BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #03

Q&A




Q ANATOMY Q AFRICAN WILDLIFE
When does a Is it true that jackals can
reindeer lose
its antlers? be immune to anthrax?

A Reindeer are the
h
only deer species in which A Yes. Black-backed jackals in Etosha to the disease than herbivores. According
le
s
ry
ar
c
both the males and females carry National Park occasionally feed on to records, just one jackal, three lions and
antlers. Unlike horns, antlers are shed the carcasses of zebra, springbok and nine cheetahs have succumbed to anthrax
every year. In male reindeer, new ones wild e b t th t h b t k d b i iEt hha since 1975.
ild beest that have been struck down by
75
Et
n
i
os
start growing in February; in females, anthrax. The herbivores pick up the disease However, jackals are still at risk from
May. Males shed theirs by December; as they munch on plants, by ingesting other diseases. More than 20 individuals
females retain theirs over winter, losing spores of anthrax bacteria lying dormant may congregate at a zebra carcass,
them after calving in spring. SM in soil where earlier anthrax victims fell. increasing their chance of catching rabies
Casualties peak towards the or canine distemper from non-family
end of the wet season, in members. Liz Kalaugher
March and April, and the
Skates and rays tend to live
on the seabed, but some, such jackals move in to scavenge
as manta and eagle rays (here on the bodies.
a spotted eagle ray), have Surprisingly, these canids
evolved a pelagic existence. don’t tend to catch anthrax
themselves – carnivores and
omnivores are far less susceptible


Q BIOLOGY

Why do females often

live longer than males?

A Being male may have its
advantages, but longevity isn’t
one of them. Males throughout
the animal kingdom tend to
live shorter lives than females.
The discrepancy stems from the
intense competition between
males to fertilise females, which
inclines them towards a rather
unsustainable all-or-nothing life
strategy involving fights to the
death and flamboyant, energy-
sapping displays. A recent study
of African killifish showed
that the gaudy males turn the
heads not only of females, but
predators, too, to the point that
males comprise only about 30
per cent of the population.
Stuart Blackman
Peacocks are
renowned for their
vibrant but strength-
sapping tail-rattling
displays to females.

101

Q&A Q&A





WHAT Q MAMMALS
IS IT? Why do
hares eat their

own droppings?


A Grass is extremely hard to
digest due to its high cellulose
content, which mammalian
digestive enzymes struggle to
break down. It was once believed
that hares chewed the cud because
Possibly not
the smoothest they ate grass, but unlike most
of textures. hoofed ruminants, hares don’t
have four-chambered stomachs.
So, they eat their own droppings
Uh oh – someone still hasn’t taken
instead. These soft, green pellets,
down their Christmas trees. But in
known as cecotropes, retain many
this case, it’s more about survival
undigested nutrients, including
than averting bad luck. Plump, juicy
important minerals and protein.
caterpillars can avoid falling victim
By eating their droppings as soon
to predators by hiding away in dense
Caterpillar: Ingo Arndt/NPL; hare: Simon Litten/FLPA; teal: Nick Upton/NPL caterpillar Automeris chacona – they metabolise their food. Thus the twice in order to fully
as they pass, the animals extract
foliage. Or, as demonstrated by this
this vital sustenance, giving
handsome individual – the very plump,
themselves a second chance to
very juicy tropical American silk moth
a
dry, hard little hare pellets that we
can carry the foliage on their travels.
may come across will have literally
Resembling bonsai pine-trees, the tufts
been squeezed of any nutrient
adorning this beauty provide a physical
value by the animal’s complex
and chemical defence against hungry
digestive system. All lagomorphs
assailants. The caterpillars of the
(hares and rabbits) use this
emperor moth – Britain’s only resident
Hares need to eat
strategy, known as refection, as
their grassy meals
silk moth – also wield defensive spines,
a means of extracting sufficient
though theirs are more cactus than
feed value from grasses and plant
digest the nutrients.
conifer. Stuart Blackman
material to survive. Polly Pullar
Q MIGRATION
Which of our
pintail. These species winter in
wintering ducks Britain in large numbers, with
more birds present in years
come from Russia? when the weather conditions
elsewhere in Europe are
particularly poor. Mallards also
A Britain is a major wintering fly in from Russia, though the
area for wildfowl, attracting majority come from Iceland
birds from Greenland in the and northern Europe.
west to Siberia in the east. Not all migrating Russian
Migrants make up a significant ducks come to Britain. The
component of the ducks that bulk of the Russian gadwall
we see here during the coldest population, for instance,
months, and a considerable winters on the Black and
Teal head for
wetlands in the number of species come from Caspian Seas, so only a
south and west of Russia, including breeding few records exist of these
the UK in winter. populations of teal, wigeon, individuals visiting the UK.
pochard, tufted duck and Mike Toms

Q&
A
Q&A

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WORLD D
Q WHAT CAN I SEE IN...? NATIONAL PARKS O OF F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T TH H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
DOÑANA
3
SPAIN


A Doñana is considered one
n
of Europe’s most important
nature reserves, comprising a
rich patchwork of habitats. In
winter, the area is particularlly
0
important to some 500,000
ducks and other wildfowl; in
spring, it provides breeding 4
grounds to waders such as
little egrets, squacco heronss,
glossy ibis and spoonbills.
Along with the Sierra
Morena mountains to the
north, Doñana is the most
significant spot in the world
2
for Iberian lynx, though only
a lucky few will spot one
padding along the sandy
track of the Raya Real in the
first light of day. The park 1
is also home to the equally
rare Spanish imperial eagle
– approximately 10 pairs
breed in the park, accounting
for 2.5 per cent of the global l If you visit in spring, there TOP OF THE NATIONAL PARK IN NUMBERS
population, and can be spotted are two must-sees: spoonbills TICKLIST
soaring above the Coto del Rey and other waders breeding in 360 543km 9.5km 2
2
pine forest. Other bird species the marshes of La Madre de las 1 Iberian lynx
NUMBER OF
to see – and likely offering Marismas, near El Rocío; and the 2 Spoonbills BIRD SPECIES AREA OF AVERAGE SIZE
OF FEMALE
DOÑANA
closer views – include black spectacular heronry at the José 3 Spanish imperial eagle RECORDED NATIONAL PARK IBERIAN LYNX
storks and black kites. A Valverde Visitor Centre. JF 4 Heronry TERRITORY

VOLUNTEERING Some are retired; some work full-time and expanses of mud. The bay supports, for
HOW CAN volunteer at weekends; some have young example, some 29,000 knot, 11,000 curlews
and 53,000 oystercatchers. Feeding here
children and other commitments to juggle.
I HELP...? What they all have is the enthusiasm and desire enables the birds to survive the winter and
breed successfully the following season. If
to share the wonders of Morecambe Bay.
an individual is disturbed while feeding or
Morecambe Bay Partnership Why is this area vital for birds? roosting, its energy levels will be affected.
Morecambe Bay is one of the UK’s top Educating the public not to disturb wildlife is
Illustration by Bex Glover; volunteers: Jane Hunt/Morecambe Bay Partnership ‘Natural Ambassadors’, they set up y We are liaising closely with our volunteers on
What do your volunteers do?
three locations for wintering birds, thanks
therefore an important part of what we do.
Our volunteers help to protect Morecambe
to the food resources available in the vast
What’s planned for 2018?
Bay’s waders and wildfowl. Known as
developing leaflets, information panels and
telescopes and binoculars so that the
how best to share information through social
passing public can see and learn about the
media – they know from their experience
birds found here. At high tide, the birds are
on the ground what appeals and sparks
resting, offering great views. Curiosity usually
drives people to have a go, and it’s very
interest. Additionally, our own wader and
satisfying when someone looks through the
wildfowl ‘fans chant’ is in the pipeline, as
telescope and says “wow!”.
are initiatives such as putting a ‘Bird of the
Month’ into the spotlight.
What sort of people volunteer?
Our team comes from many different
sets up scopes
around the Bay.
www.morecambebay.org.uk
backgrounds, from engineering to psychologyy.
March 2018 The team O ANNABELLE KENNEDY BBC Wildlife 103

Q&A




Q TREES
Q BIRDS
What can tree rings tell Why is oil so bad for


us, apart from age? birds’ feathers?

A Oil slicks are lethal traps for seabirds.
A The growth rings and because the Oil is thick and sticky. It interferes with the
Rings in cut timber
visible in cut timber tell a tree's story: trees in a given locking mechanism of the feather barbs
mark seasonally its age and when area are exposed and displaces the layer of insulating air
alternating it was felled. to broadly the trapped against the skin, leading to
phases of fast same climate, hypothermia, flightlessness aand a
x
(summer) and they will show a loss of buoyancy. It is also toxic
slow (winter) similar ‘code’ over and breaks down very slowly,
h
growth that the same period. and afflicted birds ingest it when
characterise the By analysing the they try to preen themselves. No
.
development growth rings from surprise then that there’s little
l
of trees. With samples of varying hope for a heavily oiled bird.
careful counting, but overlapping But even a light oiling can be
it’s possible to ages (known as devastating. Experiments on
judge not only dendrochronology), western sandpipers show
how old a tree was experts can date timbers that just a thin, invisible
when it was felled, but long after they have been film on the wing and tail
the season in which the cut and provide a maximum feathers increases energy
cut took place and whether any possible age for wooden structures consumption in flight by 20
disease has been present. and artefacts. A continuous cross-matched per cent, which can spell Even in tiny
quantities, oil
Because growing conditions vary from chronology from English oaks and pines disaster for an animal on a spells disaster.
year to year, the rings are not uniform. goes back almost 7,000 years. A similar tight energy budget.
The record of good (wide ring) and slow record in Europe covers an amazing Stuart Blackman
(narrow ring) years reads like a barcode, 12,000 years. Amy-Jane Beer



Q BIOCHEMISTRY Many of us have the
wrong end of the
cow when it comes
Can what a cow eats affect per cent of the stuff
to methane – 95
comes from its breath
the methane it produces? as it chews the cud.


A Cows and other ruminant livestock are
notorious producers of methane, a potent
greenhouse gas much more effective at
trapping heat than carbon dioxide.
There is a vicious circle when it comes
to cows, methane and plants. The gas is
Oak: Mark Boulton/Alamy; pelican: Krista Schlyer/NPL; cow: Wayne Hutchinson/FLPA
produced by cows as they re-munch on
plants, contributing to the warming of
our planet. The plants adapt to the hotter
conditions by become tougher to digest,
requiring more time in the animals’
stomachs. This in turn produces more
methane, further warming the planet.
Different plants – even different grasses
– vary hugely in terms of chemistry, with
contrasting amounts of fibre, protein
and sugar. Inside a cow, these chemicals
can promote or prevent methane from
being burped up. So, yes – it is possible
to produce less methane and more milk
simply by changing what cows eat. This is
what we are researching at Kew. Mark Lee


104 BBC Wildlife March 2018

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MULTI-DAY HOLIDAY PACKAGES



WE GOT OUR START STUDYING WOLF #21, WWW.WOLFTRACKER.COM
WHO IS FEATURED IN THIS EDITION 406 223 6634

YOUR FEEDBACK Want to get something off

your chest? This is the place.


EMAIL US FIND US ON FACEBOOK FOLLOW US ON TWITTER E WRITE TO US BBC Wildlife,
[email protected] www.facebook.com/wildlifemagazine www.twitter.com/WildlifeMag Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN


LETTER What lies beneath
OF THE The BBC’s Blue Planet II
MONTH series has been both extremely
interesting coupled with sobering
facts on what the future holds.
The camerawork was exceptional,
revealing many species I’ve never
seen before. In this connection,
a friend ventured to ask, when
filming at such depths, how
come every creature has a
name? How had they been
identified if they live so deep?
John Macnab, Falkirk

Marine biologist Helen Scales
replies: While the Blue Planet
II team filmed at extraordinary
An asteroid caused the depths, this is by no means unusual
extinction of the dinosaurs for modern researchers. The deep
but are we to blame for sea is far more accessible now than
the Sixth Mass Extinction?
it’s ever been. Teams of scientists
Which path should we take? regularly work at immense depths.
The Blue Planet II team may have
chosen to feature species that have
I wholly agree with Mark Carwardine’s individual who has left a huge personal already been named by science
column on The Sixth Extinction (Agenda, footprint on the overall ecology of our planet. teams, rather than unknown ones.
January 2018). Although many have surmised Indeed, it could be argued that with my trips on
as much for decades, it was brought home African safaris and my general lifestyle I have Reserves and people
starkly to me when I read the excellent simply done my bit to kill with kindness. Thank you for the thought-
exposition in 1996 entitled, The Sixth In the meantime, keep doing what you can provoking and timely article
Extinction by Richard Leakey and Roger and continue to take those wonderful images by Bo Beolens (Wildlife for All,
Lewin. This was additionally endorsed which inspire us. I often offer BBC Wildlife January 2018). I recently helped
by Elizabeth Kolbert’s essays in her Sixth Magazine to others once I have read it but, to refurbish a viewing screen at a
y
Extinction: An Unnatural History in 2014. sadly, most refuse in favour of more popular local nature reserve. We included
The point is, where do we go from here? My consumer magazines. a ‘perch’ seat and a lower viewing
best guess is we are on an inevitable road to Before I am accused of being altogether slit, to make it more accessible.
ultimate destruction, although in the longer too negative, in my defence I will say I will Unfortunately, some visitors
term the planet will no doubt regenerate. continue to collect other people’s ubiquitous found that the perch and low slit
There are too many global issues to resolve soft drinks cans along the Cleveland Way, compromised their needs while
which sadly will prove impossible to solve, northern England. Now which nature lover practising photography from the
such as human population growth, increasing could possibly admit to dropping those? We screen, and removed the perch
consumerism worldwide and poverty. cannot blame the urban ignorant for that and blocked up the lower slit.
There is a bitter irony that the most particular ‘crime’. This must surely be down Ian Henry, via email
‘intelligent’ species to inhabit the planet has to the country ‘lover’ who chooses to throw the
caused this devastation – and I acknowledge litter into the field rather than take it home. Like many housebound people
this as a privileged and ‘educated’ western Graham Jones, Scarborough with a disability, I enjoy


BLOGGER OF THE MONTH
Science Photo Library/Alamy The Letter of the Month wins a pair of HI-TEC Altitude Lite II retired scientist living in the West
BE A WINNING WRITER
This month’s winner is Philip Strange, a
Country. Read his blog at https://
waterproof boots, worth £60.00, and perfect for hiking.
philipstrange.wordpress.com. Visit
They are available in sizes 7–12 for men and 4–8 for women.
www.discoverwildlife.com to find out
how you can join our Local Patch
For more information, visit www.hi-tec.co.uk
Reporters Project.
106 BBC Wildlife March 2018

YOUR FEEDBACK




2 RED DEER, David Preece, London, UK Reduce, reuse, recycle
ONLINE PHOTO CONTEST O Enter our monthly online With pressure mounting on
photographic contest at
THEME: GARDEN BIRDS www.discoverwildlife.com/ retailers and consumers to cut
your-photos/photo-contest down on our use of plastic, I
would like to know what BBC
Wildlife intends to do to cut down
1 2 its consumption? I look forward
to receiving the magazine in
the post each month but it’s
a real shame that it’s always
packed inside plastic. I hope the
magazine seeks to move away
from this unnecessary waste
sooner rather than later.
Geraint Matthews, Pontypridd

BBC Wildlife editor Sheena Harvey
replies: This is something that is
being explored at the moment.
3 Our plastic subscription bags are
already recyclable in the carrier
bags bin at supermarkets but our
publishing company is currently
looking at other alternatives,
including compostable wrappers.
We hope to bring you news soon.

Unlawful releases
A recent article (Agenda,
1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER,
Duncan McNaught, Scotland, UK February 2018) stated that
2 ROBIN, Rob Bates, Sheffield, UK purple emperor butterflies had
3 GREAT TIT, Ian Moncrieff, Dorset, UK been discovered at the National
Trust’s Sheringham Park,
Norfolk, for the first time in 40
years. Regrettably these will not
wildlife vicariously through the One reason for this is the honeybees, reminded have been genuinely
wonderful work of the BBC explosion of dog ownership. me of something wild specimens
Natural History Unit and BBC There is barely a person that you last summer. since there is no
Wildlife Magazine. see ‘enjoying’ the space that does I saw a field chance of natural
Living in the Yorkshire Dales, not have a dog or several dogs. digger colonisation from
you would think I would be The result is mess, vandalism wasp What is this elsewhere. These
spoiled for choice. However, and disturbance. Polite notices stalking wasp doing almost certainly
to its prey?
there are surprisingly few asking that dogs be kept on a lead some were bred and
opportunities to enjoy nature and away from ponds are wilfully greenbottles released.
when so restricted – gates, ignored by some owners. along various In addition, it
stiles and cattle grids, plus The problem of how to ivy-rich hedges. is now fashionable
limited parking and toilet increase access and at the same Following the struggle to release purchased
facilities, are the bane of time ensure the efficacy of there was often a lull, during butterflies at weddings or
the wheelchair user. conservation goals in a real one. which the wasp would re-jig its similar ceremonies. These
I agree that central to making Maybe the answer is one adopted grip and take the fly’s labellum often include non-native species
the countryside accessible to by national parks in the USA, in its jaws (above). such as Camberwell beauty
all is a fundamental change in which provide exceptional access Could the wasp be drawing and monarch. It is actually
attitude. With this, all the other for the disabled but at the same nectar from the fly? illegal, under the Wildlife and
material requirements will time ban smoking, litter, all pets Steve Smailes, via email Countryside Act, for non-native
inevitably trickle down. and off-trail access in some areas. species to be released in this way.
Malcolm Carter, via email Anonymous, Somerset Entomologist Richard As a former county
Jones replies: I doubt the butterfly recorder, I had
I have been working as a Under attack wasp is extracting part- ongoing problems in deciding
volunteer on various reserves, The excellent feature on the digested nourishment through the whether unusual species were
including SSSIs for 30 years. beewolf (Sniffing out the fly’s tongue, as greenbottles rarely legitimately wild and natural.
Unfortunately, I have found that Beewolf, November 2017), and visit flowers and take only a little Richard Stewart, Ipswich
improving access means putting the author’s observation that nectar when they do. However,
more pressure on the wildlife the female wasp extracts recently it may be ‘testing’ its prey as to QUIZ ANSWERS (see p113)
you are trying to protect. imbibed nectar from the captured subduedness and tastiness. The Wild Words are: 1C, 2B, 3C, 4A, 5A, 6B
March 2018 BBC Wildlife 107

INSIDE THE IMAGE





ROCKHOPPER PENGUINS, SEA LION ISLAND, FALKLANDS


Rockhoppers are one
of the smaller penguin
species, but what they lack
in size they make up for in character
and tenacity. The birds nest on steep,
precarious clifftops, which means
risking life and limb to make daily
feeding trips out to the open ocean.
On a recent visit to Sea Lion Island –
the most southerly of the Falklands
archipelago – I wanted to capture what
these plucky birds endure when exiting
the water through the pounding surf.

HEAD FOR HEIGHTS 4
To get the shot, I stood at the edge of a
sheer, 5om cliff and photographed the
birds from above. The strong waves and
swell below were churning the water,
turning it from blue to a bright white.
On entering the frothy maelstrom, the
birds were mercilessly tossed against
the rockface. They would try to grab the
seaweed at its base, but repeatedly failed
and were hurled back out to sea. When
they finally managed to get a grip,
they zig-zagged their way up the cliff,
passing me at the top before heading
back to their nests, exhausted.
When photographing wildlife,
being level with your subject gives a 3
wonderfully personal effect. But it’s also
good to step out of your comfort zone.
Here, I was shooting 90˚ down onto the
penguins – all the while taking care not
to slip on the spray-soaked rocks and
ensuring that the birds could safely
make their way past me.



1






DATA FILE
CAMERA Nikon D500
LENS Nikon 300mm
FOCAL LENGTH
450mm
EXPOSURE F5.6
1/8000, ISO 800,
Matrix Metering


108 BBC Wildlife March 2018

PHOTO ANALYSIS




THE PHOTOGRAPHER
CRAIG JONES RING OF
BRIGHT WATER
Craig is a wildlife and conservation photographer who uses his skill 1 As the sun was high,
to highlight the beauty and fragility of the natural world. See more the light was very bright,
throwing strong shadows
of his images at www.craigjoneswildlifephotography.co.uk
under each penguin. The
camera was focusing on the
birds rather than the water,
so I underexposed significantly
to preserve the detail.
SPEED OF LIGHT
I knew the bright light
2 would allow a fast shutter
speed, vital to 'freeze' these
flying missiles. The relatively
high ISO (sensitivity to light)
also allowed a fast exposure.
The remaining variable was thus
the aperture. I selected a wide
open F5.6 and aperture priority
mode. For me, F5.6 offers a good
balance of speed and depth of
field when the light is favourable.
Had I chosen a higher setting
I may have lost depth of field,
resulting in fewer birds in focus.
FARAWAY FOCUS
The auto-focus on
3 the Nikon D500 is
remarkable. I picked up the
rockhoppers some distance
away, locked onto them and
then followed them to the
shoreline while taking images
in continuous shooting mode.
PENGUINS IN
FORMATION
4 Symmetry and the
corner-to-corner progression
through the image – almost as
if a multiple exposure – is what
makes this shot. Though it’s
what I had in mind, the action
was so fast that I could never
have planned it exactly. I gave
2 myself the best chance by
reacting as fast as I could when I
spotted the penguins out at sea.

DOWN THE LINE
With fast moving
5subjects, it’s often the
images further down the
sequence that surprise you. Try
holding down your shutter until
the subjects have moved along.



+ FIND OUT MORE
5 For more photo advice visit
www.discoverwildlife.com/
wildlife-nature-photography/
tips-and-techniques


BBC Wildlife 109

YOUR PHOTOS




YOUR PHOTOS www.discoverwildlife.com
is the place to see and
share wildlife photos.
O Enter our Your Photos competition and your image may run in the magazine: www.discoverwildlife.com/submit-your-photos


HIGHLAND
1 HEATHER
I went to Cairngorms
National Park, Scotland,
for a week in autumn 2017
to catch the last display of
purple heather. My aim was
to photograph red squirrels
and mountain hares against
this gorgeous backdrop. On
my last day, I enlisted the
help of expert photographer,
Mark Hamblin. As we started
our descent from the top of
the mountain, we noticed
the outline of a hare on a
nearby slope and started
crawling on our bellies very
slowly towards it. After
I’d taken this picture, the
lagomorph continued to
nibble on the flora.
Clare Jones, Bristol, UK



HAIR GRIP
2 I was driving through the Western Ghats mountain range in India when I
saw huge flames surging into the sky and grey fumes spreading across the
landscape. One area of jungle had been set alight by villagers, and Hanuman
langurs were sent scurrying for their lives. I spotted this young monkey
clinging to its mother, and captured this shot when the smoke cleared.
Aishwarya Sridhar, Western Ghats, India



















WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
3 Many seabirds arrive at Longhaven Cliffs in
Aberdeenshire every year to breed, including
kittiwakes, shags and razorbills, but the most
numerous by far are the guillemots. I visited
in late spring 2017 to try and take a photo that
captured their beauty and inquisitive character.
This bridled guillemot was particularly striking
because of its white eye ring and line across its
face. I didn’t realise I had captured this shot until
I got home and was very happy with the result.
Rebecca Tanner, Aberdeen, UK


110 BBC Wildlife March 2018

PHOTO
CHOICE
A BREAK IN THE WEATHER
4 In late November 2017, I took a trip to Yala National
Park, Sri Lanka, to try and see leopards. Due to heavy rain,
I reached the last day of the tour without photographing
any big cats. Luckily, just before I left, the sun came
out and I was able to snap a leopard hunting a monitor
lizard. The feline tried to tear the skin of the reptile but it
escaped with only some cuts and bruises. I was so excited
to capture this memorable moment, I felt goosebumps!
Ajith Everester, Tamil Nadu, India



KEEPING A LOW PROFILE
5 I travelled to Tsavo West National Park, Kenya, in
May 2017 from Nairobi to run a photography project.
I had never been to the park before so my mind was
open to the experience and adventure. While there, the
feeding behaviour of this bush squirrel attracted my
attention. I dropped to the ground and stayed calm as I
didn’t want to distract the rodent from its food.
David Macharia, Nairobi, Kenya








SEASON’S ENTER TO WIN A
6 GREETINGS BEAR & BEAR RUCKSACK
The lightweight, 32L ‘Fraser
During a freezing cold December
the Rucksack’, worth £135,
morning I visited Forest Farm
has been handcrafted in the
Nature Reserve in Cardiff, hoping
UK by Millican and is ideal for
to catch a glimpse of a red fox. I outdoor adventures. Aimed
didn’t see the mammal but I was at walkers, the functional
delighted when I came across this backpack has pole holders,
little robin standing out against a one-handed drawstring
the white frost. The picture closure lid and secure side
reminds me of a Christmas card. pockets for maps and water.
www.bearandbear.com
Stephen Jenkins, Bridgend, UK
March 2018 BBC Wildlife 111

LUPITA ISLAND


a hidden gem in the heart of Africa














upita, a 110 acre private island situated in Lake Tanganyika boasts 10 rustically
luxurious cottages. All are totally secluded and open sided, each with its own
Lpersonal plunge pool and magnificent views of the lake. The main relaxing areas
and pool are encompassed by thick indigenous forest and unique fauna and flora. From
the private beach and deck overlooking the lake, otters can often be seen swimming
between the rocks looking for their much-loved fresh water mussels.

Rare cichlids (tiny fish) can be found whilst snorkeling and swimming around the
boulders in the pristine waters surrounding the island and in the protected bay
between Lupita and the neighboring island of Ulwile. Untouched by tourism, the
southern part of Lake Tanganyika and especially Lupita Island, is one of the most
undiscovered parts of Africa, though the early explorers including Livingstone and
Stanley visited there! It is the perfect final stop in a Tanzanian safari, or a stand-alone
destination for those who want total relaxation and anonymity for a week or two.
Fascinating tribal cultures can also be experienced if requested.

www.lupitaisland.com / [email protected]






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PUZZLES



CROSSWORD Win a prize with WILDWORDS
our brain-teaser.
Compiled by RICHARD SMYTH




Answers
in our
Spring 2018
issue

1) the definition for dewlap
A a pop-eyed toad with a bright
JANUARY ANSWERS
yellow line down its back
Across: 9 Dartford
B liver drugged for the silencing
Warbler, 10 Rampion, 12
of house-dogs
Nectary, 13 Thylacine,
C the pendulous skin under the
14 Llano, 15 Isle, 17 Cliff,
throat of cattle, dogs, etc.
19 Germ, 23 Ivory, 24
Cap Lichen, 26 Bustard,
27 Lotuses, 30 Least 2) the animal you associate
Honeyguide. with the adjective pardine
Down: 1 Oder, 2 Arum,
A a pheasant
3 African, 4 Brunei, 5
B a leopard
Twinleaf, 6 Prickly, 7 Find out
Fleabane, 8 Armyworm, C a peafowl the answers
11 Aphis, 15 Ibisbill, 16 on p107
Lion’s Ear, 18 Loch Doon, 3) the offspring of a fly
20 Reeve, 21 Tyrants, 22
A a fledgling
Hiptage, 25 Pollen, 28
Soil, 29 Smew. B a nymph
C a maggot
JANUARY WINNER
Elisabeth Good Derbyshire 4) the sound made by giraffes
ACROSS 25 Marine mammal noted for its East with plume-like bristles (10) A a bleat
5
9 Poisonous plant also known as single long tusk (7) 7 Birds of the genus Molothrus, which B a bray
7
monkshood or wolfbane (7) 26 Leafy Brassica grown as an annual lay their eggs in other birds’ nests (8) C a screech
8 The nature reserves of St Kilda and
10 Sea creature of the order Actiniaria vegetable crop (7) 8
or flowering plant in the family 28 Wild plants of the genus Dipsacus, Balranald are in the Outer ___ (8) 5) the name for a female
8
4
Ranunculaceae (7) much loved by goldfinches (7) 14 Large cetacean that might be
11 A young hare (7) 29 Evergreens belonging to the North Atlantic, North Pacific or wolverine
1
12 Month of the year in which large family Lauraceae (7) Southern (5, 5) A an angeline
numbers of redwings arrive in 16 Drupes or seeds of a palm in the
B a doe
the UK (7) DOWN genus Cocos (8)
C a hind
7
13 Climbing tropical plant with toxic 1 1 ___birds stitch together leaves to 17 ____ jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii, is a
bead-like seeds that contain abrin (6, 3) make their nests (6) sea invertrebrate known for its ability
15 The ___ seals include fur seals 2 2008 nature memoir by Esther to revert to the polyp stage (8) 6) the collective noun for
5
8
and sealions (5) Woolfson, subtitled A LifeWith Birds (6) 18 Belief in the values of crows
16 Mite that can cause severe itching 3 West ___, Brighton landmark noted the countryside (8)
A a parliament
and dermatitis (7) for starling murmurations (4) 22 Small saltwater bivalve mollusc (6) Bernd Zoller/imageBroker/Alamy
B a murder
4 Widespread perennial grass,
19 In biology, a type of cell division (7) 4 23 See 27
C a piteousness
20 Hummingbird that might be Agrostis gigantea, also known as 24 The ___ fly is a biting insect that
4
bronze-tailed, red-tailed or grey- black bent (6) can spread sleeping sickness (6) Questions set by ADAM JACOT DE BOINOD
bellied; also a celestial object (5) 5 5 Asian plant that is a source of 27/23 The ___ ___, 2001 BBC nature
21 Lark-like coastal songbird, Anthus nutritious starch (4, 4) series about ocean life (4, 6)
1
petrosus (4, 5) 6 Plant of North Africa and the Middle COMPETITION WINNERS
Book collection giveaway: Chris Allen, Kate
Clayton, Michael Coleman, Bianca Dykes and
WIN TWO WILDLIFE BOOKS Lee Edwards.
General terms and conditions
HOW TO ENTER This competition is only open to residents of the UK (including 1. Visit www.discoverwildlife.com/general-
terms-and-conditions-2018 to read the full
terms and conditions. 2. Competitions are
the Channel Islands). Post entries to BBC Wildlife Magazine, March 2018
Crossword, PO Box 501, Leicester, LE94 0AA or email the answers to open to all residents of the UK, including the
[email protected] by 5pm on 5 March 2018. Entrants must Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except
supply name, address and telephone number. The winner will be the first employees or contractors of Immediate Media
and anyone connected with the promotion
correct entry drawn at random after the closing time. The name of the winner
or their direct family members. 3. Entries
will appear in the Spring 2018 issue. By entering participants agree to be bound Enter for thechance to o win two received after the specified closing date and
to
ce
Enter for the chance to win two
by the general competition terms and conditions shown on this page. Bloomsbury books, worth £46.99. time will not be considered, and cannot be
returned. 4. Only one entry will be permitted
Lars Jonsson shares his artwork in
Immediate Media Company Limited (publisher of BBC Wildlife Magazine) would love to send you per person, regardless of method of entry.
newsletters, together with special offers and other promotions. If you would not like to receive these Winter Birds and in I, Mammal Liam Bulk entries made by third parties will not be
please write ‘NO INFO’ on your entry. Drew explores a history of mammals. permitted. 5. The winning entrant will be the
Branded BBC titles are licensed from or published jointly with BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of first correct entry drawn at random after the
the BBC). Please tick here m if you’d like to receive regular newsletters, special offers and promotions O To find out more visit closing time, or, in creative competitions, the
from BBC Worldwide by email. Your information will be handled in accordance with the BBC Worldwide www.bloomsbury.com/uk
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Promoter: Immediate Media Co Bristol Ltd.
March 2018 BBC Wildlife 113

l
Ta
Tales DON’T MISS BBC One’s Big Cats.
up
on


Cat
Catch up on iPlayerr.
ch
e
ay
iPl
from the
bh
bh
bush
A WILD WORLD OF
RIPPING YARNS




WHO?
MATTHEW
LAVELLE
volunteered for
Comunidad Inti
Wara Yassi,
a refuge for injured and
orphaned animals, in 2016.
WHAT?
PUMA AND KINGSNAKE
WHERE? Powerful puma: Wara’s
BOLIVIA lead is tricky to hold on
to when she decides to
run. Right: Matthew
and his cat companion.

SOMETHING STOPS WARA THE PUMA

IN HER TRACKS WHILE OUT ON A
WALK WITH VOLUNTEER MATTHEW.



ara abruptly halted. Her are assigned to an animal that they are an extensive list of wildlife
cushion-sized paws were solely responsible for, and they spend a sightings, which included southern
firmly planted in the minimum of a month feeding, cleaning tamandua, owl monkey, collared peccaries
leaf litter and the great and walking them if possible. During my and nine-banded armadillos.
Wmuscles in her forelegs stay I was tasked with looking after Wara, a However, these sightings were mostly
were rippling. Her ears, with their distinctive semi-wild, orphaned puma. fleeting. The animal in question would
white markings, stood to attention as she Wara would be fed once a day and taken almost certainly spot me and Wara and
focused on what appeared to be nothing on walks in the morning and afternoon, dash into the undergrowth with a shriek.
more than a motionless tree. I appealed to depending on whether she was in the mood I’d have to lock my legs and get ready for
her to move on as we were only at the start for exercise. A number of trails had been the inevitable lurch as my feline companion
of the trail. A short, frustrated hiss clearly established in the surrounding rainforest and, attempted to chase after it.
indicated that we were staying put. once clipped on to a lead around my waist, Our eventful walk had started as any
I walked to her side to investigate the she could wander along any trail she chose. other. It was a hot afternoon so Wara had
cause of our sojourn and became aware Walking with a puma is like having your decided to take the trail that passes by the
of a rustling from the forest floor. At first own keen-eyed wildlife guide, as she could river. After she had made me aware of the
I thought she had been distracted by an sense another animal’s presence before we’d large kingsnake a couple of feet from us, I
invertebrate but, when I looked closer, I even turned a corner. When her body went slowly backed away and stood behind her.
recoiled like a spring. It wasn’t an insect. It rigid and her movements slowed I knew Despite our time spent together, though, I
was the tail end of a very long kingsnake. I she was in stalking mode so tried to keep as was unable to coerce Wara to leave. In fact,
was caught between a muscular puma and quiet as possible. This enabled me to record it was only the squeal of a coati nearby that
an enormous, agitated serpent. eventually stole her attention
This was far from ideal. “WHEN WARA’S BODY WENT RIGID away from the danger, and had
Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi is me once again running through
an organization in Bolivia set up AND HER MOVEMENTS SLOWED, the jungle to keep up.
Matthew Lavelle to enrich the lives of animals that I KNEW SHE WAS IN STALKING O Do you have a tale that you would like
have been orphaned or are unfit
MODE, SO I KEPT QUIET.”
to share? If so, please email a synopsis of
to survive in the wild. Volunteers
your idea to [email protected]
114 BBC Wildlife March 2018

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WORLD’S WILDEST






WHERE TO FIND EARTH’S MOST IMPRESSIVE PREDATORS

Contents







Welcome to this travel 20
supplement on the world’s
Polar bears are the
most exciting predators Arctic’s top predators
and where to see them. – see them in
Kaktovik, ALASKA
Animals that live by
hunting are the A-list
movie stars of the wildlife world – they’re
charismatic and mostly easy on the eye,
and they attract crowds wherever they
turn up. But it’s not just these qualities
that draws us to them – where predators
lurk, so does danger, not to the watching
eco-tourist but those beneath them in
the food chain. Even that’s not the whole
story: animals that predate others are a
sign of the health of an ecosystem, and
they help to maintain the evolutionary
fitness of the species they kill – a far more
important part than is ever played by the
fauna we see on the silver screen!
20
James Fair
Environment Editor,
BBC Wildlife Magazine

This page: polar bears: Patrick Kientz/Biosphoto/FLPA; eagle: Winfried




Editor James Fair
BBC Wildlife Magazine editor Sheena Harvey Cover: Andy Rouse/naturepl.com, This page: polar bears: Patrick Kientz/Biosphoto/FLPA; eagle: Winfried Wisniewski/FLPA; lions: T.J. Rich/naturepl.com; tiger: Shannon Benson/VWPics/Alamy; crocodile: Dave Watts/Alamy; otter: Theo Allofs/Minden Pictures/FLPA; orca: Kathryn Jeffs/naturepl.com
Production editor Jo Price
Art editor Richard Eccleston
Design Jenny Price
Picture editor Tom Gilks
Picture research Wanda Sowry and Katherine Hallett
Contributors Sarah McPherson and Megan Shersby
Publisher Marie Davies 24
Group Ad Manager Tom Drew
Ad Manager Neil Lloyd
Cover: Andy Rouse/naturepl com
Brand Sales Executive Heather Candlish
Brand Sales Executive Dan Granville
Brand Sales Executive Jordana Widt
In association with






28


2

In association with


















4 4 12 24
The bes st place in the Take an alternative track Giant river otters are
wo rl d f o by searching for tigers and a must-see species
world for white-tailed
NOR
s
i
Y
A
W
eagles is NORWAY other wildlife in BHUTAN of Tambopata, PERU
agl
es


8 16 28

Lions are thriving You can safely watch About half the world’s
in South Luangwa saltwater crocodiles in killer whales live in the
NP, ZAMBIA Kakadu, AUSTRALIA seas around ANTARCTICA







4











12









8 16



















3

Europe










Brown bears

Scandinavia
Brown bears are so closely associated
with the great wildernesses of North
America such as British Columbia or
Kamchatka in the Russian Far East that
it’s sometimes easy to forget they’re
also found in Europe and were native to
Britain until about 1,500 years ago.
There are small, isolated populations
in countries such as France, Italy
and Spain, and larger ones across
the Carpathian Mountains and the
Balkan states, but perhaps the stand-
out region for brown bears in Europe
is Scandinavia. In both Finland and
Sweden, the principle is that instead of
looking for the bears, they come to you.
Their natural habitat there is the region’s
vast conifer forests, but build a basic
wooden hide and put out some bait, and
all you have to do is wait.
The bear season runs from April
until November and some companies
recommend 3–5 day visits to give you
the best chance of seeing them.


PREY ITEMS Hunt deer and moose
and feed on carcasses, but 70 per cent
of diet is fruit, plants and insects.













Bear: Werner Bollmann/Getty; eagle: Getty; sperm whale: Getty





















4 Supplement to BBC Wildlife Magazine

In association with









Clockwise from left:
white-tailed eagles are
known as ‘flying barn
doors’ due to their
large wingspan; the
Azores is a popular
destination for sperm
whale watching; brown
bears can be seen
from hides.

















White-tailed eagles Nordland, Norway

It’s not just in Britain that white-tailed populations, Norway – with at least 3,600
eagles have staged a spectacular recovery. pairs, perhaps 100 times what we now have in
Across much of Europe they have come back the UK – is without doubt the continent’s and
PREY ITEMS
from the brink thanks to protection from indeed the world’s white-tailed capital.
Fish, seabirds,
persecution and the phasing out of harmful Within Norway, Bodø is a good place to start shorebirds and
chemicals such as DDT. And though some your eagle quest, or if you want to be a little some carrion
of the Baltic states have large and growing more adventurous, the Lofoten Islands. during winter.



Sperm whales

The Azores

Incredible as it may seem, the people
of the Azores were still hunting sperm
whales, and with hand-held harpoons
in boats powered by sails and oars too,
until the mid-1980s. This tradition
is still celebrated today, but in the
intervening 30 years the islanders
have discovered a more sustainable
and peaceful way of engaging with
their rich marine wildlife.
Today, the Azores is recognised
as being one of, or indeed the, best
location for whale-watching in the
whole of Europe (only perhaps Iceland
runs it close). With deep waters that
lie off these volcanic islands providing
rich hunting grounds, sperm whales
are the star attractions, but many
other species, from blue and fin PREY ITEMS 80 per cent of diet is

whales to bottlenose and Risso’s squid, for which they can dive to a
dolphins are seen here. depth of 1,000m for over an hour.


Supplement to BBC Wildlife Magazine 5



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F
ISEMEN
TU
EA
T
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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AS FAR AS THE
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big inside – are trickier to spot with the naked eye. a forest hide in Finland. They offer a colour
and it doesn’t Whether you’re going on a holiday of reproduction and image quality that is
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on optical quality. binoculars provide you with a close-up view to admire the distinctive tail feathers of a
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Africa














































Lions
South Luangwa NP, Zambia

Thanks to Big Cat Diary, lions and
leopards in Africa have acquired the
status of rock gods. For years it was the
Marsh Lions of Kenya’s Masai Mara that
were feline deities, but the ‘New Kids
on the Block’ are in Zambia’s South
Luangwa National Park, which featured
in ITV’s Lion Country in early 2017.
Rock stars or not, the Hollywood pride
and the Punks competed for a valuable
piece of real estate around the Kaingo
camp on the banks of the Luangwa River,
and the series did not shy away from
their tendency for fatal in-fighting.
Which is probably one reason why
you shouldn’t necessarily expect to run
into cast members if you do plan a trip
there – life can be nasty, brutish and
short in this big cat’s world. But with an
estimated population of some 550 lions,
the Luangwa Valley area still has one of
the healthiest populations of Africa’s top
cat in Zambia, if not the whole of the
continent, and the national park also
has a reputation as having some its
top guides and lodges, too.

PREY ITEMS One pride in the park
specialises in taking hippos, but most
lions hunt a wide variety of species.

In association with








Clockwise from left:
life can be tough
growing up in a
South Luanga lion
pride; martial eagles
are deadly aerial
attackers; dive in for
a close encounter
with a bronze whaler.

Lions: Will Burrard-Lucas/NPL; eagle: Graeme Guy/Minden/FLPA; whaler: Doug Perrine/Alamy









Martial eagles Kruger NP, South Africa

If you’re a dik-dik in Kruger NP, it’s not just the predators that stalk you on
the ground you need to fear. An attack could also come from the air, and if it
does, it will almost certainly be a martial eagle, Africa’s largest bird of prey.
In general, these are widespread and uncommon raptors and in some parts
of Africa they’re persecuted. Greater protection in Kruger means they do
better there, so it’s regarded as one of the most likely locations for a sighting,
with Tsavo East NP in Kenya also good. As with most large birds of prey,
however, encounters are always by chance – and always thrilling.


PREY ITEMS Will hunt mammals as large as an impala calf, but guineafowl,
bustards, hyrax, monkeys and occasional domestic goats are also taken.
























Bronze whalers Eastern Cape, South Africa
The Sardine Run is one of the world’s great natural spectacles, and if you’re
watching a wildlife programme with marine predators encircling the classic
baitball, there’s a good chance it will have been filmed off the Eastern Cape.
Predators of all sizes and taxonomy are drawn to the feast on offer: from the air
come gannets and terns and from below common and bottlenose dolphins and
great white, hammerhead and bronze whaler sharks.
It’s not just for divers either – you only have to don a mask and snorkel or, if
you’re not keen to get into the water, you can still admire the view from a boat.

PREY ITEMS During the sardine run, bronze whalers work together to herd
pilchards into a baitball, then take it in turns to feed. But they will also take
squid, octopus, catfish and smaller sharks and rays.
9

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AS THE PLANET’S biggest wetland, The Transpantaneira ends at Porto Jofre,
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during the dry season, which typically along as flocks of hyacinth macaws squawk
lasts from June until early November. noisily overhead, capybaras relax on the
Begin your adventure at the riverbank, tapirs wade through streams at
Transpantaneira – a raised dusty track dusk and families of giant river otters can be
that penetrates deep into the heart of the seen marauding through the water. There
Pantanal. Along its 147-kilometre length, is, however, one animal above all others
the Transpantaneira crosses no fewer than that really steals the show: the jaguar.
122 wooden bridges, and each one brings Over several days travelling on the rivers,
a new wealth of flora and fauna into view. you might be lucky enough to see some
You’ll spot caiman in their dozens, alongside lounging – or even hunting – on the river
a wonderful variety of birds that includes bank. The jaguars, as well as the abundance of
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO REQUEST
A BROCHURE AND TO BOOK YOUR TRIP, VISIT

WILDLIFEWORLDWIDE.COM OR CALL 01962 302088

Asia









Clockwise: if you’re
up for a challenge, go
in search of a tiger in
Bhutan; Philippine
eagles hunt from
perches; powerful leg
muscles allow water
monitors to move
quickly for their size.

In association with








Tiger: Steve Winter/Getty; eagle: Klaus Nigge/Getty; water monitor: Chien Lee/Minden/FLPA


Philippine eagle
Mount Kitanglad, Mindanao

Once referred to as the monkey-eating
eagle, the Philippine eagle was renamed
when it was discovered that monkeys
don’t make up much of its diet – instead,
they prefer to take colugos or flying
lemurs, other small mammals and even
birds such as hornbills. They are massive
birds, with greatest beak-to-tail length of
any raptor, but increasingly rare. Mount
Kitanglad is the prime spot for the
species, though Barangay Eden, below
Mount Apo and just outside the city of
Davao, is also recommended and good
for other Philippine endemic species.

PREY ITEMS A wide variety of small
mammals and birds – they can hunt in
pairs, with one distracting the victim
while the other attacks from behind.






Tigers
Central Bhutan

Bhutan is not the best place to go looking
for tigers if you actually want to see
tigers – if that’s your goal, then an Indian
reserve is your best bet. As we reported in
the September 2017 issue of BBC Wildlife
Magazine, most Bhutanese people haven’t
seen their country’s top predator.
But if you want an adventure in a
mountainous region untouched by
mass tourism with the possibility of
becoming one of the very few people
who has laid eyes on a tiger there – and
with the chance of encounters with Asian
elephants, leopards, gorals, takins and
civets – then this is worth thinking about. Water monitorr Talangama Wetland, Sri Lanka
In general, tigers are doing better in
the Himalayan states of Bhutan and One of the great things about Sri Lanka is how wildlife is
PREY ITEMS
Nepal and the northern heartlands tolerated, even in urban areas. Yes, it’s got the big national Water monitors
of India than they are in South-east parks such as Yala – which reportedly has the world’s densest are described
Asia, where numbers appear to be population of leopards – but you can also find large predators as “extreme
declining calamitously. in Talangama Wetland on the outskirts of the capital, carnivores” and
Colombo, too. Here, water monitors, close relatives of the will hunt anything

PREY ITEMS Sambar, takin and wild Komodo dragon, seek out fish, amphibians, small mammals they believe they
pigs in the north of Bhutan, sambar, and birds. Though rarely greater than 2m in length, the can catch by
chital, gaur and buffalo in the south. open pursuit.
largest one on record exceeded 3m.
13

DIVING &


MARINE ACTIVITIES






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Australasia










Dingos

Fraser Island, Queensland
Dingos are as Australian as Sydney
Opera House, and yet they occupy a
curious position in the country’s cultural
landscape and aren’t loved by its sheep
farmers. There’s confusion, too, over
what they are, though it’s generally
agreed that they are wild ancestors of
domesticated dogs and are now regarded
as species in their own right.
One thing’s for sure – to anyone
without an interest in protecting precious
livestock, they are stunning creatures,
mostly a beautiful golden sandy colour
with creamy white chests and feet and
gorgeous pricked ears and bushy tails.
The Fraser Island dingos are regarded
as the purest form left today, because
on the mainland they interbreed with
domestic dogs, resulting in hybrids.
Ther are 100–200 dingos left on Fraser
Island today, and there are infrequent
incidents of aggressive encounters with
tourists. Queensland Parks and Wildlife
Service’s advice on how to be ‘dingo-
safe’ is highly recommended reading.


PREY ITEMS Fraser Island dingos eat
everything from insects to dead
whales, but bandicoots make up
nearly 50 per cent of their diet.

In association with









Clockwise from
left: observe but
don’t ever feed
Fraser Island’s
dingos; swim
with blacktip reef
sharks on the
Great Barrier Reef;
beware of ‘salties’
– their lunge
attacks rarely fail.

Dingo: Oriol Alamany/naturepl.com; shark: Andre Seale/Alamy; crocodile: Tim Ezzy/Alamy










Reef sharks Heron Island, Queensland

Heron Island is one of the jewels in the Great Barrier Reef crown and an excellent PREY ITEMS
place for non-divers to snorkel with an array of large, exciting (but essentially not Mainly small bony
dangerous) predators from whitetip and blacktip reef and nurse sharks to the fish, which they
Queensland grouper that is said to live underneath the main jetty – this species sometimes hunt
can grow to 2.5m long. You can snorkel in shallow waters just a few metres above with the aid of
spectacular
the reef and just meters from the shore.
rotating breaches.
There are plenty of rays in these waters, too, and both green and loggerhead
turtles come to Heron Island to lay their eggs, while humpback whales can be seen
migrating north to their breeding grounds between June and September.

Saltwater
crocodiles

Kakadu National Park,
Northern Territory

The largest recorded ‘saltie’ was 8.6m
long, bigger than any reliable record
for a great white shark and not far
off the length of a double decker bus.
And they’re not just huge, they are
extremely dangerous predators that are
far more likely to attack than any shark
and should be treated with respect.
But you can see these crocs in a
perfectly safe environment – either
from a boat or from a platform, such
as those at Cahill’s Crossing or Yellow
Water. There are an estimated 10,000
adults in Kakadu, and they can propel
themselves at high speed over the
water in attacks that the parks service
describe as “usually deadly”.

PREY ITEMS Anything they can get
their jaws on – in Kakadu, crocs
congregate in groups of 40 or more
to feed on fish migrating upstream.
Supplement to BBC Wildlife Magazine 17

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Polar bears

Kaktovik, Alaska
Churchill, in the Canadian province of
Manitoba, is generally regarded as the
polar bear capital of the world, with a
thriving tourism industry that takes
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rovers to see these top Arctic carnivores.
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thousand miles away on the north coast
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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
At Kaktovik, on Barter Island, bears
come ashore to scavenge the remains of
bowhead whales that are legally hunted
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80 have been recorded feeding together.
Here, the bears mix almost amicably
with both locals and tourists, though no
one forgets that they would happily turn
their attention from dead whale to live
human in a thrice.


PREY ITEMS Polar bears rely mainly
on catching seals on the sea ice, but
dead whales can be an important
food source during the summer.

In association with
ca







Clockwise from
right: Mexican Wolves
wolves are thriving
once again in the Arizona and New Mexico
southern USA;
ornate hawk- If asked where to see wolves in
eagles are found North America, most people would
in tropical forests;
Kaktovik in Alaska probably suggest Yellowstone or
is a new polar Alaska. But they can be found
bear destination. in other parts of the continent,
including the Apache and Gila
National Forests close to the Mexican
border. Thanks to a reintroduction
programme that started in 1998, an
estimated 113 Mexican wolves roam
some 8m ha of habitat, after being
reduced to just seven individuals in
the 1970s. It will be a challenge to
find any, but weekly updates on the
packs’ locations are shared by the
Arizona Game and Fish Department.


PREY ITEMS Elk, mule deer, white-
tailed deer and peccaries.

Polar bears: Sylvain Cordier/Getty; wolf: Claudio Contreras/naturepl.com; eagle: Pete Oxford/Minden/FLPA




























Ornate hawk-eagle El Copal, Costa Rica
Renowned for its impressive dark crest and boldly striped legs and
chest, the ornate hawk-eagle is a powerful predator of Central and South
America. Its short wings and long tail give the raptor great manoevrability
as it hunts other birds and small mammals in often dense tropical
rainforest. This does make them hard to see, though El Copal Reserve,
on the edge of Tapantí National Park, has a reputation for providing good
sightings of a gamut of predatory birds. Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula and
Darién National Park in Panama are also hotspots.



PREY ITEMS Everything from macaws, parrots and toucans to
kinkajous, agoutis and squirrels, all taken using ambush tactics.
21

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South America










Giant river otter Clockwise from left:
“Who goes there?”
Tambopata, Peru Giant river otters
will defend their
Giant river otters are often referred to as home territory;
‘river wolves’, and with good reason. They striated caracaras are
patrol the oxbow lakes and waterways of opportunistic feeders;
jaguars inhabit Brazil’s
their rainforest homes in packs, and woe
tropical wetlands.
betide anything that crosses their path.
Though fish are their staple fare, they will
happily tackle snakes such as anacondas
or take easy pickings such as bottom-
dwelling crustaceans.
Giant otters are extremely well-adapted
to hunting in rivers. Webbed feet and
strong, paddle-like tails propel them
rapidly through the water, while large
eyes and highly sensitive whiskers allow
them to quickly pinpoint their prey. Once
a catch is made, the hunter will use its
large canines to crunch through body and
bone as if eating a slice of toast.
Giant otters are now Endangered due
to habitat loss and years of hunting,
yet can still be spotted in the Orinoco,
Amazon and Paraná Basins, and
the riverways of the Guianas. Tres
Chimbadas Lake in Peru’s Tambopata
reserve is a good spot for sightings.


PREY ITEMS Mainly fish, but they
have been known to work together to
subdue and kill much larger creatures
such as caimans.




































24 Supplement to BBC Wildlife Magazine

In association with













Striated caracara

Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

They may not sport the famously vibrant
plumage of South America’s macaws,
but what these American raptors lack
in colour, they more than make up for
in character. Restricted to isolated areas
of Argentinean and Chilean Tierra
del Fuego – the archipelago off the
southernmost tip of South America – and
the Falkland Islands, these characterful,
inquisitive birds are known for their
diverse approaches to finding food. Dead
seabirds and penguins are its primary
food sources, but they also hunt for
insects and other invertebrates along the
tideline. It’s said they have a thing for the
colour red and show little fear of humans.


PREY ITEMS Dead birds, but they also
dig up small seabirds from their burrows,
or take eggs and chicks of larger ones.







Jaguar
Pantanal, Brazil
Otter: Mark Bowler/naturepl.com; striated caracara: Frans Lanting/FLPA; jaguar: Staffan Widstrand/naturepl.com
It’s the largest cat in the Americas
and dispatches its prey with a well-
aimed bite to the back of the neck.
Despite its wide range, the jaguar
remains as secretive as it is powerful
– only the lucky few will glimpse
this muscular, stocky cat patrolling
the riverbank or cooling off in the
water. Brazil’s Pantanal is your best
bet, and the conservation initiative
Projecto Onçafari is currently
working in the Caiman Ecological
Refuge to habituate jaguars to
vehicles in order to promote eco-
tourism in this famous wetland. If
its model proves successful, it could
be rolled out across the region.


PREY ITEMS Capybara and caiman
make up half a jaguar’s diet, but the
remains of 85 species have been
found in their scats.

Supplement to BBC Wildlife Magazine 25

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE


BIG FRIENDLY



GIANTS






Home to a plethora of fascinating
animals, Guyana is a part of South
America that’s made for exploring






























Photo credit: Pete Oxford


THERE AREN’T MANY places you can visit ONE OF A KIND
nowadays that can legitimately be described There are a number of intriguing animals
as ‘undiscovered’, but one country that this unique to this part of the world, and one of
does apply to is Guyana. An exotic paradise the most fascinating that you’ll come across
perfect for nature lovers, adventure seekers in Guyana is the anteater. Of the four types of
and eco-tourists alike, Guyana boasts pristine this unique-looking animal, the giant anteater
Amazonian rainforests, stunning waterfalls, is arguably the most astonishing. Found in
extraordinary wildlife, thriving nature reserves the country’s Iwokrama Forest and Rupununi
and much more. You’ll also find a vibrant Savannahs, it can measure as long as seven
indigenous culture, rich heritage, impressive feet from the tip of its snout to the end of its
landmarks and friendly, hospitable locals tail. Anteaters have no teeth, but their tongues
everywhere you go here. – the longest of any animal – can extend two
Nestled in the north-eastern corner of South feet beyond their mouths and be flicked up to
America along the Atlantic coast, Guyana 160 times per minute, allowing them to eat
remains largely untouched, with more than 80 30,000 ants a day. With its protruding snout
percent of the country still covered by forests. and tiny eyes and ears, the anteater is hard
These are home to more than 1,000 species of to miss, and if you’re lucky you may catch a
trees, the world’s rarest orchids and around glimpse of a mother carrying a baby on her
8,000 plant species, half of which cannot be back during your travels.
found anywhere else. Guyana also has one of Other mammals you can expect to see in
the highest levels of biodiversity on the planet, Guyana include the elusive jaguar, tapirs, giant
as well as unique geology, pristine ecosystems otters and saki monkeys. It’s also a fantastic
and natural habitats, and an incredible variety bird-watching destination, so be sure to pack
of animal life. your binoculars.

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Photo credit: Daniel Bianchetta

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Antarctica











Leopard seals Paradise Bay

In 1985, polar explorer Gareth Wood in no danger, though. The wildlife
got the shock of his life when the head cameraman Doug Allan describes
of a leopard seal broke through the ice how he filmed the animals hunting
he was walking over and clamped its and killing penguins for Life in the
jaws around his right leg. He was saved Freezer, but never really felt threatened.
by his companions, who kicked the seal Occasionally they showed annoyance by
until it released him. baring their teeth in front of him, and
In other words, leopard seals – second one even took the whole of the front of
only to orcas as Antarctic predators, the camera in its mouth.
and more dangerous to humans – are But tourists, who are more likely to
deadly creatures. A scientist drowned in see them from the safety of a Zodiac,
2003 when she was dragged under by a will find them relaxing on ice floes or
leopard seal while she was snorkelling. frolicking in the water. To get a little bit
Most people visiting Antarctica are closer, try taking to a sea kayak.


PREY ITEMS Krill makes up nearly half a leopard seal’s diet, but it can
also take crabeater, Weddell and Antarctic fur seals and penguins.

o
I
n as
n wit
In association with h
oc
iati
s


Clockwise from left:
Look out for ‘laughing’
leopard seals lounging
on ice floes; giant
petrels are expert
scavengers; Antarctica
is a killer whale hotspot.
















Leopard seal: David Merron Photography/Getty; petrel: Edson Vandeira/Getty; orca: Alex Huizinga/Minden/Getty
Giant petrels Antarctic Peninsula
More scavenger than predator, giant petrels (there are two species,
southern and northern) are nevertheless capable of attacking and killing
other birds such as penguin chicks when the opportunity arises. They
breed on the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as islands further north such as
South Georgia and other sub-Antarctic islands, but like their close relatives,
the albatrosses, they will cover vast distances in search of food, scooping up
squid, fish and scraps from the surface of the ocean. Like other members
of the tubenose group of seabirds, they can eject a pungent, oily liquid to
ward off potential attacks, much like our northern fulmar can.

PREY ITEMS Females subsist on live prey, males more on carrion.























Killer whales Antarctic (anywhere)
Killer whales, or orcas, can be seen in waters spanning the entire globe and
are sometimes described as the most widespread vertebrate on the planet.
So, there’s no need to travel all the way to the Antarctic to see one, right?
Well yes, except that scientists have identified four different ‘ecotypes’, that
may well be separate species, in Antarctic waters alone, with three of them
specialising in distinctly different prey – namely, minke whales, seals and
fish. Little is known about a fourth one, which is rarely spotted in sub-
Antarctic waters. What’s more, the seas surrounding the seventh continent
may be home to half the global population of this apex predator.

PREY ITEMS Killer whales are known to consume 140 separate species.

29

READER
HOLIDAY Nick Baker while on this
EXCLUSIVE
Learn from naturalist



Visit the Arctic adventure



kingdom




of the



polar bear





Accompany BBC
Wildlife and TV’s
Nick Baker on an
exciting cruise of
a lifetime to see
amazing Arctic
species amidst Enjoy incredible
encounters
stunning scenery. with polar bears
on the sea ice.


oin naturalist Nick Baker on this 26 May Sail through the sea ice in sight BBC WILDLIFE
thrilling trip to experience the of the spectacular cliffs of the
Jmajesty of the Arctic, one of the to 3 June largest island, Spitsbergen, only HOLIDAY TO
last great wildernesses on Earth, where 2019 800 miles from the North Pole. SPITSBERGEN
nothing can prepare you for your first It’s a land where glaciers mirror
sighting of a polar bear on sea ice, a key the sunset, seemingly setting fire to SUNDAY 26 MAY —
highlight of this unforgettable adventure. the mountaintops, and walruses haul MONDAY 3 JUNE 2019
We cruise with experienced wildlife travel themselves out to doze, while countless
company Heatherlea to see bears, walruses, seabirds swoop down from an endless sky COST
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and minke whales and, of course, the from £4295pp
undisputed king of the Arctic – the polar
WHAT’S INCLUDED bear. Our voyage to this archipelago gives
us excellent chances of seeing them. FOR FULL INFORMATION AND TO
l Return flights l All meals throughout
from London to the voyage, including As we travel, Nick Baker, BBC Wildlife BOOK CONTACT HEATHERLEA:
Longyearbyen snacks, tea and coffee and Heatherlea team members will join
via Oslo 01479 821248
l All shore excursions expedition staff to offer wildlife talks.
l Hotel, dinner and bed and activities We visit in late spring, taking [email protected]
and breakfast in Oslo by Zodiac advantage of long daylight hours when
l Transfers and l Programme temperatures are not severe. Our voyage www.heatherlea.co.uk
baggage handling of lectures by
in Longyearbyen naturalist Nick also coincides with the beginning of the www.discoverwildlife.com/reader-holiday/
l 7 nights/8 days Baker, expedition breeding season for most birds. You will visit-kingdom-polar-bear
aboard MV Plancius staff, BBC Wildlife never forget the wonderful wildlife of
– choose your
and Heatherlea
Polar bear: Rob Jordan Not included: Holiday insurance, optional tips to ship’s O Organised by BBC Wildlife Magazine in partnership
this harsh, beautiful landscape.
own cabin
team members
e
crew/other staff, drinks other than coffee and tea, other
with experienced wildlife holiday company Heatherlea,
personal expenses and lunch in Longyearbyen on Day 2.
regular provider of holidays for BBC Wildlife readers. e
30 Exact details may be subject to change. Supplement to BBC Wildlife Magazine



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