardens. Large bee-fly BOMBYLIUS MAJOR This stocky parasitic fly is a bee mimic that lays its eggs in bees’ nests. Flies March–June; hovers with its long proboscis held out in front. Hairy-footed flower-bee ANTHOPHORA PLUMIPES Solitary bee on the wing March–May; often visits hedgerow or garden flowers. Male ginger with dark bands; female black with orange-tufted hind legs.…

“THE SEEDS PRODUCED BY OAK TREES ARE THE RESULT OF DOUBLE FERTILISATION” 13 ACORN “A seed is so small, where do you suppose/It stores up all of the things it knows?” This line from Aileen Fisher’s The Seed reminds me how seeds and great poems are alike. Both represent something big packed very small, with the potential to grow, replicate and live forever. As with most flowering plants, the seeds produced by oak trees are the result of double fertilisation. On reaching the ovary of a flower, one nucleus from a pollen grain fertilises the egg cell to form an embryo, and a second nucleus initiates the formation of a parcel of seed food – the endosperm – which sustains the seedling during its first burst of growth. It’s the…

A captive population of greater vasa parrots at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park has been observed holding pebbles and date stones in the beak to grind calcium-rich dust from seashells. It’s the first record of any nonhuman animal using grinding technology. The parrots, which are native to Madagascar, may use the tools to protect their beaks from wear and tear. The behaviour is most frequent just before the breeding season, when females require calcium to build their eggshells. During this period, their mates provision them with regurgitated food, which might help explain why the males seem to be the most enthusiastic grinders. SOURCE Biology Letters LINK http://bit.ly/1QscSLt…

INDICATOR SPECIES This is the name given to species characteristic of a particular habitat or certain environmental conditions. The presence of wood anemone or dog’s mercury, for instance, is a good indication of an ancient woodland – that is, one that has existed since before 1600. The presence or absence of certain species may also be indicative of the health of a habitat – for example bloodworms (midge larvae) are characteristic of polluted streams, while mayfly nymphs require clean water. Wood anemone is a good indicator of ancient woodland and blooms in March–May.…

NEST DEFENCE Adult birds compete for nest sites, which can be in short supply in urban areas as the number of peregrines increases. Any intruders are chased off by the resident pair; territorial incursions may occur on a daily basis. EGG-LAYING AND INCUBATION Peregrines usually lay three or four eggs at two-day intervals, and begin incubating when the third or fourth is laid, for 29–33 days. The male takes over periodically to allow his mate to stretch her wings and eat. YOUNG CHICKS When they are newly hatched, the downy white chicks are totally helpless, and for a few days can’t see very much. They are brooded to keep them warm, while the female peregrine tears meat into small pieces for them to eat. OLDER CHICKS The chicks grow rapidly,…

BARN OWL The loss of tussocky grassland – habitat for its small-mammal prey – in our farmed landscape has hit populations. Even so, the BTO says that barn owl numbers doubled in 1995–2013. Nestboxes and the warming of the climate have been crucial, adds the Barn Owl Trust. SMALL TORTOISESHELL The butterfly is still quite common, though its occurrence in the UK has declined by 15 per cent in the past 40 years (and its abundance by 73 per cent). Loss of flower-rich areas has hit many species of butterfly, and there is growing evidence that neonicotinoid pesticides have too. YELLOWHAMMER One of the farmland species hit by the loss of the winter stubble which provides seed for overwintering birds, caused by the change from spring to autumn sowing. Solutions…

This Easter ZSL London Zoo is opening its biggest and most breathtaking experience yet: Land of the Lions. The new exhibit will invite visitors to get closer than ever before to majestic Asiatic lions as they roam just metres away. Transporting visitors from the heart of London to the vibrant setting of Sasan Gir, the exhibit will immerse them in the sounds, sights and native wildlife of India, while highlighting the importance of conserving these beautiful and endangered lions, found exclusively in the Gir Forest region in the Indian state of Gujarat. There are approximately only 500 Asiatic lions left in the wild. Protected by law, the lions play an important role in the local community which deeply values their presence. But, due to their limited range, the big cats…

Madagascar is the oldest island on the planet. All this time in isolation has allowed strange and fascinating plants and animals to evolve there that aren’t found anywhere else on earth. But this richness is under threat, with hard-hitting consequences for both wildlife and people. For nearly 30 years Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has focused on protecting the most threatened species and habitats in this extraordinary island nation. However, rural communities on the island also depend on these same ecosystems for their livelihood. So our approach is based on empowering these communities to lead in the protection of their local environment and the species that share it. We do this by setting up community patrols. We know this approach works, but it’s a long road and the area is vast.…

Throughout Love Your Zoo week, BIAZA collections across the UK and Ireland will be hosting a week of fun activities for you and your family. Information on what your local zoo or aquarium has on offer will be posted on their websites nearer the time – so keep an eye out for details! FIVE REASONS TO LOVE YOUR ZOO 1. BIAZA zoos and aquariums offer a great day out for all – our members receive more than 23 million visitors each year! 2. Of those 23 million, more than 1.3 million come as part of an organised educational visit – zoos and aquariums offer a fun way to learn about animals and nature 3.By visiting your local BIAZA zoo or aquarium you are supporting our researchers in learning about the…

Badger groups from Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, France and Holland have joined forces in a bid to strengthen legislation at both member state and EU level. The new network – EuroBadger – will promote the importance of the species to biodiversity and habitat protection, and will lobby for alternative policies to culling in efforts to reduce bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The group’s first major initiative is putting together an EU country-by-country report on badgers. This will include populations and the threats to their survival, and will be launched in the European Parliament later in the year.…

“The hardy purple sandpiper continues its search for food, despite the cascade of water falling around it.” Claire Stott Grey Feather Photography “It has been three months since I have been able to positively identify H3, a three-year-old female buzzard in my local patch.” Alex Appleton Wildlife Diary “The lack of people and the sheer quietness was eerie, but far from being lifeless the landscape was alive with birds.” Rachael Bentley Fresh Air Wild Hair • Share your wildlife experience at www.discoverwildlife.com…

1 WEKA Russell Peninsula, North Island A charismatic bird that is attracted to any food items carried by humans. 2 NORTH ISLAND KOKAKO Te Urewera National Park, North Island Said to evoke the spirit of New Zealand’s forests more than any other bird, this ko – kako is nonetheless rare because of predation by non-native mammals. 3 SPERM WHALE Kaikoura, South Island Though not endemic, sperm whales are still a sought-after ‘tick’ in Kaikoura, where a host of other marine mammals can be seen. 4 HECTOR’S DOLPHIN Akaroa, South Island Reaching no more than 1.5m in length and with a dorsal fin shaped like Mickey Mouse’s ear, this species is only found in New Zealand waters. 5 SOUTHERN BROWN KIWI Stewart Island, off South Island Kiwis flourish here thanks to…

What does the trust do? We create and conserve roosting, nesting and feeding habitats; provide education; and conduct and support research. What do volunteers help with? All sorts! You could get involved in habitat management on one of our three reserves – Sculthorpe Moor in Norfolk, Shapwick Moor in Somerset or Fylingdales Moor in North Yorkshire – or in the wider countryside; build nestboxes; meet and greet in a visitors’ centre; take on admin; assist during school visits; or become a volunteer warden. You could even help to run our famous Urban Peregrine Watchpoint at Norwich Cathedral – the birds started nesting there in 2012. How much time do volunteers have to commit? We are grateful for as much as people can give – whether it’s one morning a month,…

PLAN YOUR TRIP well in advance. In many parts of the world whales are present only at certain times of the year, and different species are restricted to specific locations. DO YOUR RESEARCH – book a responsible whale-watching operator who abides by a code of conduct. Some countries have official regulations, others no guidelines at all. IN THE UK the best time to watch whales is May to early October, but some species, such as the minke (pictured), are here year-round. Bring a good field guide, binoculars and – if you’re on a boat – waterproof clothing. THROUGHOUT EUROPE you can see everything from sperm whales to killer whales, and even rarities such as the narwhal and beaked whales. TO IDENTIFY A SPECIES it helps to know its location; the…

WHERE? Counter Drain Drove, West of Spalding, Lincolnshire SOUTH LINCS RESERVE WARDEN John Oliver WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT This Wildlife Trust reserve in the heart of south Lincolnshire provides a unique glimpse of the ancient ‘wild fen’ that once defined eastern England. WHAT YOU CAN SEE Visit to see overwintering flocks of birds such as wigeons, lapwings and teals preparing for spring migration, plus brown hares boxing in the fields. TOP WILDLIFE SPOT The Counter Drain bank provides excellent views of whooper swans, short-eared owls and marsh harriers flying over the wild fenland landscape. HOW TO VOLUNTEER We are always looking to get people involved in every aspect of the reserve, from scrub clearance and wildlife surveys to education activities. Get in touch at www.lincstrust.org.uk/ willow-tree-fen. JOIN ITS EVENT On…

KATIE STACEY CONTRIBUTOR Katie works on conservation-based projects. She says,“Chicago is the perfect place for a peregrine family to call home, with its ‘pseudo cliffs’ on a migration flyway.” See p22 MARY COLWELL CONTRIBUTOR “Religions embody a wealth of wisdom on the environment and have much to contribute to our understanding of our relationship with the natural world,” says producer Mary. See p82 HELEN SCALES CONTRIBUTOR Writer Helen says, “With trees covered in thorns, tiny tortoises and dancing lemurs, Madagascar’s spiny forests are one of the strangest habitats on the planet.” See p88 RUTH PEACEY CONTRIBUTOR Ruth works for the BBC’s Natural History Unit. “Spending five months immersed in the gentoo penguins’ world gave me a unique insight into their lives,” she says. See p96 GET YOUR DIGITAL COPY Buy…

MOOR THE MERRIER The upkeep of uplands has become a contentious issue, but there’s welcome news from the Peak District’s Eastern Moors Partnership where RSPB and National Trust land has seen big increases in whinchats, curlews and skylarks: www.easternmoors.org.uk. WASHED-UP AUKS Storms in the North Sea in early January led to a ‘wreck’ of little auks in eastern Scotland – 135 of the tiny Arctic seabirds ended up at the SSPCA Wildlife Rescue Centre.“Sadly many didn’t pull through because they were so weak and thin,” says centre manager Colin Seddon. The 65 survivors were rested and tube-fed fish soup.“We tested their waterproofing in our pools prior to release,” Colin adds. HARVEST MICE RETURN Britain’s smallest rodent is back in Selborne – the idyllic Hampshire village where the species was first…

Green woodpeckers often forage on lawns in search of their favourite food. As soil temperatures rise, activity in ant colonies steps up a gear. Most nests last many years, and this makes them a reliable food source – one that green woodpeckers raid mercilessly. After the bird has penetrated a nest with its bill, it unfurls its sticky, wormlike tongue to slurp up ants by the hundred. The defensive squirts of formic acid deployed by some ant species appear to be a mild irritant to the woodpecker, but also benefit it by ridding its feathers and skin of parasites. If you see a green woodie feeding, check out the area after it has gone and you might find grey-sheathed droppings packed with hundreds of ant exoskeletons.…

“FLYING SQUIRRELS ARE BEING SPLIT INTO SMALL POPULATIONS WITH A HANDFUL OF BREEDING FEMALES IN EACH” No one needs to ask why I study Siberian flying squirrels – just look at the picture! They have gigantic black eyes and soft, silvery-grey fur, and when you see them glide between trees, it’s magic. But there’s another reason: they’re mysterious, live at low densities and mostly nocturnal, and I enjoy a challenge. Though the squirrels have a huge range in forests of the boreal climate zone, from Finland east as far as the Japanese island of Hokkaido, they are declining in many places, including my study areas in Estonia. They are tiny, typically weighing half as much as a brown rat, but nevertheless need large expanses of mixed old-growth forest, with plenty…

SKYLARK PLOTS Skylark plots are undrilled patches of land, ideally measuring at least 16m2 , in winter-sown cereal fields. Conservationists believe that by June the density of the cereal is too great for skylarks to forage effectively, and that the undrilled plots provide an alternative space in which the birds can find food. Two plots per hectare can increase the number of skylark chicks that fledge successfully by an impressive 50 per cent. http://bit.ly/1Pz4DaC BEETLE BANKS A beetle bank is a hibernation refuge for overwintering ground beetles and spiders in the middle of a large field that has been ploughed to create a ridge up to 0.4m high and 2m wide and then sown with perennial grasses. The invertebrate predators, whose densities can exceed 1,000 per square metre, reduce the…

The landmark birth of a pair of Amur leopard cubs and a trio of tiger cubs at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park within the last year has been a significant boost to the reserve's efforts to save two of the world's most critically endangered species from extinction. The numbers of both species have fallen perilously low and the park’s breeding triumphs are seen as critical moments in the international programme to preserve these majestic cats. Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park Foundation has been working to raise awareness and funds for both of the Amurs, as well as African hunting dogs, polar bears and other animals. “The Amur tigers and leopards are under enormous threat from disappearing habitats and poaching, and we have to act now to save them as there are…

Paradise Wildlife Park is very proud to be the leading zoo in Europe for animal experiences. We have pioneered this aspect of wild animal management and in the process have raised over £2.5 million for conservation projects around the world, as well as provide funds for our breeding and education programmes on site. Our latest success story is our African penguins, who have bred five penguin chicks since November 2015. Claire, who has worked at Paradise for the past 18 years, went to Africa in December to volunteer for the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and while there helped release over 200 African penguins back into the wild. She then rounded off her visit by presenting this incredible organisation with a donation from Paradise. Since…

Witness an array of beautiful owls skimming silently over your head and discover more about the legends and tales told about these ethereal creatures. See our owls display their unique hunting and flying skills as they glide around the Silver Birch Glade, our unique woodland arena with intriguing new features. Plus there will be chance for intrepid members of the audience to assist in highlighting the birds' flying skills! Sights and sounds will accompany these creatures in flight to take you back into the mystical world so closely associated with these birds. The Hawk Conservancy Trust is an award-winning visitor attraction where you can see some of the most exciting bird of prey flying displays in the world! Explore 22 acres of stunning woodland and a wildflower meadow as you…

WIN one of two pairs of Hawke Frontier ED 8x42 binoculars worth £259.99 We are always interested in your views on the content of BBC Wildlife Magazine. Knowing what you like and dislike really helps us shape the articles so you get the most out of your decision to buy the magazine. This year we are also thinking about reader events involving our staff, experts who write for us and wildlife photographers. So telling us what you might enjoy will be invaluable in our planning. Whether you are based in the UK or overseas, please spare five minutes to complete this survey at www.discoverwildlife.com/reader survey. UK residents who complete the survey by the closing date will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two pairs of…

There are few better feelings than finding a new park right on your doorstep that you have not yet explored. I could not believe my luck when I discovered Francis King Park, British Columbia, Canada, which up until now had completely missed my radar. I decided to walk a main trail in the park that included a patch of old-growth forest [a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance]. Old-growth forest was once found across Vancouver Island, but logging has decreased its range to a few patchy areas. On entering the forest I saw the ground carpeted in ferns, the trees covered in moss and lichen and the evergreen trees standing tall. Along the trail I heard the peeping of chickadees and bushtits, and the ghostly call of…

On mild, damp nights in March, toads and frogs emerge from hibernation driven by an urgent desire to pass on their genes to the next generation, and make for their ancestral breeding ponds. Under cover of darkness they embark on arduous journeys, crawling through undergrowth, climbing obstacles and often crossing busy roads. It’s an epic and dramatic annual migration that happens right on our doorsteps every spring, so stake out your local pond or locate a crossing point, and keep your camera at the ready. Sam Hobson ABSTRACT SPAWN Clumps of frogspawn (pictured) or strings of toadspawn make great photographic subjects in themselves – crop in as close as possible and concentrate on the shapes and patterns to create an abstract image. Experiment with the light at different times of…

• Wildlife Worldwide (01962 302086, www.wildlifeworldwide.com) has a very extensive selection of Madagascar itineraries, including photographic tours led by Nick Garbutt, an authority on the island’s natural history. • Other companies offering wildlife watching in the spiny forests include Reef And Rainforest (01803 866965, www.reefandrainforest.co.uk), Rainbow Tours (0203 131 4981, www.rainbowtours.co.uk), Naturetrek (01962 733051, www.naturetrek.co.uk), Tribes Tailormade Travel (01473 890499, www.tribes.co.uk) and Africa Exclusive (01604 628979, www.safari.co.uk).…

“WOMEN ARE HELD BACK FROM BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE” What is Why Women Will Save the Planet all about? This new book from Friends of the Earth demonstrates that the empowerment of women is a key issue for anyone interested in nature conservation and sustainability. It’s a collection of articles and interviews packed with evidence, ideas and inspiration for securing a healthy environment in which women, men and nature can all thrive. How did you choose the contributors? We commissioned 26 chapters from more than 30 women around the world to give the reader a wide range of perspectives and ideas. The contributors include leaders in business, politics, the media, activist networks, charities and researchers. They all see vital connections between issues affecting the environment, economic development,…

WHO? BLAISE BULLIMORE is a diving marine biologist and an honorary warden of the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone, where he takes part in annual monitoring work. WHAT? PINK SEA FAN WHERE? SKOMER ISLAND, PEMBROKESHIRE “IT’S DIFFICULT NOT TO BOND WITH WILDLIFE YOU SEE FOR DECADES. EVEN SO, I WAS SURPRISED AT JUST HOW DEVASTATED I FELT.” BLAISE HAD VISITED THE SAME SEA FAN FOR 30 YEARS. WHAT WOULD HE DO NOW THAT IT HAD VANISHED? The visibility was about 5m – average to good. I sank beside an algae-encrusted rope hanging from a scruffy marker buoy in the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) off the coast of Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. Some 15m down, the rope divided at a large knot – one branch disappeared under a car-sized boulder, the other…

“THIS ISN’T A PLAYFUL GAME OF ‘PAT-A-CAKE’ - WHEN A FEMALE CUFFS A MALE, THE FUR LITERALLY FLIES” What would your ultimate British wildlife experience be? The experts at The Wildlife Trusts have just published their own shortlist, with tips on how to enjoy each seasonal spectacle – and boxing hares feature prominently. In fact this pugilistic performance can be seen throughout the brown hare breeding season, from February to September – the fisticuffs and flying fur have simply become associated with March because large numbers of female hares are receptive at much the same time, and grasses and crops tend to be shorter, giving a better view. The sparring involves females, or does, fending off over-attentive males, or bucks. In ideal habitat you may see big groups – at…

1 Variety of trees Hawfinches are tied to large stretches of mature woodland that – crucially – have a good mix of tree species. The birds love to feed on cherry, holly and plum stones, beechmast, ash ‘keys, and seeds of hornbeam, elm, yew and hawthorn. 2 Brute force Like a miniature parrot, the hawfinch can exert tremendous pressure with its jaw muscles and conical bill – equivalent to 150 pounds per square inch. 3 Wide-ranging RSPB researchers are radio-tagging 20 female hawfinches a year in the Wye Valley and North Wales. The tags, which last about six weeks, show that the birds forage up to 5km from their nests during the breeding season – a huge area for birds of this size. One female whose nest failed nested again…

New research has removed a significant obstacle to the theory that fish are conscious, emotional creatures. A key argument against fish sentience is that, unlike mammals, birds and even some reptiles, they do not seem to respond to stressful situations with an ‘emotional fever’ – an increase in body temperature that serves as a kind of physiological rolling-up of sleeves. But new experiments suggest that stressed zebrafish seek out water that is warmer than they usually prefer, which gives the same result. The scientists conclude that fish are “behaviourally complex animals that may well be sentient and conscious to an extent”. SOURCE Proc. Roy. Soc. B LINK http://bit.ly/1IsshmR…

After the morning briefing with the rest of the animal team we drive up to the reserve and start our daily checks. No two days are alike and there's lots to do. One job that's especially important is counting the reserve's animals and checking on the young, in particular those that have been born overnight. We started 2016 with the birth of a white rhino calf, the 11th to be born at Knowsley Safari in the last 10 years. Alongside the inevitable worries that come with the arrival of any newborn, is the enjoyment of seeing them explore their world and, as they get older, interact with their mum and the other rhinos in the reserve. Our white rhino breeding programme has been incredibly successful and is recognised as one…

Listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red Data List, this breakthrough breeding of Zebra sharks has enabled the aquarium to inject a brand new family line into the EAZA (European Association for Zoos and Aquariums) Breeding Programme. The arrival of these pups is a great achievement, as they were bred by a pair with no previous reproductive history. Their bloodline adds a new branch to the breeding programme – essential to maintaining the viability of this species for future generations. Of the six youngsters, the two females will remain at The Deep, along with their mother. One of the three males hatched from eggs sent to The Deep by Shedd Aquarium, Chicago in 2014, will also stay to complete the breeding group. The inclusion of an American-bred male will create…

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is a deadly virus that affects young elephants typically around weaning age. In many elephants it can lie dormant and undetectable and never develops into the disease, but others are more susceptible to it. Currently no one knows why some elephants get it and others don’t. Chester Zoo is part of the global conservation community committed to researching EEHV and finding ways of improving outcomes for elephants that develop the virus. Ultimately we want to try and develop a preventative vaccine, as currently there isn’t one. For many years we’ve funded vital research into EEHV, but researchers have yet to manage to culture the virus, a process which is necessary to create a vaccine and determine what drugs are most effective. We have a responsibility to…

“AT THAT MOMENT, TWO WATER VOLES APPEARED ON THE RIVERBANK.” MANTA PROTECTION Peru has adopted measures to protect manta rays, which are threatened by demand for their gill rakers and meat, and also by entanglement in nets and lines. Manta fishing is now prohibited, and those caught as bycatch should be set free where possible. TIGER TRAPS Remote-camera recordings from a production forest in the south of Sumatra have recorded evidence of two tigers suffering wounds that appear to haver been inflicted by traps set by hunters. Police have arrested suspected poachers and dealers, as well as confiscating tiger skins and organs.…

Though I have an academic background in conservation, I also have an emotional connection with nature. I fell in love with wildlife when I was seven – my childhood was defined by the streams and copses of the countryside around Felixstowe where I lived. During the General Election last year, I realised that there was this silence around conservation. I thought, “If politicians won’t address this issue, I will.” My idea for Felixstowe Community Nature Reserve is very simple – we are encouraging local people to allocate at least three square yards (2.5m2 ) of their garden or their allotment for wildlife-friendly plants and features such as ponds and insect lodges. Collectively, this patchwork of small areas of land is forming a green network as neighbours encourage each other and…

PANGOLINS Delegates showed their support for increasing the protection given to the eight species of pangolin. All are currently protected under Appendix II, but a draft resolution noted that current measures had not prevented ongoing declines. ELEPHANTS Many countries – including all those in the EU, the USA and many African states – called for any discussion of legalising the trade in ivory to be suspended. This has now been pushed back to the bigger CITES conference taking place later this year. HARDWOODS A briefing was held on the unsustainable trade in tropical hardwood species, particularly for the lucrative Chinese ‘hongmu’ furniture industry. Some species need to be given a CITES listing, while others should have their protection increased, says the EIA.…

OUR EXPERTS JULES HOWARD is a zoologist and author with a fascination for slug mites. RICHARD JONES is a writer and entomologist with a fondness for dung beetles. STUART BLACKMAN is a science writer who is mildly obsessed with evolution. MIKE TOMS is an author and associate director at the British Trust for Ornithology. SAM HOBSON is a wildlife photographer who regularly contributes to BBC Wildlife . Q MARINE LIFE What kind of creature is the Portuguese man of war? A The Portuguese man of war is a colony of thousands of different organisms, known as polyps, all working together to create what appears to be a single animal. As most of this is made up of long, stinging tubes, it’s called a siphonophore, or ‘tube-bearer’ – from the Greek…

Madagascar’s spiny forests are vanishing at an estimated 1.5–2 per cent a year. The major causes are logging to make charcoal, which is the main cooking fuel here, and hatsake , a form of farming that involves burning and clearing the forest for agriculture. Farming in southern Madagascar is amazingly challenging: soils are poor, and rainfall is low and unpredictable and getting worse due to climate change. So clearing forests to grow crops is often the only option that many people have. “There are no jobs in rural areas,” explains conservationist Charlie Gardner. But over the past decade more protected forests have been set up, with local people involved in managing them. “At least positive steps are now being taken,” he adds.…

AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS Eight parts, beginning Thursday 3 March, 10pm America’s national parks seem to have an allure like no other. Their names alone stir the imagination – Badlands; Death Valley; Great Smoky Mountains – and their unimaginably dramatic landscapes prove irresistible to tens of millions of visitors each year. Yet there’s much more to these legendary locations than hiking trails and viewing decks, and this new series for Nat Geo Wild investigates the wilder and lesser-known sides of some of the country’s greatest wildernesses: the steamy mangroves of Florida’s Everglades; the Grand Canyon; Arizona’s Sonoran Desert; Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains; Alaska’s icy Gates of the Arctic; the towering cliffs of Yosemite; the rugged coast of the Olympic Peninsula; and arguably the most famous of them all – Yellowstone. Stretching over…

WHAT Lost Adventures WHEN Thursday 31 March, 7.30pm WHERE Playhouse Theatre, Nottingham Join highly acclaimed wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan as he hosts an evening of exciting personal recollections, including discovering a new species of giant rat in the crater of an extinct volcano and finding tigers living at high altitude in Bhutan. With 20 years’ experience of travelling across the globe, the presenter of the recent BBC Two series Gorilla Family & Me has a reputation for relishing tough assignments. Gordon is looking forward to sharing his tales and answering questions: “Being able to talk face to face with people who also care passionately about wildlife is a great privilege.” Book tickets at www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk or call 0115 941 9419. The tour ends on 7 April. More dates: www.gordonbuchananwildlife.com…