For the first time in 30 years, the Himalayas are visible from the Indian city of Jalandhar, some 125 miles away. The canals of Venice are crystal clear and dolphins, usually put off by cruise ships, have been spotted in the port of Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital.
For wildlife enthusiast Chris Packham it’s a sight to behold, which is sure to make this year’s Springwatch more spectacular than ever. Chris will join Gillian Burke and IoIo Williams to film the show remotely, with some help from viewers, too. Notably absent will be Michaela Strachan, who is in lockdown at her home in South Africa.
Chris has been isolating at home in the New Forest with his grown-up stepdaughter Megan McCubbin, whose mum is Chris’s former partner Joanne. The former couple have always maintained an amicable relationship since splitting when Megan was 12.
Meanwhile, Chris’s current partner, Charlotte Corney, is in the Isle of Wight, where she runs the Isle of Wight Zoo and Wild Heart Trust big cat sanctuary.
Here, Chris talks about the most unique Springwatch ever, and why Netflix documentary Tiger King has done his partner Charlotte’s rescue work a huge disservice…
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