CATEGORIES

ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE Shoebill

THIS PREHISTORIC-LOOKING BIRD IS affectionately known by some as 'king of the marshes' as it is huge (up to 1.5m tall with a 2.4m wingspan) and resides in the freshwater marshes and swamps of East Africa.

Slime: protector, lubricant and glue

GOO, GUNGE, GUNK... WHILE THERE are many names for the stuff that makes things slippery or sticky, slime isn't a single material but a label for a variety of substances with similar physical properties. Those qualities are desirable to many living things, which is why slime is made by such a wide range of organisms.

Are there any plants in Antarctica?

CONTINENTS DON'T COME ANY MORE inhospitable than Antarctica, where life must contend with the longest, darkest, coldest winters and a year-round blanket of snow and ice.

Why are walruses so chubby?

AS A GENERAL RULE, TERRESTRIAL mammals are furry, while aquatic ones are fat. It doesn't work across the board: sea otters rarely leave the water but have the densest fur of any mammal.

What is the lotus effect?

WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF WATCHING the clock on the wall of a dentist's waiting room, you can always pass a bit of time with a rummage through the bowl of fragrant botanical wonders next to the leaflets about expensive cosmetic work.

How do parrots learn to swear?

THERE ARE FEW THINGS AS GLORIOUSLY entertaining as the effing and blinding of a potty-mouthed parrot.

Flightless birds

Our pick of 10 curious birds that have lost the ability to fly

LANDLORD OF THE WILD

The humble aardvark is seldom praised for its work digging out homes for other animals

Badminton groundsman

Phil Cole on flawless going for cross-country, perfecting his craft on polo pitches and being at the mercy of the weather

NIGHT PROWL

As shrimp farms encroach on fishing cat habitat in Thailand, scientists are learning how these felines are adapting to a changing world

Arctic roll

The Arctic tern is the ultimate distance migrant, flying pole to pole every year

New competition and classification to mean dressage will be for all

The new partnerships with British Dressage will provide opportunities for riders with intellectual disabilities

Pressure grows on the FEI to tackle concerns in dressage

A leading judge has made some recommendations he believes will help support the sport's future

Wild words

Spending time observing and writing about the natural world can be transformational

'Plenty to get your teeth into'

This year's Badminton track is testing, but fair, says Nicola Wilson, the 2021 European champion who finished in the top 10 at this five-star four times

Huge rewilding paradise planned for South Africa

The 100,000ha Loskop Dam Nature Reserve project hopes to bring back lost species

Songbird slaughter in Cyprus

Last autumn, almost half a million birds were trapped and killed by gangs on the Mediterranean island

New life for our rivers

Europe's dams are being removed at record-breaking speed - freeing rivers and restoring healthy habitats

FEMALE OF THE SPECIES

Love is a battlefield for damselflies in distress

CRACK DOWN

As the new Amazon drama Poacher hits our screens, we take a look at the fight to end ivory poaching in India

Pender keeps it in the family

Ireland's Mikey Pender begins a remarkable grand prix winning double and it all comes together in the ring for a \"special character\"

Birch is back in the big time

A former Olympic reserve rider scores her first international win in four years, while Kelsall specialists make their mark again

Welsh star is on the dot

A delightful Welsh section A leadrein contender is the best of a super-strong novice supreme on his winter championships debut

Super subs

Can a huntsman take on a different pack of hounds for a day and produce good sport? It can indeed happen,as Andrew Sallis explains

The King retains his crown

Global superstar King Edward joins the ranks of such legends as Milton and Shutterfly as a back-to-back World Cup winner

Artificial intelligence and its role in training our horses

Products on the market are using tech to help horse and rider progression and performance

Be bold and ambitious to benefit welfare and sport

The FEI will next week discuss the final report of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission

'Radical new thoughts for dressage

Anna Ross on the recent winter championships and potential rule changes

Access all areas Tim and Jonelle Price

New Zealand's premier eventing couple are in their second season based at the impressive Chedington Estate. Pippa Roome finds out how they work together and their plans for this Olympic year

Running at a loss, even if you win

Jodie Hall McAteer weighs up the pros and cons of jumping abroad