Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i BBC Wildlife Magazine

 We loved choosing the photos for this year’s BBC Wildlife calendar because it reminded us of all the amazing pictures our readers have taken in 2017. Finding the right combination and most appropriate ones for each month wasn’t easy, but it was fun. I hope you’ll agree they are all absolutely stunning! The overall winner of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2017: PIED WAGTAIL SILHOUETTED BY THE LIGHTS OF HEATHROW’S TERMINAL 5 by DANIEL TRIM Our Your Photos page in the magazine every month puts us in touch with wildlife lovers all over the world – a global community of people who care about wild animals and have the patience and skill to capture the incredible images they share with us. Staying with the theme of fantastic photography, I was…

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Critical critters The Grant Museum of Zoology at University College London (UCL) has created The Museum of Ordinary Animals exhibition to tell the stories of ‘boring beasts’ that have changed the world. Despite having a profound impact on the lives of humans, and on nature, these commonplace animals are rarely represented in natural history museum displays. Exhibits on show include a wall of 4000 mice skeletons, Egyptian cat mummies and what may be the world’s oldest veterinary text. • Until 22 December, Grant Museum of Zoology, free event, www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/projects/museum-ordinary-animals Discover dragonflies Join one of the UK’s leading experts on dragonflies, Ruary Mackenzie-Dodds, for a talk on dragonfly behaviour, life cycles and local species such as black-tailed skimmers ( below ). The event is hosted by Pitlochry and Highland…

RUDDY HIGH Biologists have documented the first case of extreme high-altitude flying in a duck. Ruddy shelducks were recorded flying at heights of 6,800m during their migration over the Himalayas, according to the Journal of Avian Biology. BEETLE BOTS Click beetles are inspiring the design of self-righting robots. As reported at the Living Machines conference, scientists are developing robotic components based on the snapping hinge between the beetles’ thorax and abdomen. SAFE HAVENS At least 30 per cent of all plant species, and 41 per cent of those classed as threatened, are safeguarded in botanic gardens around the world. However, Nature Plants reports that species from tropical regions, which harbour the greatest diversity, are still severely under-represented. DUAL DEFENCE Wood tiger moths’ bright colours warn predators of their potent chemical…

EUROPEAN MINK MUSTELA LUTREOLA IUCN STATUS: Critically Endangered LENGTH: 50–55 cm (male); 38–46 cm (female) WEIGHT: 0.8–1kg (male); 0.4–0.5kg (female) ID: Chocolate-brown all over, except for two white marks above and below mouth TERRITORY SIZE: 5–15km (male) POPULATION: Probably fewer than 5,000 in the wild – and falling fast DISTRIBUTION: Isolated parts of Spain, France, Romania, Estonia, Ukraine and Russia AMERICAN MINK NEOVISON VISON IUCN STATUS: Least concern LENGTH: 55–70cm (male); 47–60cm (female) WEIGHT: 0.7–2.1kg (male); 0.5–1kg (female) ID: Dark brown, with white mark on lower lip only TERRITORY SIZE: 1–6km (male) POPULATION: Unknown, but widespread; thought to be around 110,000 in UK alone DISTRIBUTION: Native to USA and Canada; widely introduced in South America and Europe EUROPEAN POLECAT MUSTELA PUTORIUS IUCN STATUS: Least concern LENGTH: 32–45cm…

“TIME IS SHORT AND THE STAKES INCREASINGLY HIGH.” NORTHERN SIGHT A northern bottlenose whale, normally found in deep water in the North Atlantic, was filmed off the coast of Northumberland in late September. There have been 222 confirmed sightings of northern bottlenose whales since 1966 in British waters, according to the Sea Watch Foundation. CAT CASH Big cats in 10 “at-risk” areas in China and other parts of the world are to benefit from $20m (£15m) funding from a wealthy Chinese philanthropist. The conservation group Panthera says the first phases of the 10-year programme will concentrate on snow leopards in China and lions in Africa.…

Originally, there was only one clouded leopard, but scientists ‘split’ the species about 10 years ago because of genetic differences and variations in appearance between those found on mainland Asia and those on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra – the latter are now known as Sunda clouded leopards. Clouded leopards are not leopards – indeed, they are not part of the Panthera genus of ‘big cats’, though they are the felids most closely related to lions, leopards, jaguars, tigers and snow leopards. What we know about their diet is restricted to a handful of chance observations, and it includes ungulates such as bearded pigs, sambar and muntjac, as well as primates, but it is likely to vary depending on what’s available. Occasional encounters have shown they use the forest…

FOR BIRD LOVERS… Stephen Moss’s The Robin: A Biography brings a dose of seasonal cheer (Square Peg, £10.99), while the The Secret Life of the Owl by John Lewis-Stempel (Doubleday, £7.99) explores the legends and history of these wondrous birds. If it’s puffins, fulmars et al that you’re after, The Seabird’s Cry by Adam Nicolson (Harper Collins, £16.99) is an entrancing account of the lives, loves and losses of 10 species, and As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Alex Preston (Corsair, £25) is a must for bird and literature lovers. TO MARVEL AT AND DELIGHT OVER… For a gift with coffee-table clout, consider Blue Planet II (BBC Books, £25); Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 27 , a showcase of stonkingly brilliant images from across the globe (NHM, £25); or Birds…

The 12 Tweets of Christmas RADIO BBC Radio 4 Starts 18 December: weekdays 5:58am; Sundays 08:58am As thoughts turn to crackling fires and jingling bells, BBC Radio 4 offers a Chrismassy take on the much loved series Tweet of the Day. Based on that most festive of songs, The Twelve Days of Christmas, avian offerings to listen out for include the French partridge and goldfinch. As ever, this is a series for early risers, but if the dark winter mornings are too much, you can catch up with the podcast repeats online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4.…

1 FOSSA Kirindy Forest Fossas are Madagascar’s apex predator, a large mongoose-like carnivore that can grow to nearly 1.5m long (if you include the tail). Elusive and hard to spot, but Kirindy is said to offer better odds than other locations. 2 AYE-AYE Nosy Mangabe The extraordinary aye-aye was introduced to Nosy Mangabe, which it was hoped would develop an ‘ark’ population. If you want to see any aye-ayes, you’ll have to stay the night. 3 GIRAFFE-NECKED WEEVIL Ranomafana NP These famously bizarre bugs are only found in rainforest on the east side of Madagascar. In the mating season, look out for males fighting for a female using their necks. 4 INDRI Andasibe-Mantadia NP The indri is the largest-living lemur and, with its black and white, luxuriously thick coat, unmistakable…

ELLEN HUSAIN Wildlife filmmaker Ellen grew up on the Cornish coast. She explored waters close to home for a recent project. “I was incredibly impressed with the blue sharks,” she says. See p 20 SHELLY PERKINS Wildlife artist Shelly travelled to Antarctica with the Royal Navy. “My work has led to some incredible experiences but this was the trip of a lifetime,” she says. See p36 SUZI ESZTERHAS Suzi spent two months photographing giant pandas in China. She says, “It’s easy to see why these delightful creatures have captured the world’s imagination.” See p76…

RED-LETTER DAYS Stake out the feeders at Scotland’s Loch of the Lowes (Scottish Wildlife Trust) and Abernethy (RSPB) reserves for fantastic views of red squirrels. Both locations also have webcams trained on the feeders. Wardens top them up throughout the winter – you might spot crested and coal tits too. ROADSIDE SPECTACLE In winter the hedges and scrub beside motorways and railway lines often seem to have been smothered in foam, rather like the off-white scum whipped up by a river. This is the feathery seedheads of traveller’s joy, also known as old man’s beard – our native species of clematis. WINTER BLOOMS Gorse is famous for flowering in every month of the year, adding a welcome splash of midwinter colour to bleak heaths and hillsides. With searching, you can…

• MARINE LIFE BRAINLESS JELLIES NEED REST CASSIOPEA JELLYFISH SUFFERING FROM LACK OF SLEEP DON’T FUNCTION WELL THE FOLLOWING DAY. Animals don’t come much more distantly related than humans and jellyfish. But new research suggests we have something fundamental in common – the need for a good night’s sleep. Sleep is not limited to mammals or even vertebrates. Worms and flies also indulge themselves in a bit of shut-eye, but this research suggests that it has ancient evolutionary roots. Biologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have shown that Cassiopea jellyfish display a day-night cycle of activity that ticks all the sleep boxes. Cassiopea are a strange group of jellies that spend their lives upside down on the seabed, pulsating rhythmically to keep a current of plankton-rich water flowing…

“THE STAR ARCS A DIFFERENT COURSE AND MY PICTURES CHANGE IN TIME AND SPACE.” Through the clag that pulls on the foot, the drag of briar and the shove of cold, through the dun, the black copper and the long shadows, through the tired gate and the trough of sour rot, the sunken tread of tractor and tracks trodden deep by deer and dog, through the wind-slapped cheek and the chilly tear, I can feel the distance, coming, near. A nuthatch pipes up, up there in the up, in the blindness, the thin cage of warty twigs that makes the crown grey like a ghost head, shot through with veins in chaos, all bleeding up from the big, bold body, the trunk, holding up their gravity, thick and old and…

“THE ONLY LONG-TERM SOLUTION IS TO ELIMINATE DEMAND BUT MEANWHILE, ANTI-POACHING OPERATIONS ARE CRITICAL.” WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? After the infamous ‘Rhino Wars’ of the 1980s and early 1990s, when the slaughter of rhinos for their horns was merciless, conservation efforts reduced poaching to impressively low levels. But it’s on the rise again – South Africa alone is now losing about three rhinos every day. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that this is unsustainable. WHO BUYS RHINO HORN? Rich Vietnamese collect rhino horn carvings as a display of wealth, or an investment, and drink rhino horn wine (‘the alcoholic drink of millionaires’). In Vietnam and China it is also used in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly to reduce fever, but also for everything from snakebite and hangovers…

Why make this film now? There have been many discoveries about T. rex in recent years, and there will undoubtedly be many more. There just comes a point when a story is worth telling. You’re ‘taking on Hollywood’ with your own T. rex model. Just how ambitious is this? Extraordinarily! Our aim is to create a fully animated 3D creature. It will be the culmination of all the discoveries investigated in the film, and needs to look and move like a real animal. CGI is very punishing when it comes to budgets, but as we are concentrating on just one species, we have been able to throw all our resources into getting the detail as accurate as possible, down to the texture of its feathers and…

Tell us about the hospital... We are based in Hertfordshire, and care for injured and orphan hedgehogs from the surrounding area. We are manned from 9am–9pm by staff and volunteers, and received a record 652 admissions in 2016–17. The hospital is funded by Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity (SWCC), which works with Shepreth Wildlife Park to raise funds for and awareness about threatened species. What can happen to hedgehogs? Babies are sometimes abandoned by their mothers and require hand-rearing, while juveniles from second litters may not be large enough by autumn to enter hibernation, and can die of starvation and cold. Adults are frequently injured by cars, bikes and lawnmowers, or after becoming trapped in holes or ponds. How do volunteers help? They provide valuable assistance with the general care of…

“ROBINS HAVE GRACED CARDS AT CHRISTMAS SINCE THEY WERE FIRST POSTED EN-MASSE IN THE 1860s.” Pictured among snow-dusted holly berries or on a garden spade or chair, fluffed up against the cold, or nesting in a discarded rusty teapot or battered boot, the robin enjoys iconic status in British popular culture. Especially so at Christmas, when this perky member of the chat family holds a special place in our affections. The barn owl – its closest rival in 2015’s poll to choose a national bird, organised by the ‘Urban Birder’ David Lindo – never really stood a chance. Robin Redbreast romped home. Familiarity has something to do with it, as does the species’ tameness in the British Isles. (Its appealingly large-eyed face can also melt the hardest heart.) During the…

They’re probably among the most unbreakable creatures on Earth, able to survive dehydration, microwaving and temperatures as hot as 150ºC or as low as –273ºC. They can also cope with being exposed to the ionising radiation of outer-space. Not tough enough? On top of all of these credentials, they can exist in suspended animation for over three decades. It is also claimed that these animals have the physiological capabilities to be the last beast standing in the event of a nuclear holocaust. Tardigrades, which translates as ‘slow walkers’, are found from the deepest ocean sediments to the top of Mount Everest. But, luckily for you, they live in less exotic and more user-friendly locations too. That clump of moss on your garden wall or in your blocked gutter, for instance.…

TELOMERES Tiny details can have huge impacts. Telomeres are minute structures that protect the ends of chromosomes from damage, rather like the plastic tips of shoelaces. The longer the telomere, the greater the protection. But telomeres shorten with age and in response to stress and illness. Pet African grey parrots housed alone, for example, develop shorter telomeres than those who get to socialise. And shorter telomeres mean more damage to the chromosomes – damage that can be passed onto offspring (see ‘Ageing parents provide flaws’ on p16).…

Since June 2016 Brexit has dominated the news agenda in Britain, and many commentators – regardless of their political views – agree that it could spell change for our landscape. If so, it won’t be the first time that big political decisions have transformed our countryside. The first of the Enclosures Acts was passed almost 250 years ago. An entire rural landscape was taken out of common use and subdivided by hedges and walls to create the checkerboard farming landscape that is now symbolic of the lowland English countryside. At the time the ‘peasant poet’ John Clare railed against the carving up of open land where previously “its only bondage was the circling sky”. Ironically, two centuries later the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and others campaigned to stop…

What happened? A woman disappeared close to Maroneia in the north-east of Greece, and she was found 40 hours later partially eaten. Though initially feral or shepherd dogs were said to be responsible, the coroner then said the ferocity of the attack indicated it must have been wolves. What evidence is there? Her body had been dismembered and partially eaten, and there were reports that she made phone calls on the day she disappeared saying she’d been attacked by dogs. The currently nearest-known wolf pack to Maroneia is 17km to the east, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t others that are closer. Will more other evidence come to light? Possibly – tissue and hair samples are being examined for DNA traces to see if this tells us more, but even…

“PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAVE HABITATS FOR DECADES, BUT THE RATE OF DAMAGE GOES ON.”Jonathon Porritt “IF NOT FARMED INTENSIVELY, CATTLE CAN BE IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR MAINTAINING GRASSLANDS.” Now, be honest, how often do you eat meat? Every day? A few times a week? Just on special occasions? What about dairy – and eggs? Do you seek out beef or pork that was reared in the UK or choose chicken because you think they’re better for the environment? What about fish – do you see that as a more sustainable option? Here’s the problem with meat and most products derived from animals. Unless they ate only grass, or lived an entirely wild life, what they were fed was probably soya, wheat, maize or even palm-oil products, some of which…

Adventures of a Young Naturalist: The Zoo Quest Expeditions By David Attenborough Two Roads £25 ‘My plan was simple,’ writes Sir David Attenborough of the initial concept for Zoo Quest, his first natural history television programme. The plan involved filming expeditions to biodiversity hotspots and bringing back animals that would make a studio appearance before starting a new life at London Zoo. At that point, the plan did not involve a 63-and-counting-year career devising and presenting cutting-edge documentaries, but the stunning fact is that if you remember a time when Sir David wasn’t bringing nature to the small screen, you probably also remember George VI on the throne. The memoirs in this new compilation spring from the page as fresh as the day they were written, full of trademark wit…

THE LATEST ON iPLAYER, NETFLIX AND BEYOND It’s the season for finding giant spiders in the bath, and if you're keen to conquer your arachnophobia, try Spider House (BBC iPlayer, until 27 November), a 90-minute special that reveals what spiders really get up to in the nooks and crannies of our four walls. Alice Roberts is dispatched to a spider-filled house in Hertfordshire to meet entomologist Tim Cockerill and uncover arachnid behaviour at the closest of quarters, discovering how they hunt and mate, how they spin webs and what really happens if we flush them down the plughole. Staying with animal architects, beavers have made a return to the UK, and you can learn all about these charismatic river-dwellers by listening to Natural Histories: Beaver (www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09byqhy), a half-hour podcast in…

THE PANEL EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO wildquestions@immediate.co.uk or post to Q&A, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Immediate Media Company, 2nd Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN Q AFRICAN MAMMALS How do African wild dogs hunt? A African wild dogs are usually thought of as cooperative pack hunters that chase large prey for long distances across the open plains, tiring out their quarry before going in for the kill. But their hunting behaviour is in fact much more varied than that. Research in Botswana and Kenya has revealed that in woodland savannah habitats wild dogs often target considerably smaller animals, such as dik-dik and hares. To catch them, pack members are more likely to pair off or even hunt alone, flushing their prey from the undergrowth before chasing it down. Hunts…

1 RIVERBANK BEAUTY I took this photo of a plumbeous water redstart along the Kunhar River, northwest Pakistan. My family and I visited the area, which is surrounded by lush green mountains, in August. While my wife and children were asleep, I headed out to take pictures of these beautiful birds. By adjusting the shutter speed on my camera I was able to accommodate the low light. This male perched on a wooden post long enough for me to get some good shots. It was an amazing feeling when I captured this image. Ijaz Rafi, Lahore, Pakistan 2 HONEYMOON HIGHLIGHT My partner and I decided to travel around British Columbia, Canada, for our summer honeymoon. While visiting the mountain glaciers in Yukon, this gorgeous red fox ran in front of…

“THEY ARE TOO FAR FROM US TO SEE ANY SIGNALS, AND SHOUTING MIGHT ALERT THE POLAR BEAR TO OUR PRESENCE.” It’s the last day of a week long rafting trip I’m guiding on the Canning River, which snakes from northern Alaska’s Brooks Range into the Arctic Coastal Plain. Sipping coffee in the quiet of the morning, and looking south from the top of the bluff where we have pitched our tents, I notice a white lump on a cutbank a quarter mile away, muscling toward camp. I cannot believe my eyes – polar bear! I alert our clients, who immediately pop out of their nylon cocoons, one clad in just boxer shorts and a down jacket. Some 50km from the Beaufort Sea, radiant against the willow and heather, the bear…