DAMAGING LIGHT POLLUTION WHAT WE
CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR BATS
2018 Volume 36 Number 12
November
BBC’S DYNASTIES HAUNTING
GRAVEYARDS
CLEVER Stefan Buczacki on what
we might ind there
CANINES HIGH-RISE
WILDLIFE!
Dopaintedwolvesdeserve ONE SHOW’S MIKE
their bad reputation? DILGER TAKES US
UP A MOUNTAIN
Page 13
2018 WILDLIFE
PHOTOGRAPHER
OF THE YEAR
The winning images from this
year's contest are revealed
A natural PLUS
paradise Meet New Zealand’s comedy parrot
Now at peace, The harm decking does to a garden
Colombia is open for
birding business What is Shifting Baseline Syndrome?
Travel now and take advantage
of our Introductory Special Offer
Christian Wappl/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018
Save
This image of a firefly was when you
highly commended in the
Wildlife Photographer of the Welcome! subscribe!
Year competition. See the See page 26
winning pictures on p76
very year we look Dynasties, will also open eyes to
forward to seeing the the wonder of five most iconic
results of the Wildlife species. As we went to press,
Photographer of the the programme dates were
EYear competition yet to be set, but the trailers
because we know we’ll be treated were promising a spectacular
to a feast of superb and innovative show. We’ve focused this issue
images. We’ve turned over our on one of the subjects, African
photo story pages this issue (from painted wolves (p18). Next month
p76) to a showcase of winners, we’ll share images of emperor
including two from the under-18s penguins, another of the Dynasties
categories. As in previous years, animals, by polar expert Sue Flood,
the photographers’ works not only who has dedicated more than 20
eopard: Skye Meaker/ world but also its vulnerability.
highlights the glory of the natural
years to photographing their lives.
These powerful images help
to motivate all of us to care for
e bat: Rudmer Zwerver/Shutterstock; Ourplastic Earth’s rich diversity of animals. Sheena Harvey Contactus
The new landmark BBC series,
Editor
Getyour
Burrard-Lucas; p p stre Wildlife Photographer of the Y ear 2018; blue-naped chlorophonia: Thomas Marent/Minden/FLPA packaging digital copy Q Advertising
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November 2018 om to find out more. 0117 314 8782 BBC Wildlife 3
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17
18
CONTENTS
FEATURES WILD NEWS
18 Clevercanines COVER STORY 60 News: Bats and lightpollution Keep up to date with the big nature
Does the elusive and colourful painted COVER STORY Conservationists question stories and latest wildlife discoveries
wolf deserve its bad reputation? whether there can be any such thing 49 News
as truly ‘bat-friendly’ lighting
28 Disappearinggardens COVER STORY Japan’s proposals to re-open
Is it time we called a halt to the raft of 68 NewZealand’s comedyparrot commercial whale hunting are thwarted
decking and acres of fake grass that are COVER STORY Loved for its vibrant plumage 51 Conservationreport
such bad news for the nation’s wildlife? and cheeky intelligence, the fun-loving The green turtle’s dietary difficulties
kea is a firm favourite – but it needs our
32 Anaturalparadise COVER STORY 55 MeettheScientist
help to ensure its survival
In its new era of peace, the world’s top Biologist William Reid on climate
country for avian diversity is finally 76 Photo story: 2018Wildlife change, the deep seas and Antarctica
open for birdwatching business Photographer of theYear
COVER STORY An exclusive preview of 57 TruthorFiction?
42 Hauntinggraveyards COVER STORY Do seals need to be culled to protect
winning images from the world’s
Ancient, undeveloped and undisturbed salmon stocks in Scottish waters?
most prestigious wildlife
for centuries, these peaceful Share photography competition
little patches of land have become and win 65 MarkCarwardine COVER STORY
valuable habitats for wildlife Wildlife conservation and the danger
Complete our of Shifting Baseline Syndrome
reader survey
Page 100
4 BBC Wildlife November 2018
The people
behind our stories
NIKI RUST
Niki Rust is an environmental scientist
and writer.“Climate change will be
the number one threat to wildlife in
the future. The work that Will Reid is
doing to understand how this will afect
wildlife is crucial.” See p55
42
60 32 STEFAN BUCZACKI
Fascinated by the history and natural
history of burial grounds, Stefan says,
“They are possibly our most under-
appreciated wildlife sanctuaries
and their care and conservation is
supremely important.” See p42
ALEX MORSS
Ecologist Alex works with a range of
protected species, including bats.
OUR WILD REGULARS “To many of us, bats are mysterious,”
WORLD 6 WildMonth she says.“They so often dwell in the
shadows right beside us, and yet
Find out the answers to your wild Seven species to look for in November remain so enigmatic.” See p60
questions and share your stories
13 MikeDilger’swildlifewatching
101 Q&A Scout out some of Britain’s wildest
How the leatherback turtle got its name, inhabitants, on the Scottish hills
and why shieldbugs smell of marzipan
17 NickBaker’sHiddenBritain
106 Travel: NationalParks The shoveler duck’s surprising talent
Fauna and flora to look out for in Thomas Marent/Minden/FLPA; bat: Photo Researchers/FLPA; illustration by Peter Scott/The Art Agency Churchyard: Erica Olsen/FLPA; kea: David Tipling/Alamy; wild dogs: James Giford; Vermilion Cardinal:
40 InFocus: Portuguesemano’war
Nepal’s Chitwan National Park
84 BehindtheImage SARAH MCPHERSON
107 Volunteer: WorkingforNature Section editor Sarah spent a week on
The gemsbok, Namibia’s drought survivor
Frances Dismore co-ordinates a the Northern Colombia Birding Trail,
waterways clean-up group in London 87 WildatHome: Naturalhistory and saw more than 200 species. “The
TV,books,puzzlesandmore country could become one of the
108 YourPhotos
greatest eco-tourism destinations in
114 WildlifeChampion
110 Feedback the world,” she says. See p32
Why film-maker Gordon Buchanan has
Your letters and Tales from the Bush
fallen in love with the African elephant
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 5
WILDMONTH
Seven essential wildlife events to enjoy this
month, compiled by Ben Hoare.
1 | ATLANTIC OAKWOODS
Wild wood
A tree is the “grandest, and most exposure to prevailing winds and poor
beautiful of all the productions of soil. They look especially dramatic
this Earth”, wrote the artist William when leafless after autumn gales.
Gilpin in 1791. Published during the Similar woods can be found clinging
Romantic era, his influential book to damp hillsides in other parts of
Remarks on Forest Scenery promoted south-west England, such as Exmoor
the idea of woods as picturesque and the Quantock Hills, and in the far
places that stir the soul. That is west of Wales and Scotland. Ecologists
certainly true of Wistman’s Wood, on refer to them as Atlantic oakwoods, or
Dartmoor in Devon, which is often – more poetically – ‘Celtic rainforest’.
described as ‘magical’ or ‘fairytale’. In They are nationally important for
one of his columns for BBC Wildlife lichens and three groups of ancient,
Magazine, nature writer Richard flowerless plants: mosses, ferns and
Mabey called it a “goblin” wood and liverworts. Wistman’s Wood alone
quoted novelist John Fowles: “It is the supports around 120 species of lichen. ONLINE
ASC Photography/Getty that is so haunting.” trees at: ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk FORESTS OF THE
silence, the waitingness of the place,
GET INVOLVED Help record ancient
IMAGINATION
The wizened, stunted oaks of
Cultural importance of woods
Wistman’s Wood are contorted into
National Tree Week is 24 November–
strange shapes by a combination of
2 December: treecouncil.org.uk
WILD NOVEMBER
WILDNOVEMBER
2 | YELLOW-NECKED MOUSE
Mystery rodent
Few, even wildlife lovers, have heard
of this wood mouse lookalike. Apart
from its band of tawny chest fur, seen
clearly only at very close range, the
species resembles its more-common
relative, but its range and behaviour
are somewhat different. Yellow-necked
mice occur patchily in southern
England and Wales, north through
the Welsh Borders to Staffordshire.
They’re also more arboreal than wood
mice, spending much time foraging
in hedges and trees. At this time of
year you might hear them scampering
around their nests in lofts and sheds.
GET INVOLVED Download the
Mammal Mapper app: mammal.org.uk
3 | EELGRASS
Marine meadows
One reason many wildfowl flock
to our coasts in winter lies beneath
the waves: eelgrass. This flowering
plant is adapted to life in salt water,
with trailing leaves that form lush
underwater meadows – now a
threatened habitat. It is a favourite
food of brent geese and whooper
swans (opposite), and of dabbling
mallard, pintail and wigeon – one Y ellow-necked mouse (captive): David Chapman; whooper swans: Elliott Neep; eelgrass: Matt Doggett
of its old names is wigeon grass.
The most extensive meadows are
found in shallow bays and inlets
such as Studland Bay in Dorset,
the Solent and Strangford Lough
in Northern Ireland.
GET INVOLVED Take part in
the Community Seagrass Initiative:
csi-seagrass.co.uk
8 BBC Wildlife November 2018
WILDNOVEMBER
4 | WHOOPER SWAN
Swan song
Peter Scott noted in his 1980 book Observations
of Wildlife that the breeding grounds of British
and Irish whooper swans were a mystery.
“We favour the Scandinavian/Russian theory,”
he mused. Ringing has since shown that our
wintering population is Icelandic. After an epic
flight lasting 12–13 hours, close to the limit for
such heavy birds, the ‘super whoopers’ make
landfall in western Scotland and Ireland in late ONLINE
October or November. Then soon head on to
favoured wetlands, trumpeting as they go. THE ONE
SHOW
Whooper swan migration
TOP TIP See whooper feeds at WWT Welney,
Martin Mere and Caerlaverock: wwt.org.uk
WILDNOVEMBER
ON RADIO
TWEET OF
5 | JUNIPER THE DAY
Weekdays at 05.58
Merry berry
The current craze for artisan gin has,
ironically, coincided with a decline in the
wild plant whose ‘berries’ (actually fleshy
cones) provide the flavour. Juniper is
among the most ancient trees in the British
Isles, having colonised quickly after the
end of the last ice age. It is one of just three
native British conifers, the others being yew
and Scots pine. In recent decades, juniper
has fallen victim of overgrazing by sheep,
deer and rabbits, which strip out seedlings.
Conservation projects are underway in its
two strongholds: uplands in the north, and
chalk downs in the south. 6 | REDWING
Winter thrush
FIND OUT MORE Learn more about
juniper conservation: plantlife.org.uk No natural sound is more
redolent of autumn than the ‘seep
seep’ of migrating redwings passing
overhead at night – contact whistles
that help flocks to keep in touch.
They have a thin, reedy quality, so
at ground level the effect is of half
hearing something above you in the
darkness (listen at xeno-canto.org).
Redwings pour into the UK in their
tens of thousands from Iceland,
Russia and Scandinavia, staying
until March. Despite the name of
our smallest species of thrush, it is
the creamy markings on the head
that first catch the eye.
TOP TIP Watch a BTO video
on identifying thrushes: bto.org/
about-birds/bird-id
7 | GREAT GREY SLUG
ONLINE Slugging it out
IN PURSUIT OF
THE RIDICULOUS Unlike the sodden summer of
Matthew Oates meets slug experts 2017, this year’s heatwave was
hardly ideal for slugs in Britain.
But now, thanks to early autumn
rain, malacologists – like the soft-
bodied molluscs they study – are
back in their element. One of our
most impressive slugs is the 15cm-
long great grey, also known as the
leopard slug. Hunt for this spotted
beauty in damp corners and under
dead wood or logs, or scan your
flower beds with a torch on a wet Redwing: Mike Lane; slug: Robin Chittenden; Juniper: Laurie Campbell
evening. It eats rotting matter and
fungi, not living plants.
FIND OUT MORE How
to identify slugs and snails:
https://bit.ly/2Pc6HgJ
10 BBC Wildlife November 2018
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www.wildlifeworldwide.com
Dear future bug hunters,
snail seekers and insect inspectors
I leave this place for you.
When you leave a gift in your will to a place that’s
special to you, you’re protecting it for the next generation.
Where you choose to support is up to you, and you’ll help make sure
unique places live on for years to come. Your gift could help replant a
hedgerow that bugs and beetles call home, rebuild a historic castle or
repair paths by a favourite beach – and so much more.
To request an appointment for our free will writing service:
Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/gifts-in-wills
Call 01793 817699 or email [email protected]
Please quote H18005
© National Trust 2018 Registered Charity No. 205846 © National Trust Images / National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
WILD NOVEMBER
Hit the Highlands for
the chance to spot
a golden eagle. This
‘goldie’ is feeding on a
red deer carcass.
MIKE DILGER’S
WILDLIFEWATCHING
A MOUNTAIN In his series of great places to watch wildlife in the UK, the star of
IN NOVEMBER BBC One’s The One Show this month takes us up a Scottish mountain
to scout out some of Britain’s wildest inhabitants.
he famous naturalist John forbidding domain just waiting to trip date forecast is an essential prerequisite
Muir once declared “the up the unwary. While hardly wishing before ascending into our scrap of Arctic-
mountains are calling and to discourage any intrepid naturalists, like territory. The Mountain Weather
I must go”. And for any it should be pointed out that ten people Information Service provides invaluable
Tnatural historian keen to lost their lives on Scottish hills during information on what can frequently
track down some of Britain’s remotest the first three months of 2018 alone. be a rapidly changing scenario at high
creatures as they prepare to hunker down So this is a habitat altitudes. In essence, if it’s wet,
Golden eagle and walker: Scotland The Big Picture/naturepl.com
A lunchtime
for winter, there can be no finer time to that must be never cloudy and windy in towns
encounter with a
head for the hills than November. taken for granted. hopeful raven in such as Aviemore or
If montane wildlife is your quarry The good news snowy Glen Coe. Grantown-on-Spey, then
of choice, then the only country in the is that the best in the mountains it will
UK able to offer the full complement weather conditions be considerably worse.
of species from this select, hardy group to spot montane As winter arguably
is, of course, Scotland. The Scottish wildlife perfectly stakes a claim on
Highlands and mountainous islands mirror the times Scotland’s summits
offer at best a stark and beautiful when it is also before anywhere else,
landscape unparalleled anywhere else safest to do so. a major advantage
in the British Isles – and at worst a Certainly, an up-to- for choosing this time
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 13
WILD NOVEMBER
The Cuillin: great for
spotting montane
wildlife, but not to
be taken lightly.
“ By now, fauna should
have been forced to
exchange mountain tops
for sheltered corries.”
of year is that already much of the fauna
should have been forced to exchange the
mountain tops and ridges for sheltered
corries and boulder fields at lower altitudes.
This drop in elevation will also take
Britain’s hardiest creatures away from the
spots more traditionally associated with
mountaineering and ice-climbing, instead
placing them in the realms of those unable, SPECIES TO LOOK OUT FOR
or unwilling, to evoke the spirit of Everest
conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary. Mountain hare Rarely dropping below Raven
With a detailed forecast dutifully checked, Superficially similar to 1,000m, the ptarmigan Our largest crow is easily
and suitably suited and booted for a range the brown hare, but more is the montane megastar identified by its massive
of wintry conditions, it’s also important to compact and with shorter everybody wants to see. bill, ‘fingered’ wings,
let others know of both your intended route ears, the mountain hare wedge-shaped tail and
and return time. As to precise locations to will exchange its grey- Snow bunting impressive voice. It is
visit, a good knowledge gleaned beforehand brown summer coat for Losing its glorious pied now a common feature
from books, the internet – or, better still, a winter-white pelage. In breeding plumage, this across much of western
local guides – will also have you searching recent years numbers have stocky bunting turns Britain, due primarily to
in the right ball park. declined dramatically and sandy and rusty brown in less persecution. A raven
The best technique is to locate a good the population is now less autumn. Now is the time proclaiming territorial
vista initially, then scan with binoculars or than one per cent of their they form flocks, and can be rights in its
a telescope while remaining alert for any initial levels. They are most surprisingly trusting while ancestral
movement. Mountain hares or ptarmigan active at dawn and dusk. searching for scraps of food home is a
should be turning into their winter finery not buried under snow. great sight.
by November, making them even trickier to Ptarmigan
pick out in their surroundings. Listening is Marginally smaller than Golden eagle
a key skill to hone, as the ‘cronk’ of a raven, its moorland cousin the The fortunes of this
or bizarre retching call of a ptarmigan, red grouse, the ptarmigan majestic and powerful
should help in pinpointing their location. radically changes its bird are improving. With
Montane wildlife can be distinctly clustered summer plumage – more than 500 pairs now
at this time of year, so if you find one snow predominently grey, breeding in Scotland,
bunting it will invariably be keeping company. brown and black barring ‘goldies’ can be spotted
Finally, with such a limited cast of species – to a startling white, soaring above anywhere
living in this extreme environment, the list of with a splash of black, in from rugged mountains to
wildlife that you spot will be characterised by winter (pictured right). remote islands.
quality rather than quantity.
14 BBC Wildlife
WILD NOVEMBER
CHOICE LOCATIONS
2
1 3 4
5
1 The Cuillin, Isle of Skye is a range
of hills best tackled with a guide on a
clear day. For those fit and experienced
enough to reach the top ridge, the wildlife
will make the climb worthwhile.
2 Beinn Eighe, Highlands near
Kinlochewe, close to Scotland’s west coast,
was Britain’s first national nature reserve.
Trails to the higher elevations ofer a great
Clockwise from the Highlands has chance of ‘goldies’ and ptarmigan.
above: there’s increased; a raven
a good chance of on a summit cairn is
seeing snow buntings a majestic sight and 3 Findhorn Valley, Highlands
on Cairn Gorm, not sound; a mountain around 25 miles from Inverness. This
least stealing crumbs hare in winter pelage ‘valley of raptors’ has possibly the best
at a restaurant; can be hard to see in views of golden eagles in Britain. At
the number of snow – keep an eagle higher elevations it also has a healthy
golden eagles in eye out for movement.
population of mountain hares.
4 Cairn Gorm, Highlands is the
premiere spot for watching montane
wildlife in the UK. On a clear day, you can go den eag e (capt ve): Chr s O’re
watch ptarmigan from the roof terrace
of the Ptarmigan Restaurant, while snow
buntings fly in for cake crumbs.
5 Glenshee, Perthshire is just south
of Braemar in the south-east of the y/naturep .com; raven: Mark Hamb
Cairngorms National Park. It is your best
opportunity of scoping ptarmigan, snow Wa ker: Marcus McAdam/A amy; hare: Karen van der Z jden/A amy; snow bunt ng: Steve Aust n/rspb- mages.com; hat: Mode Images/A amy;
buntings and mountain hares with the
minimum of efort.
DON’T GO WITHOUT:
Packing the right clothing
to keep you warm n/naturep .com; Ptarm gan: Andrew Park nson/naturep .com
and dry. Wear plenty of
layers (a merino wool base layer
performs really well). And remember your
waterproofs, gloves and a woolly hat.
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 15
WILD NOVEMBER
Shovelers move around
and around, using their
uniquely designed bills
to filter food from
Hidden
the murky water.
N
he ducks, their
polychromatic heads
sparkling in the low
T winter sun, spun
around and around almost
on the spot. These northern
shoveler ducks were among the NICK
many other species of what are BAKER
often termed dabbling duck.
There were wigeon, gadwall, Discovers a duck with
teal and the ubiquitous ‘duck a surprising talent
pond duck’ the mallard. They
each had their own sport: the
teal worked around the edges vegetation and grass growing upper and lower mandibles,
of the reeds in the shallows, the NORTHERN around the edges make some allowing a degree of filtering,
gadwall in the open, the mallard sense as a food source, the the shoveler takes this design
mid-water, often up-ended, the SHOVELER water that the shovelers were feature to another level.
wigeon leaving the water entirely ‘shovelling’ seemed to be just Compared with a mallard, a
and grazing the surrounding that – water (slightly turbid, successful generalist, which has
short vegetation. green/brown water, but water 0–70 of these short and stubby
However it was the motion nonetheless). It seems that these amellae, the shoveler has about
of the shovelers that set them spectacular looking birds were 20 on its lower mandible and
apart, and because they were conjuring up all their winter 180 on the upper.
close to the hide in which I sat, energy from the murk. But it’s not just the number of
it was the sound they made Take a drop of this green these combs that is spectacular;
too – a bright, rhythmic but murk and stick it under they are long, too – some
continuous splashing, like a fast a microscope at 30x approaching a centimetre. They
dripping kitchen-sink tap. magnification, and it are in effect similar to the baleen
What are they doing? Well DID YOU becomes a nutritious plates of a whale, and in some
it’s clear they’re feeding – but KNOW ? soup – a seething, respects the feeding mechanism
on what? And how? It’s part of fizzing mass of isn’t dissimilar either.
Its method of feeding is so
the fascination of birdwatching effective that the shoveler little lives from tiny While these lamellae are
– trying to spot the niches that is thought to harvest protozoa to relative hidden from view most of
different birds exploit. While around 10 per cent of giants in the form of he time, there is a section of
its body weight
the rafts of floating seeds of the creatures eating the bill which looks like the
a day.
plant material, the submerged them: midge larvae, upturned corner of a smile –
daphnia and cyclops, beetles actually called the grin gap
and water boatmen – a good – and in good light, you can
A BILL THAT PAYS DIVIDENDS meal for those tooled up for just about make them out.
the job. As you’ve probably The upper mandible fits over
The duck that can pump water with its tongue.
guessed, this duck’s success the lower one, and when the
Shovelers move through water than 10 times a second. Food has something to do with the bill is half open the lamellae in
Illustrations by Peter David Scott/The Art Agency near the tip, and another near bristly tongue.The rear tongue at around 7cm long, its bill is And this extraordinary bill
the top and the bottom mesh
incredible spatulate hardware
particles are trapped on the
with heads low to the surface.
together forming a filter cage.
stuck to the front of the bird:
The tongue has a swelling
filtering lamellae of the beak and
design is only part of the story:
longer than the head itself.
the back.As water
swelling is fringed with bristles
The shoveler is a specialist
when coupled with the avian
called lingual scrapers, and
enters the beak,
at soup straining. While many
world’s most bizarre tongue (see
these pick-up food
it behaves both
of the other dabbling ducks
left), it becomes a highly effective
and transfer it
like a piston and
filter pump, too.
have a series of comb-like
valve, pumping
to the back of
backwards and
the mouth to
the inside edges (tomia) of both
forwards more
a naturalist, author and TV presenter.
November 2018 be swallowed. serrations called lamellae on ICK BAKER BBC Wildlife 17
PAINTED WOLVES ARE IN
COMING SOON TO
These canine Houdinis, oten
called painted wolves, may
be the most misunderstood
By Mark Eveleigh
Photos James Giford large predators in Africa.
Wild dog
chase
A pack of painted wolves, or wild
dogs, in Zimbabwe’s Hwange
National Park wait to hunt in the
sunlit grass. Here, they typically
hunt in groups of around 16.
Their elegant paint-like markings
are unique to each pack member.
“ orry, but there are no painted Naturalistshavelongbeen Above: lean and
rangy, painted
wolves in this sector of the park
wolves have
frustratedandcharmedby
at the moment,” said guide
phenomenal
Nkosi Ndlovu, when I drove
stamina, roaming
into a camp known as ‘The
of square
Hide’ one afternoon. “They howeasilyapaintedwolf over hundreds
S range so far afield that you pack vanishes without trace. kilometres.
can never tell where they might turn up.”
Nkosi was half right. The wolves do indeed
range over vast distances… but by sheer
coincidence I spent much of that night wide
awake while a pack of them squabbled with a shouldn’t be hard to find. But by the time I I wasn’t surprised. Naturalists have long
herd of elephants right in front of my tent. arrived at The Hide, I’d scoured an area the been both frustrated and charmed by how
Later that evening, a pack of 10 painted size of Devon without even finding canine easily even a large painted wolf pack – which
wolves bounded up to the waterhole by the spoor from anything larger than a jackal. in parts of southern Africa have reached up
camp. The white tips of their tails flashed to 50 strong – can vanish without a trace.
like beacons in the spotlight as even the older Adisappearing act Hwange forms part of the Kavango-
ones rolled playfully with endearing puppy Painted wolves are most active at dusk and Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area
energy. During the past week, I had driven dawn (though occasionally hunt during a full (KAZA), incorporating an area about twice
800km through Hwange National Park moon), so before first light the next morning the size of Britain. Stretching from western
hoping for a sighting like this. Zimbabwe’s Nkosi and I headed out of camp in search Zimbabwe through Botswana, Zambia,
biggest national park (it measures 14,650 of the pack. Within half an hour we’d come Namibia and north into Angola, KAZA allows
km²) is justly famous for the density of its across a scrabble of tracks where what Nkosi ample space for wolf packs, each of which
wildlife – I had seen four leopards and no recognised as the Makwa Pack had fanned may roam across more than 1,200km².
fewer than 22 lions in a single morning out in the hope of scaring prey out of hiding. Formerly hunted to near-extinction as
– but, until now, the wolves had eluded me. We followed until the tracks disappeared into livestock killers and perceived pests, painted
Painted wolves here typically run in packs a tangle of teak trees. The sun was already wolves are classed as Endangered by the
of around 16 individuals and I was aware – climbing high when we noticed an agitated IUCN and these days face a barrage of other
having tracked them successfully several times herd of impala. Nkosi accelerated his Land threats. Among them are competition for
in Kenya and Botswana – that their tracks Cruiser but, yet again, the hunters had gone. territory with expanding human populations,
20 BBC Wildlife November 2018
PAINTED WOLVES
Clockwise from 300 to one; a young
left: two painted puppy finds its
wolves are speed in the bush;
overshadowed Tyron Hurst, head
by some of Hwange’s guide at Hwange’s
elephants. The Nehimba Lodge,
pachyderms leads guests
outnumber the through prime
canines by almost wolf country.
poachers’ snares, rabies caught from village female called Tait for this autumn’s landmark “Painted wolves are correctly referred to
dogs and collisions with traffic. While wolves series Dynasties. “The filming gave us a huge as dogs,” Nick says, “but they split from the
are no longer targeted, they’re susceptible to opportunity to learn more about painted wolf evolutionary branch from which all other
snares because they cover so much ground behaviour,” says Nick. “Not only that, but we’ve dogs descended about three million years ago.
and favour the bush preferred by poachers. also recorded this information for posterity.” They lack the dewclaw and their dentition is
“Their numbers have dwindled to fewer different from other dogs.”
than 5,000 in all Africa,” says zoologist Nick The wild bunch While researchers are now closer to
Murray, who has been collecting data on Formerly known as Cape hunting dogs or understanding the lives of painted wolves,
painted wolves in Hwange and Mana Pools African wild dogs, the canines have recently countless misconceptions still surround
National Park since 2005. “Hwange has been blessed with a more fittingly romantic these elusive predators. I was determined to
about 16 packs, with an average of around 10 name: painted wolves. This does justice to get to the crux of some of these myths so, as
wolves in each, while Mana Pools supports their beautiful daubed markings, unique to I travelled from camp to camp, I picked the
about 110 wolves in an area that’s only individuals. Perhaps if they’d always been brains of Hwange’s most experienced rangers
and guides. As if I was following the most
one-sixth the size of Hwange.” Nick recalls
known by this infinitely more attractive name,
Head guide: Mark Eveleigh seeing a pack of 34 wolves at Mana Pools. human attitudes towards them might have well-defined tracks, their tales seemed to bring
been less embittered. For years it was almost
It is this incredible density of painted
me closer to the wolves with every passing day.
wolves that brought a BBC camera crew to
“It’s a good time to be in Hwange,” Tyron
universally assumed that painted wolves were
Nick’s base at Vundu Camp, spending the
domestic dogs gone feral, but they’re the sole
Hurst, head guide at Nehimba Lodge, had
best part of two years filming a pack led by a
BBC Wildlife
November 2018 surviving member of the genus Lycaon. reassured me the day I arrived at the park 21
PAINTED WOLVES
Painted wolves are some
of the most successful
hunters on the planet,
with about 80 per cent
of chases ending in kills.
Above left: a painted from Victoria Falls. “There’s a big painted
wolf tackles an wolf pack denning not so far away. Nobody’s
antelope that has managed to locate the den just yet, but the
been captured in dogs will be having pups anytime now, so
water. Above: a
group enjoys a they’re less mobile than usual and you have
spot of rough play. a better chance of seeing them.”
Left: the carnivores Tyron and I were enjoying a drink beside
will often attack the lodge swimming pool, which was off-
wildebeest, but
sometimes the limits because a herd of thirsty elephants
odds stack up was busy drinking it dry. One evening not
against them. Here, so long ago, guests had been gathering for
wildebeest see of the regular evening pachyderm cocktail hour
a lone wolf that has when a female kudu dashed into the clearing
strayed too close to
their herd. Without and launched into the pool in a futile effort to
back-up, the hunter evade 11 painted wolves. “The dogs leaped in
has to retreat. after her,” Tyron recalled. “For a few minutes,
the pool looked like a scene from Jaws.”
A view to a kill
Painted wolves are among the planet’s most
successful hunters, with about 80 per cent
of chases ending in kills. There seems to be
a level of terror involved in a wolf hunt that
pushes their victims to unusually desperate
22 BBC Wildlife November 2018
PAINTED WOLVES
Hwange and its elephants
Gazetted in 1928, in an area devoid of Almost 40 years later, Hwange
permanent water, Hwange National National Park now has an estimated
Park can trace its success to the 46,000 elephants. The habitat is
decision to install the boreholes that already visibly sufering, and starvation
would keep animals in place. But there – not just for elephants but for other
are those who say that this decision species too – could be just around the
could turn out to be an environmental corner. Culling is no longer considered
disaster for Hwange. “There were fewer an option in Zimbabwe. Yet, as one
than 1,000 elephants in this area in the perceptive research o cer pointed
1920s,” wrote Dick Pitman in his 1980 out to Pitman in 1980: “It takes two
book Wild Places of Zimbabwe. “Today, hundred years to grow a forest, but
it is probably 13,000 or more.” only 20 to grow an elephant.”
A huge problem?
Hwange’s habitats
are sufering from
the impact of its
46,000 elephants.
extremes of evasion. As I travelled through often downright shocking to onlookers creeping up on a pack of sleeping painted
Hwange, I heard fireside tales of panicked – that formed the basis of some implausible wolves with a spear: “I had made a very
impala and kudu dashing into campfire legends of painted wolf ‘cruelty’. “A particularly careful approach, barefoot,” he wrote in the
clearings and even crowded lodge dining unpleasant characteristic,” wrote RM Beres, prestigious Look magazine, “and bagged, or
rooms to escape their would-be killers. director of Uganda National Parks, in 1956, rather killed, one out of the pack of vermin.”
Even defenders of the wolves often seem to “is that they will, without hesitation, turn Even at rest, painted wolves are extremely
be scandalised by the apparent brutality of a upon any member of the pack that falls by the vigilant, and with their large ears and acute
painted wolf hunt. These predators run their way through wound or sickness and show no sense of smell it seems unlikely that they
prey down mercilessly, with phenomenal reluctance to consume their own kind.” would have overlooked the arrival of an
stamina, disembowelling them with clinical No evidence has ever come to light to overweight American tourist (no doubt
speed and often feeding from the back end confirm this claim by Beres. In fact, painted liberally scented with gin). Hemingway’s
before the prey is completely dead. wolves are, if anything, altruistic. Often they report probably illustrates more than
“In Hwange the substantial elephant regurgitate food to keep a sick or wounded anything the typical scorn with which
population has affected the habitat, making pack member alive. Likewise, when a pack’s safari aficionados viewed painted wolves
it unfavourable to impala, which is usually alpha female is confined to the den with her during that period.
the dogs’ preferred prey,” Nick Murray pups (typically only the dominant pair breed),
explains. (To put this in perspective, there her mate and the subordinate animals will Living on the edge
are almost 300 elephants for every painted also deliver sustenance to her this way. Ishenesu Chidaya owns a small-holding on
Painted wolves were once considered
wolf in Hwange). “Increasingly the dogs are a liability to stockmen and ranchers, and the outskirts of Hwange National Park, in
Elephants: Mark Eveleigh as these species are much larger the hunt can throughout old Rhodesia, as Zimbabwe used human-animal conflict. He protects his
forced to hunt kudu or even wildebeest, and
a region that has immense problems with
crops from elephants with fires, chilli spray
be extended over several kilometres. So often
to be known, bounty hunters were paid for
and a clever network of elephant-deterrent
the final kill is not so clean.”
every wolf tail they brought in. Keen hunter
Perhaps it was witnessing kills like this –
BBC Wildlife
November 2018 Ernest Hemingway wrote in 1954 about beehives, but he’s had less luck with his 23
PAINTED WOLVES
“It'spartofmyjobto
convincechildrenthat
dogscanbeimportant
to our community.”
PLANNING TO VISIT? small herd of goats. Three times now a lion because of the abundance of wild game, the
has found its way into his kraal. wolves have little reason to hunt domestic
kkThe May–September dry season, “I even put a roof on my kraal, but the livestock. The message is being spread by
when animals congregate around lion fell through,” Ishenesu says. “Only one non-profit organisations such as the African
water sources,is the best time to visit of my 15 goats was left alive by the time I Bush Camps Foundation, Mother Africa Trust
Zimbabwe.The December–March rainy chased the lion away.” Painted wolves have and Children in the Wilderness, all of which
season is great for birdwatching,but long been notorious for the same sort of work to educate children in rural areas.
some camps close at this time. wanton killing sprees, yet Ishenesu claims “Education is key in the field of
kk Hwange is home to some ofAfrica’s that after 60 years in the area he’s only conservation,” agrees Arnold Tshipa,
best safari camps,including Nehimba aware of a single attack on livestock. That environmental officer at Wilderness Safaris
Lodge (imvelosafarilodges.com), was in 2010, when three sheep were killed. Zimbabwe. “It can change the attitudes
Camp Hwange (camp-hwange. It is hard to know where the painted of entire communities towards wildlife.
com),Somalisa Expeditions wolves’ hateful reputation as indiscriminate Carnivores, which were initially thought of
as problem animals, are now being perceived
killers began, but it seems to have been
(africanbushcamps.com),The Hide
Local farmer: Mark Eveleigh (thehide.com),Davison’s Camp repeated so frequently that for decades it as valuable economic resources because they
was taken as truth wherever they roamed.
attract tourists.” Like the white flag at the tip
(wilderness-safaris.com) and
of a painted wolf tail, educational community
Fortunately, perceptions are changing and
Verney’s Camp (machabasafaris.
this threat is slowly being removed.
programmes such as these have heralded
com/verneys-camp).
“I grew up in a village near Hwange’s
Africa’s most misunderstood predators.
main gate,” says Washington Sibandi, a long-overdue peace between farmers and
Right: local farmer a guide at Camp Hwange. “I used
Ishenesu Chidaya, to see painted wolves and be MARK EVELEIGH is a travel writer
based on the terrified, thinking they would and photographer who specialises
outskirts of Hwange, attack our animals. It never in wildlife; markeveleigh.com.
has only been aware
of one attack on happened as we were always
livestock by painted there to scare them away. Now FIND OUT MORE Zimbabwe’s
wolves in 60 years. it’s part of my job to convince great community conservation projects
children that these dogs include: African Bush Camps Foundation:
and other wildlife can be africanbushcampsfoundation.org, Campfire
important to our community Zimbabwe: campfirezimbabwe.org, Children in
– not just a threat.” the Wilderness: childreninthewilderness.com
Washington believes that and Mother Africa Trust: mother-africa.org.
24 BBC Wildlife November 2018
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Talking
point
BRINGING ot long ago I turned
an unloved Brighton
courtyard into a thriving
wildlife oasis. Before I
took the decking up there
BACK THE N at all – there was neither
was virtually no wildlife
food nor shelter in this barren artificial
landscape. But within just two months of
GREEN ‘unbuttoning the earth’, digging a pond,
laying a lawn and planting native shrubs, I
had breeding leafcutter bees, damselflies and
dragonflies, several species of butterfly and
a small colony of 30 house sparrows, which
would take it in turns to bathe in my pond.
It might not seem such a huge deal, but it
Is it inevitable that wildlife cannot thrive in was – especially as so many of my neighbours
modern cities, or should we all be living up were busy paving, decking and fake-turfing
their gardens. I created a habitat where there
to our reputation as a gardening nation? hadn’t been one for around 30 years. And the
wildlife moved in straight away.
Sadly, my story is an unusual one. Around
By Kate Bradbury Illustrations Elly Walton the country, which often likes to style itself
28 BBC Wildlife November 2018
as a ‘nation of gardeners’, our gardens are Chloe Smith. That’s an average of two Hyde ‘brownfield’ for several new houses or even
fast disappearing. In a report published in Parks per year (and a further 14 since 2011). a block of flats.
2016, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) The tragic loss of gardens is more prevalent Taken together, Britain’s gardens take up
said the percentage of front gardens lost to in urban areas, where space is at more of more land than its nature reserves. We’re
paving, concrete or gravel had risen to 24 a premium. Front gardens are paved to treating them as anything but.
per cent, up from just 8 per cent in 2005. park cars, a trend partly driven by on-street This loss of gardens is catastrophic for
The results, based on a poll of 1,500 people, parking charges, while back gardens are wildlife. The paving over of one garden may
suggested that more than 4.5 million of lost to anything from garden offices to low- be of no significance in the greater scheme
Britain’s front gardens were entirely paved, maintenance paving, decking and fake lawns. of things, but the cumulative loss of a street’s
while 7.2 million were mostly paved. One plastic-grass company told me they’re worth of gardens puts wildlife at risk. While
Another grim report, published by London seeing 10 to 15 per cent growth year-on-year. no research has been specifically conducted in
Wildlife Trust in 2011, compared aerial That’s 10–15 per cent fewer lawns per year, and this area, we know that gardens – comprising
surveys of London taken in 1998 and 2006. 10–15 per cent less food for birds and wildlife. a lawn, shrubs and flowering plants – provide
It found that domestic gardens (both front crucial food and shelter for wildlife. We also
and back) made up nearly 24 per cent of the y opting for the kind of easy know that paving stones, decking and fake
London’s total area, but that in those eight ‘outdoor rooms’ depicted in glossy turf offer very little by comparison.
years nearly two thirds of its front gardens photo shoots rather than lush We know, too, that hedgehogs have
had been covered with hard surfaces, while green spaces, we’re turning our declined by 50 per cent since the turn of the
the amount of green space in back gardens Burban gardens from green to century, that butterflies are vanishing from
had shrunk, due to garden offices. grey. Some are being lost completely – for towns and cities faster than the countryside,
“An area of vegetated garden equivalent example, when a decent-sized house and and that house sparrows suffer greater
to 21 times the size of Hyde Park was lost garden is grabbed by developers, who then losses in urban areas. Covering roughly the
between 1998 and 2006,” said report author knock the home down to use the site as same period in which Chloe Smith noted
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 29
Talking
point
the huge loss of London gardens, another
survey, this time by the British Trust for
Ornithology (BTO), found that the capital’s
house sparrow population fell by 60 per
cent between 1994 and 2004.
And yet, it’s almost accepted as the
new normal. Since writing my book, The
Bumblebee Flies Anyway, people have asked
me: “Why don’t you live in the countryside?”,
as if, as a nature lover, I should just accept
that our towns and cities are a lost cause for
wildlife. My response is always a slightly
blunt: “Why should I?”
Why shouldn’t we have wildlife in our
cities? It sets a dangerous precedent when
so many of us are happy to accept that we’ve
made our cities so unwelcoming to wildlife,
that it’s assumed a nature lover would want
to move to the countryside.
It would follow that it’s acceptable that
children growing up in the countryside
have wilder childhoods than those in urban
areas. That those in the countryside have
more access to green space and its many
interlinked benefits. More people live in cities
and their suburbs, and therefore more city
dwellers vote in general elections. Accepting
a dearth of wildlife in towns and cities isn’t
just depressing: it would have far-reaching – improves mental health and lowers stress. you, dear reader, probably have
consequences. Those who simply do not It can combat high blood pressure, as well a lovely wildlife garden. And yet
know the benefits of the natural world will as improve overall fitness. If there’s a single some nature lovers do see the natural world
never fight (or vote) to save it. reason not to have a garden (and, importantly, as something other than what’s outside
a garden for wildlife), I haven’t found it yet. their back door. Perhaps there’s room for
lso, it’s not just wildlife that More than ever, we need gardens in improvement in your garden and you, as a
benefits from gardens. RHS our towns and cities, yet overwhelmingly nature lover, are best placed to make changes.
research found that plants help we’re getting rid of them. What’s more,
mitigate the effects of climate as our population increases, new-build s a nation we need to accept,
A change. Their roots absorb developments bring our cities butting up indeed welcome, wildlife back
water, helping to prevent flooding and soil against the countryside, chipping away into our homes and gardens.
erosion. Their branches knit together to help at greenbelt, woodland and those little We need to relish bats in the
reduce the velocity of winds and their leaves anonymous patches of ‘edgeland’ where A roof, and sparrows, starlings
lower temperatures through respiration and we can walk, relax and play. and swifts under the eaves. That starts with
by providing shade. I can’t help but wonder By 2050, according to UN estimates, me and you. What could you do at home to
if that many Hyde Parks’ worth of gardens 66 per cent of the world population will be help wildlife? And, more importantly, how
hadn’t been lost since 1996, would London urban. If we accept that the town mouse can you inspire your neighbours?
have been so hot in the heatwave in summer? is less abundant than the country mouse, Paved gardens don’t have to be a wildlife
“Gardens play a crucial role in urban and then surely we’re accepting further, dramatic desert. Recently I judged the Wildlife
suburban areas,” says Helen Bostock, senior losses to our wildlife populations? Gardening category as part of ‘Brighton and
horticultural advisor at the RHS. “And they I’m all too aware that I’m writing this Hove in Bloom’. One garden I rated as being
will become even more important as our feature for a wildlife magazine, and that among the best for wildlife was actually paved
climate changes. But we know that more at the front. But you could barely tell it was
than five million front gardens have no “ The cumulative paved as it was so crammed with pots and
plants at all – which is bad news for wildlife water features that it looked like a regular
and the environment in general.” loss of a street’s garden. The owners proudly told me where
Green space boosts our mental and the hedgehogs sleep, tucked just under a
physical well-being, too. Numerous peer- worth of gardens large pot of lavender. “It’s the perfect place for
reviewed studies have shown that spending them to rest during the day,” they told me.
time outdoors – doing physical exercise, puts wildlife at risk.” Outside the nature-lovers’ ‘wildlife bubble’,
connecting with nature or nurturing plants among the wider public, there are more signs
30 BBC Wildlife November 2018
HOW YOU CAN
GREEN THE GREY
kk There is heaps of wildlife
gardening advice and inspiration
at discoverwildlife.com/how-to/
wildlife-gardening
kk Learn more about the many
types of swift bricks at
swift-conservation.org
kk Look out for the RHS Plants for
Pollinators logo. More details at
rhs.org.uk/science/
conservation-biodiversity
kk Join the Hedgehog Street
campaign at hedgehogstreet.org
kk Visit the Wildlife Gardening
Forum’s website at wlgf.org
throughout the UK, where wildlife is
considered from the start of the design
process. One promising sign is that Barratt
Homes has invested in a new design of swift
brick, which is cheap to manufacture and
quick and easy for any bricklayer to install
without complicated modifications. Will other
building developers follow suit?
Thousands of people have signed up to
the Greening Grey Britain campaign run by
and garden fences will have holes the RHS – each one pledging to reinvigorate
for hedgehogs and other wildlife to travel their front garden by planting anything from
of hope. The Hedgehog Street campaign, through. Outside the gardens, public areas a windowbox to a tree, shrub or climber.
launched in 2011, has so far inspired more in the development will ultimately be 60 The idea is to completely green the grey.
than 50,000 ‘Hedgehog Champions’ to per cent green space – orchards, wildflower As the campaign grows, so will the gardens.
open up their gardens for hedgehogs. The meadows, newt ponds and tree-lined avenues. And so, hopefully, will the wildlife.
campaign encourages people to talk to their There will be nestboxes for kestrels and owls. I no longer live in the flat with the garden
neighbours. You need only one enthusiastic that inspired my book. I sold it to a woman
hedgehog fan on a street and, with some ingsbrook’s show gardens are who feeds the sparrows and grows plants
gentle encouragement and education, planted with wildlife in mind out the front. She emails me, telling me
everyone is creating holes in or beneath their and new homeowners are about the wildlife and that makes me
fences so hedgehogs can go between gardens. given information on wildlife happy. I’ve had an offer accepted on a house
Focusing on creating habitats for one Kgardening. The first 300 with a bigger garden, where I’ve been told
species has knock-on benefits for others, too. families have already moved in. Some of there are hedgehogs.
And, if you’re dedicated to creating homes them chose the development specifically As soon as I move in, I’ll be signing up
for wildlife in your garden, then you’re more for its wildlife credentials, but others didn’t to Hedgehog Street and talking to my new
likely to be connected with it and less likely – what will they make of it? neighbours (who, on each side, have paved
to lay paving stones, decking or fake turf. “We’re hoping to inspire planners and back gardens). We all need to do a bit more,
The vast amount of new housing Britain developers – show them just how much talk a bit more, enthuse a bit more. Our
needs doesn’t have to be disastrous for it’s possible to incorporate in new-build wildlife needs us.
wildlife. The RSPB, Barratt Homes and developments,” says the RSPB’s Adrian
Aylesbury Vale District Council have Thomas, who is working with Barratt Homes KATE BRADBURY writes for BBC
been collaborating on a new nature- on the creation of green space. “But we also Gardeners’World magazine and helped
friendly housing project at Kingsbrook in want the people who come to live here to reap with the People’s Manifesto forWildlife
Buckinghamshire. When complete, it will the benefits. We, as nature lovers, know the (www.chrispackham.co.uk).Her new book is The
consist of three new villages built on former benefits that can come from living in such a Bumblebee FliesAnyway (Bloomsbury,£16.99).
farmland, containing nearly 2,500 homes. Its wildlife-rich place, and part of the Kingsbrook
aim is to be nothing less than the benchmark project is helping new communities get the WANT TO COMMENT? How can we
for wildlife-friendly new-build housing. best out of the environment around them.” persuade our friends and neighbours
The homes feature swift and bat boxes, Adrian and the RSPB hope that Kingsbrook to green their gardens? Email us at
gardens are being planted with fruit trees will inspire similar new developments [email protected]
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 31
Lucas Bustamante/naturepl.com Colombia accounts for less than
one per cent of Earth’s land mass,
yet almost 20 per cent of its birds,
including neotropical favourites
such as the masked trogon
(pictured). As former combat
zones open up to biologists, new
species are continually being
added to the country’s list.
e’ve been out for range in the world, pinnacled by Colombia’s
two hours and I’ve tallest peaks, which pierce the clouds at a
long lost count. breath-thinning 5,775m.
Something flits Ascend the 36km from base to summit
among the foliage. and you’d start among coral reefs and finish
Faster than you can amid ice and snow, climbing through a
Wsay ‘is it another medley of forests and páramo along the
tanager?’, it’s caught in the crosshairs of a way. An impressive list of endemics (species
scope. Squinting into the eyepiece, I meet unique to an area) has evolved on these
the gaze of a handsome bird with a sunshine isolated slopes, so many that Santa Marta
breast, grey and olive feathers and soot-black was hailed in a 2013 study as the world’s
head emblazoned with a golden crest. “Yellow- most irreplaceable protected area.
crowned whitestart,” I’m told. “Endemic.” For all its riches, Santa Marta is not well-
I’m far from an expert birder, but even if trodden. For one thing, it requires several
I was, I’d likely be out of luck trying to bone-shaking hours in a 4x4 to get up here.
identify much up here. Because this is And until a decade ago, it was stubbornly
the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: the off-limits, a flashpoint in a brutal 55-year
showstopping grand finale of the Northern conflict between the government, right-wing
Colombia Birding Trail, and arguably the paramilitaries and notorious leftist rebels –
birdiest spot on the planet. including the FARC (Revolutionary Armed
Study a map of Colombia and the Santa Forces of Colombia) and ELN (National
Marta Mountains barely catch the eye – a Liberation Army) – that saw 260,000 people
small, heart-shaped blob at the tip of the killed and millions more displaced.
country, eclipsed by the trio of Andean Following the Colombian peace deal in
cordilleras that tumble across the Ecuadorian November 2016, the insurgents finally
border and continue north-east towards relinquished control of these misty
Venezuela. But Santa Marta sits head and mountains. Santa Marta, together with
shoulders above these famous flanks, quite many other nature hotspots once clouded in
literally: it’s the highest coastal mountain combat, was open for birdwatching business.
Waiting
in the Colombia is number one in the
world for avian diversity, but
wings decades of conlict kept visitors
away. In a new era of peace, it is
ready to share its birding riches.
no more By Sarah McPherson
“For years I had a vision that Colombia visited Colombia in 2001 and became birdwatchers, 17 per cent of whom make at
in peace would be the greatest eco-tourism “obsessed” with the country’s protected areas. least one overseas trip a year,” says Myers.
destination in the world,” says John Myers, Three years later, he returned and started to “We realised then just how big Colombia’s
former director of the Latin American explore remote regions and conflict zones. potential was.” With a team of economists,
Program for the National Audubon Society Taking up the post at Audubon in 2013, he Myers co-authored a study concluding that a
and visionary of the birding trail, which knew that an interpretive birding trail in the birdwatching trail supported by Americans
opened in February 2016. “Northern same league as those in North America would alone would generate an annual revenue of
Colombia is home to three outstanding prove irresistible to affluent aficionados who $46 million and more than 7,500 jobs.
eco-regions: the Santa Marta Mountains, the would stop at nothing to glimpse a white- Key to its success would be a network
Guajira Peninsula and the Northern Tropical tailed starfrontlet in its natural habitat. of professional guides. To that end, 43
Andes, all of which host significant numbers “My colleagues and I had been poring over individuals from local communities, some
of endemic, endangered and migratory birds.” this study by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, of whom had been caught up in the armed
Growing up in Minnesota, Myers first which claimed that the US has 48 million conflict, were enrolled into a year-long
apprenticeship to learn – in English – the
particulars of Colombian birdlife. “It wasn’t
Above: the white- easy,” recalls graduate Angel Ortiz, a former
tipped quetzal occurs
in the Santa Marta paramilitary recruit and now a respected
Mountains and two tour leader. “It took me a week to be able to
highland locations pronounce ‘crimson-backed tanager.’”
in neighbouring Quetza : Murray Cooper/M nden/FLPA;
Venezuela. Left: Early birds
a viewpoint on
the Cuchilla de San So here I am, making my way up a stony
Lorenzo, which sits track on the Cuchilla de San Lorenzo, a
within the 880ha thickly vegetated ridge that hosts virtually
El Dorado Nature all of the Santa Marta endemics and, an
Reserve, rewards birdwatchers: Sandra Eichmann Perret/WhereNext.com/ProColombia;
early risers with hour ago, offered spectacular views of the
breathtaking views mountains at sunrise. It’s still early, but the
of mist-shrouded greenery is filling with colour, butterflies are andscape:WhereNext.com/ProCo omb a;
valleys and peaks.
coming out of hiding and the air is positively
jangling with the noise of birds and frogs.
I’m not really attempting to put names to
feathers, but given that I’ve already met the
34 BBC Wildlife November 2018
COLOMBIA BIRDING
Itineraries around the Northern The PerijáMountains is one of
Santa Marta parakeet, Santa Marta mountain Colombia Birding Trail vary, but 2 Colombia's least explored regions.
tanager and Santa Marta foliage gleaner, I there are ive main birding zones: Endemics include the Perijá tapaculo,
wonder if prefixing any generic name with described in 2015, and Perijá metaltail.
the words ‘Santa’ and ‘Marta’ might improve Sitting in the foothills of Santa
my odds. The strategy pays off when we 1 Marta, LosBesotesEcoPark was LosFlamencos comprises both
spy the Santa Marta antpitta, and my Santa Colombia’s first Important Bird Area. 3 coastal wetland and dry forest. The
Marta finch (it was actually the Santa Marta Glaucous tanager is a target species. vermillion cardinal is a colourful spot,
brushfinch) wasn’t a million miles off. as are flocks of American flamingos.
For a less-than-seasoned birder like 4 NationalPark make it popular
Map illustration by Sara Mulvanny/agencyrush.com tally exceeds 1,930 species (the British list with tourists. The blue-billed curassow
The sandy beaches of Tayrona
me, Colombia’s avian diversity can feel as
punishing as it is magical. The country’s
inhabits the forested slopes inland.
currently stands at 616), of which 82 – and
counting – are endemic. Colombia has 21
The SantaMartaMountains
types of cuckoo (we have one), 18 species of
5 are packed with birds. Endemics
swift (yep, just the one), 43 woodpeckers to
our three and 26 owls to our five. It has a
tanager and Santa Marta parakeet.
plethora of parrots, parrotlets and parakeets,
Luis and Angel lead
more hummingbirds than feels remotely
a birdwatching tour
in La Guajira. include the Santa Marta mountain
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 35
fair and a brain-melting mêlée of tapaculos, It’sgettingrathernoisy Clockwise from burrowing owl in
trogons and tyrants, many with dazzling, top left: the Los Flamencos;
triple-barrelled names that sound too whenthreesmallwords russet-throated the endemic
pufbird is
yellow-crowned
outlandish to be real. confined to (or Santa Marta)
silencethebanter: coastal northern whitestart. Below:
Quest for a quetzal Colombia (and swallow tanager.
More of these I encounter at the close of the white-tipped quetzal. Venezuela);
day, following a brief but epic downpour that
drenches the canopy and turns the paths into
ephemeral bubbling streams. From a viewing
tower, as the storm rumbles over distant it: metres away is a glorious Christmas tree subsist on fishing, goat-herding and weaving
gaudy mochilla bags that brighten the
of a bird, all iridescent green plumage and
peaks, we spot black-capped tanagers, red-
ssa Groo; wh testart: G enn Bartley/ a slate-throated whitestart zipping to and from handsome rival from his turf with a lunge threatened habitats in the world, reduced to
deep scarlet breast. After shooing an equally
billed parrots, blue-naped chlorophonias and
pavements of nearby towns.
Tropical dry forest is one of the most
and splay of feathers, he poses obligingly,
its pathside nest. Perhaps it’s the 3:55am start,
remnant pockets scattered across the globe.
turning his head from side to side as if to
but my companions are in a sprightly mood
ensure we don’t miss a thread of his finery,
and eruptions of laughter are mingling with
Unlike tropical rainforest, it endures a yearly
before melting into the leaves.
the chitters gurgling from the foliage.
drought. Leaves are shed in anticipation,
If north-western Colombia vaguely
Pufb rd: Gabbro/A amy; ow : Me BIA/Minden/FLPA; tanager: Murray Cooper/Minden/FLPA It’s all getting rather noisy when three landscape of dunes, tropical dry forest allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor,
and the resulting tangle provides the perfect
resembles an upwards-looking bird,
small words silence the banter in
a flash: white-tipped quetzal.
cover for elusive, skulky birds.
La Guajira Peninsula is the beak. In
We tumble down the damp
contrast to the cool, verdant highlands,
Slope to shore
wooden steps, jostling on
this is a vast, wild desert, whose parched
This being Colombia, there are naturally
the path for the best view,
and scrub is home to the country’s largest
not that you could miss
indigenous group, the Way’uu. Eco-tourism hundreds of them, as I see for myself in a
sweltering three-day stay in the Caribbean
is starting to provide much-needed income to fishing village of Camarones, in a lodge a
these impoverished and neglected stone’s throw from the surf. Navigating the
communities, which otherwise prickles fringing the sand, a relentless breeze
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 37
COLOMBIA BIRDING
PLANNING TO VISIT?
kk UK-based tour operators include:
WildlifeTravel (wildlife-travel.co.uk);
NatureTrek (naturetrek.co.uk)
and ResponsibleTravel
(responsibletravel.com)
kk Colombia-based tour operators
include: Manakin NatureTours
(manakinnaturetours.com);
Quetzal Birdwatch (birdingsanta
marta.com); Colombia Birdwatch
(colombiabirdwatch.com); Nature
Colombia (naturecolombia.
com) andThe Colombian Project
(colombianproject.com)
kk Find out more about the trail at
northerncolombiabirdingtrail.com
of desert, where tired looking grasses sprout
from the dust in withered stands of grey.
Above: the endemic Of the legions of birds of prey that patrol
white-tailed the skies here, there’s one in particular that
starfrontlet is one we seek: the burrowing owl. It’s almost too
of 164 hummingbird easy – within seconds, a pair of enormous
species found in
Colombia. Left: the orange eyes are glaring at us through the
El Dorado Lodge tussocks. Roadside and savannah hawks
was the first in circle overhead, an aplomado falcon alights
Colombia to cater for on a treetop and a merlin performs an
international birders.
Below: blue-naped impressive fly-by. “I wouldn’t want to be a
chlorophonia in lizard in this desert,” remarks Angel, and
the Santa Marta I have to agree: in less than an hour, we’ve
Mountains.
clocked seven different species. As we make
our way back to the jeep, the owl reappears
on a low bank, bobbing up and down on
spindly legs as if offering a farewell courtesy.
battering my shirt, I spy a great kiskadee, pelted down by crop-dusters as part of a
russet-throated puffbird, black-crested US-led coca-eradication programme launched Flying into the future
antshrike and vermillion flycatcher. “Nobody in 2000. Associated health risks spurred The Northern Colombia Birding Trail has
was birdwatching in La Guajira 10 years the Colombian government to suspend the triggered a huge surge of interest in avian
ago – there were no guides; no facilities,” says strategy in 2015, but in the face of bumper eco-tourism as a tool for conservation and
Luis Eduardo Urueña, biologist and owner of harvests (according to the UN, the amount of economic development; new trails in the
Manakin Nature Tours, during a rare moment land under coca cultivation increased by 17 per Andes are now under development.
of reprieve from his binoculars. “As tourists cent in 2017), it has, controversially, approved Nevertheless, caution is required as Colombia
come in, local communities are becoming fumigation by drone. navigates this moment of post-war crossroads.
more interested in wildlife, and tour operators There’s little evidence of troubles past as “The government needs to seriously fund
are working closely with them. Kids now talk Luis and Angel lead our group on three visits conservation and ensure that eco-tourism
about being guides when they grow up – it’s to Los Flamencos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, revenue supports protected area
seen as a cool job.” a coastal reserve created to protect the management, habitat protection and rural
At 35, Luis is one of the oldest guides American (or Caribbean) flamingo – and 185 livelihoods, and aerial fumigation is a real
that I meet; most are in their twenties. He other species to boot. We meander through concern,” says Myers. “But the trail is a game-
grew up amidst the brutality of civil war and a scrubby forest, float on shallow lagoons in changer for this country. Of the gazillions of
drug-related violence that has long blighted canoes and go raptor-spotting in an open area conservation projects that I’ve worked on, Hummingbird: Alamy; lodge: Gabbro/Alamy; chlorophonia: Thomas Marent/Minden/FLPA
Colombia, recounting how he lost his father, none have been like it – it has changed lives
grandmother and countless friends. I offer and surpassed anything I could have
my sympathies and he shrugs it off as imagined. I hope Colombia can share its
normal. “Everybody lost people,” he beauty with the world for years to come.”
says. He recalls, when, studying
the blue-billed curassow in the SARAH MCPHERSON is section
Magdalena Valley, he woke from a editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine.
nap in a coca plantation just in time to dodge She travelled to Colombia courtesy
a dousing of glyphosate, a potent herbicide of ProColombia and WhereNext.
38 BBC Wildlife November 2018
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High seas driter
Though part of the same hugely a student at Falmouth University,
diverse group of marine animals, after a mass stranding on beaches
the Cnidaria, the Portuguese- in south-west England. Her plan was
man-of-war, is not a jellyfish but to photograph them in their natural
siphonophore. Another surprise is environment, but for creative and
that each one is a colony made up safety reasons – the tentacles,
of four separate organisms, each which remain venomous even after
of which has a diferent function. death, are around 10m long and
The gas-filled ‘float’ keeps the armed with deadly stinging cells
entire structure at the surface of – she took several specimens to
the ocean, enabling it to drift vast an improvised pop-up salt-water
distances in search of food, as seen studio, handling them with latex
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photograph in autumn 2017, while beaches due to public risk).
Photo:Irene Mendez Cruz
Fox: Laurent Geslin/naturepl.com; bat: Rudmer Zwerver/Shutterstock
42 BBC Wildlife November 2018
CHURCHYARD WILDLIFE
God’s
ACRE
Protected,undisturbedandoten
ancient,churchyardsarevaluable
refugesthatcanbewindowsinto
centuries-oldlandscapes.
By Stefan Buczacki
FROM BBC RADIO 4’S
LIVING WORLD SERIES
sk anyone with more than
a passing interest in our
natural history to name
the most significant places
for the conservation of our
country’s biodiversity, and
A the answers will probably
include wetlands, ancient woodlands, heaths,
unimproved grasslands – and possibly the
seashore and sand dunes. It is highly unlikely
they will include churchyards, yet for their
overall species richness and conservation
value these can rival almost anywhere.
Although most people will be familiar with
the location and size of their local churchyard,
whether in rural village or inner-city parish, it
is only when we realise the Church of England
alone has around 10,000 of them that their
potential as important habitats may begin to be
appreciated. Their total area has been reckoned
to approach that of a small national park, and to
this can be added the land occupied by the burial
grounds of other Christian denominations as
well as urban cemeteries and the graveyards of Night and day:
the Jewish and Muslim faiths. bats such as
There are three principal and related features this pipistrelle
(above) use
that confer churchyards with such wildlife
churches for
interest: the fact that they are associated with roosting and
church buildings that could be over a thousand churchyards for
years old; that thanks to ancient canon law, they foraging; city
must be enclosed; and that because of their role graveyards (left)
ofer tranquil
as resting sites for the dead, they are places of
green oases for
sanctity. It is also relevant that a large proportion foxes and other
of churchyards have been closed to further urban wildlife.
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 43
CHURCHYARD WILDLIFE
Life among the tombstones...
It is tempting to think of a have run out in a few years. The only reptile to be MOLE The least often
churchyard as a single entity, It seems likely that early 4 found at all frequently in 7 seen but perhaps the
but in reality it is a multitude Christianity took over some churchyards is the SLOW- commonest churchyard
of diferent habitats, each ancient and still unknown WORM, a legless lizard. It mammal, its subterranean
appropriate for a diferent pagan association of yews basks on graves and warm tunnelling betrayed by
range of species. The most with sacred ritual and built its heaps of grass cuttings, and mounds of soil among
important among the larger churches on the same sites. has a fondness for compost gravestones. Headstones 9
of these habitats are the bins, where it hunts slugs. and even co ns have been
soil, the gravestones and the One of the commonest disturbed by mole activity.
area immediately around 2 of all churchyard lichens The SNAKE’S HEAD
each grave, the diferent – and one of the most 5 FRITILLARY is possibly The unmistakable vivid
parts of the church building, beautiful – is the GOLDEN a native species and a truly 8red flowers of the FIELD
the enclosing churchyard CRUSTOSE, Caloplaca exquisite spring-flowering POPPY are as welcome in
boundary, trees, shrubs, flavescens, which is found plant. It flourishes in some churchyards as they are
paths and storage or compost on base-rich headstones undisturbed churchyards unwelcome to farmers in their
areas. Within each of these almost everywhere in with damp, moisture- role as cornfield weeds. They
are smaller micro-habitats lowland Britain. retentive soil, where it may may, however, indicate an
– all important in their own be a relict plant of ancient ancient agricultural use for
individual way. It’s neither common meadowland. churchyard land.
3 nor widespread, but
The tree most associated the GRAVEYARD BEETLE There are no more No mammals are
1with churchyards is that cannot escape a mention 6 beautiful toadstools 9 more associated with
noble conifer, the YEW – because it is the only creature than the WAXCAPS, but churchyards than BATS.
though the connection is still specifically named after this unlike almost all other Although ‘bats in the belfry’
not clear. It cannot be for the habitat. Though it seems churchyard species, they is an expression known to
oft-quoted reason to supply unsavoury to us, thrive in closely mown turf everyone, it is actually the last
archers with longbow wood: it is attracted to recently which mimics heavily grazed place in a church you should
given the size of a medieval buried corpses, perhaps to grassland – always provided expect to find them because
army, the supply would feed on the maggots. no fertiliser has been used. it is too cold.
burial for many years and their ancient graves and a relative lack of disturbance means
are rarely visited. Many old Jewish cemeteries the churchyard may represent a trapped
are also enclosed, seldom visited and in some fragment of the landscape that existed in the
instances only accessible by arrangement. area when it was created. Potentially it could
All these features together contribute to the include species of plants and even small
most important attribute of all: these often- animals that largely disappeared from the
wild places are relatively undisturbed. surrounding area many centuries ago
and so represent a real microcosm of long-
Grave concerns lost settlements or landscapes – a window
While the legal requirement for churchyards into a truly ancient time. 7
to be enclosed dates from the early 17th But what are the uniquely valuable and
century, many were enclosed at a much special features of those ancient landscapes;
earlier time, and although no one knows what wildlife treasure might they contain? 6
which is the oldest continuously isolated This will depend significantly on where in
ustrat on by M ke Langman; gravestone: Andrew Baskott/A amy
British churchyard, it will almost certainly the country the churchyard lies. Leaving aside
date from the major period of church the mountainous or upland areas of England,
building between the time of the Scotland and Wales, which have their
Norman conquest in the mid-11th own complex ancestry, the English
century and the early 15th century. lowlands can be divided crudely
This and other similarly ancient east and west of a line from the
burial places may easily, Humber south towards the
therefore, have experienced New Forest. To the west is
at least 600 years of land with geometrically
enclosure and protection; fairly regular, hedged Left: crumbling old
gravestones are
600 years of more or fields that originated with
perfect habitats for
less peace and quiet. Such the 18th and 19th century mosses and slow-
a long period of corralling Enclosure Acts. A rural
I growing lichen.
44 BBC Wildlife
1
8
5
3
4
2
church built at or since that time will tend to Almost half the churchyard Above: churchyards
reflect this and its core churchyard flora will often retain flowers
– here bluebells in
be that of relatively modern cultivated land; lichen species are classed Cornwall – indicating
though none the worse for that because it may their ancient origins.
contain now vanishing cornfield plants such as rare, while some seldom Below: this massive
as the enduringly beautiful corncockle. yew in Crowhurst,
occur anywhere else. Surrey, is believed
Eastern promise by some to be
4,000 years old.
To the east, however, the countryside was
shaped longer ago, its enclosures defined
by much more irregular hedges, walls and
ditches – relics of far older land occupation, with some fungi lurking in the soil and,
dating as far back as the human settlements most significantly, lichens. Because lichens
Churchyard: Getty; lichen: John Glover/Getty; slow-worm: Kristian Bell/Getty;
of the Bronze Age. The flora of churchyards are extremely slow growing, they benefit
waxcap: Matthew Taylor/Alamy; yew: John Glover/Alamy; gravestone: Getty
created here will have a much longer ancestry particularly from the lack of disturbance,
and the chances are greater that they will and gravestones and chest tombs with their
include more rarities, more plants now horizontal moisture-retaining covers offer the
uncommon in the surrounding area. perfect stone platforms for them to colonise.
A survey carried out in Norfolk a few years And because there are no natural outcrops
ago exemplified this. It revealed that around of rock throughout much of lowland Britain,
half the county’s populations of the once- graveyards may be the only places for many
widespread wildflowers burnet-saxifrage, miles where some lichen species occur.
cowslip, lady’s bedstraw, ox-eye daisy, sorrel Of the 1,700 or so British lichen species,
and pignut are to be found in its churchyards. over 300 have been found on churchyard
It is much less likely that relict populations stone in lowland England. Many churchyards
of animals – other perhaps than the smallest contain well over 100 species. Moreover,
invertebrates – will have survived in isolation, almost half the churchyard species are classed
but so called ‘lower plants’ (ferns, mosses as rare, having been found in fewer than 10
and liverworts) may well have done so, along sites; while some seldom occur anywhere else.
46 BBC Wildlife
CHURCHYARD WILDLIFE
Just as in any other a maverick zeal can cause
habitat, the types of plants more harm than good
and other organisms that and result in a wilderness
populate and thrive in rather than a wildlife
churchyards are dependent reserve. So, how should
on the nature of the soil – wet a potential churchyard
or dry, acidic or alkaline, and conservation group begin its
so on – as well as the prevailing activities, and avoid the pitfalls?
climate and aspect. But there is another
important characteristic in the structure of the Dos and don’ts
church building and the type of gravestones. It is essential, as well as courteous, to sound
Ancient churches were usually built using out the views of the parish priest and the
the most conveniently available local building parish authorities on your intentions and to
stone, mainly because of the impracticality of seek the comments of fellow parishioners.
transporting stone from distant quarries along Strange as it may seem for those committed to
the rough tracks in the Middle Ages. While wildlife and conservation, some people prefer
this is significant for the overall appearance closely mown, neatly maintained, almost
of the building and its blending into the sanitised churchyards, so careful explanations
landscape, the type of stone used has indirect and justification may be needed.
but important implications for wildlife, too. Next investigate what information is
If the church is built of fairly soft, easily available about the churchyard in times past,
worked stone like some sandstones and using old photos and archived documents.
limestones, for example, it will weather Follow this with a detailed survey of the plant
quickly and so provide tiny crannies and and, if possible, the animal life already present
ledges on which plants and small creatures in the churchyard. There may be experienced
may become established. Hard granites and naturalists living in the parish who can help,
grits by contrast are more difficult to work but but almost certainly outside guidance will be
retain their form for much longer and so have needed and your county Wildlife Trust should
fewer of these wildlife-friendly little niches. be the first choice. They can call on county
specialists in the identification of most of the
Dedicated parishioners important natural-history groups – plants,
For years, small groups of parishioners have birds, insects, lichens, and so forth.
recognised the importance of churchyards Given this information about your
as habitats and have sought to limit the churchyard’s wildlife, a management plan
impact of activities such as grass mowing and should then be prepared – and again, expert
chemical use. In recent times, appreciation help will be needed. But remember three
of the wildlife importance of churchyards things. First, churchyards are above all burial
has become more widespread and better grounds – the sanctity of the graves and the
organised. Today, around 6,000 churchyards sensitivities of living relatives must be taken
are managed to some degree for their natural- into account. Second, churchyard conservation
history value, with a few designated as Sites and management is not gardening – it is
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), which the protection and enhancement of what
For their size,
churchyards support benefit from some statutory protection. How is naturally there already, so creating a
a remarkably wide has this come about? herbaceous border full of exotic garden plants
variety of species. For as long as there have been naturalists, to attract butterflies is just not appropriate!
From top: golden some of the most cherished individuals And third, don’t be impatient and imagine you
crustose lichen,
Caloplaca flavescens, in the British wildlife ‘scene’ have been can achieve all of your conservation objectives
on a headstone; amateur enthusiasts. Almost none of the within the first 12 months. As Chaucer said:
slow-worms bask major natural-history disciplines – botany, “Patience is a conquering virtue.”
on graves and piles entomology, mycology, ornithology – could
of mown grass;
waxcaps thrive in exist without their contributions. To call them STEFAN BUCZACKI is a botanist
many churchyards, amateur is itself rather disparaging – the and horticulturlst who appeared on
no doubt due to the reality is they are unpaid experts. Gardeners’Question Time on Radio 4
lack of herbicides. Churchyard conservation depends almost for 12 years. His new book is Earth to Earth: A
Top right: a moss- wholly on such enthusiasts who are willing to Natural History of Churchyards (Unicorn, £15).
covered carving on a
Cotswold gravestone. give freely of their time and knowledge. Yet
equally, it is important not to let enthusiasm FIND OUT MORE Discover more about
run away unchecked. Well meaning but churchyard wildlife and conservation:
hurriedly done and misguided projects led by caringforgodsacre.org.uk
BBC Wildlife 47
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T
KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE WITH HE BIG NATURE STORIES
Japanese whaling ships
(below) kill Antarctic minke
whales (pictured) in the
Southern Ocean under
their scientific programme.
WHALING
Planstoreturntocommercialwhalingthwarted
Japan’s proposals to introduce whaling quotas have been opposed by the IWC.
ations and conservation groups been designed and bought forward with falls under the UN Law of the Sea, and it
N opposed to whaling have been the intent, and in the clear knowledge, would definitely not be able to whale in
successful in defeating Japanese that it will fail,” he said. the Southern Ocean,” she says.
proposals aimed at re-opening Though the IWC has had a For conservation groups, another
commercial hunting of whales. moratorium on commercial whaling positive development was the adoption
At a meeting of the International since 1986, Japan hunts under what it of the Florianópolis Declaration,
Whaling Commission (IWC) in calls a scientific whaling programme. which confirmed the commission’s
Minke: Jan Vermeer/Minden/FLPA; whaling ship: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Alamy
September, Japan’s ‘Way Forward’ There is some speculation that Japan is role in restoring whale populations to
initiative was voted down by 41 to 27. trying to manufacture a situation where pre-industrial levels. However, as the
Opponents of the package of measures, it can legitimately leave EIA pointed out before the meeting,
which included the creation of a the IWC. However, commercial whaling continues in
sustainable whaling committee to set Clare Perry, senior all but name – Japan, Iceland and
quotas, say they were confused by Japan’s campaigner for the Norway together have taken more
motives for initiating the vote. Environmental than 38,000 whales in total
The proposal was “stark and Investigation since the moratorium came
uncompromising in its ambition”, Agency (EIA), into effect. J Fair
according to Australia’s commissioner to says this doesn’t
the IWC, Nick Gales, speaking before the make sense. FIND OUT MORE
vote took place. “It is hard to avoid the “If Japan leaves InternationalWhaling Commission:
difficult conclusion that the proposal has the IWC, it then https://iwc.int/home
November 2018 BBC Wildlife 49
WILD NEWS
Campaigners, including
Tom Langdon (below), have
lost a High Court battle to
limit the badger cull.
BRITISH WILDLIFE Tom Langton: Patricia Phillips/Alamy; badgers: Calum Dickson/Alamy
Judicial reviews on badger cullingthrownout
Culling to go ahead as The Badger Crowd’s challenges fail to win over High Court judge.
ampaigners have failed to force the Regulations Assessments (HRAs) that Natural England has now changed
CGovernment to rethink its approach correctly – culling would have gone ahead. the way it carries out HRAs to license
to badger culling, after two judicial Dominic Woodfield, an environmental culling. “It arguably misled the judge in
reviews were turned down by the High consultant who provided testimony not disclosing they were in the process
Court. Environmental consultant Tom to support the case against Natural of amending their procedures to deal
Langton (below), backed by The Badger England, has written that the failure of with exactly the flaws we had identified.”
Crowd, challenged the Department for the challenges “sends an alarming signal In a statement given to BBC Wildlife,
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to government agencies that they can act Defra says: “Despite some issues with
(Defra) over supplementary culling, and with impunity, even when they are ‘found the Habitats Regulations Assessment
Natural England over how it considered out’”. While environmental lawyer Carol process, the court found that Natural
the impacts on other species Day believes Judicial Reviews England acted appropriately in the
when granting licences. are not an adequate mechanism granting of the licences as, based on
Despite not allowing either DID YOU for cases of this nature. “Judges the evidence presented, it would have
challenge to succeed, the judge KNOW? often don’t want to go beyond concluded that the granting of
Sir Ross Cranston found that Badgers occur at procedural issues into the the licences would not have
Natural England had breached significantly higher merits of the argument.” an adverse effect on the
European legislation by failing densities in Britain than The failure of the challenges sites in question.” JF
to consider the indirect impacts elsewhere in Europe, means culling has expanded to
of badger culling on protected and their numbers here 32 zones in 2018. An estimated FIND OUT MORE
areas and their wildlife. But have increased by more 42,000 badgers were due to be Bovine TB: authorisation
he accepted Natural England’s than 80 per cent over shot from September. Langton for badger control in 2018:
argument that – even had the past 30 years. is taking his case to the Court https://bit.ly/2xSg0f8
it carried out the Habitats of Appeal. He told BBC Wildlife
50 BBC Wildlife
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Unrivalled for 50 years, BBC Wildlife Magazine is the ultimate guide to the natural world, giving subscribers a
more immersive experience. Every issue is packed full of breath-taking images and insightful features on a
broad range of animals and habitats, both in the UK and overseas. And we provide practical advice, expert tips and ideas for great days out that will help you understand, experience and enjoy nature to its fullest.
You can expect the latest news from scientific discoveries to environmental issues, in-depth features about
animal behaviour and conservation written by experts working in the field, and a fascinating look at what each wildlife month has to offer. All bought into vivid focus by award-winning photography from around the world. Not to be outdone, readers also can enter our monthly Wild World Photo competition.
Plus, there's regular behind-the-scenes and on-location coverage of the landmark BBC natural history programmes we all know and love.
BBC Wildlife Magazine is essential reading for anyone with a passion for nature and wildlife.
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