REWILDING MEANS A LOT MORE THAN R simply returning wild animals to ecosystems where their populations are degraded or absent. That said, it's hard to ignore the huge range of flagship species now being released in their native habitats - from jaguars in Argentina's Iberá Wetlands to European bison in Romania's Carpathian mountains.
But what about rewilding the seas, which cover a far greater percentage of the Earth’s surface? When it comes to returning lost and endangered marine species, the underwater realm has long lagged behind its terrestrial counterpart. With no firm definition, initiatives to restore seagrass meadows and re-establish oyster beds can arguably be classified as rewilding. But the idea of returning large, iconic animals to the ocean is only just taking off.
This is what makes ReShark – an international, collective effort to recover threatened sharks and rays around the world – so exciting. ReShark’s first project, called StAR, broke new ground (or water) in early 2023, when three juvenile, captive-bred zebra sharks were released in a lagoon off Wayag Island, part of Indonesia’s spectacular Raja Ampat archipelago. In a global first, the aim is to raise 500 zebra sharks in aquariums across the world and set them free in Raja Ampat’s bountiful waters.
Jump Around - Bagheera Kiplingi - The acrobatic spider with a predilection for veggie food
Spiders eat flies, right? everyone knows that the 45,000 or so spiders in the world are all obligate carnivores, more or less – eating other animals, mainly invertebrates. Nature, however, loves an exception, and one particular spider missed out on that ecological memo. It goes by the wonderful scientific name of Bagheera kiplingi, and its claim to fame is that its diet is – at least mostly – vegetarian.
Female of the Species - Zebras - A strong sisterhood is key to staying safe
Zebras are masters of confusion. Their collective noun is ‘a dazzle’, which is fitting since their bodies and behaviour have been surprising scientists for centuries.
See It, Save It? - Wildlife tourism can be a powerful ally in protecting nature - but it can also harm it. We weigh up the pros and cons.
The sums of wildlife travel aren’t as simple as more tourists equals happier nature. How much did my visit really contribute to the conservation of Lady Liuwa and her habitat – and was that outweighed by carbon emissions from my flights? Did my presence disturb the animals’ natural behaviour more than it reduced the threat of poaching or benefited local communities?The question of whether wildlife travel is, on balance, good for wildlife is a complex one – and there’s no simple answer.
Can Your Really Offset Emissions? - Planning an overseas wildlife-watching trip entails facing some inconvenient truths
Imagine (or maybe you don't need to) that you hanker after the safari trip of a lifetime in sub-Saharan Africa. A 17-day tour beginning at the iconic Victoria Falls, passing through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania, taking in some of the continent’s most wildlife-rich national parks, and ending on the lush island of Zanzibar.
Metamorphosis: a life-changing event
WITH EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGIST JV CHAMARY
New series for BBC One: Asia
Settle in this autumn for a new natural-history extravaganza on BBC One and iPlayer: the longawaited Asia, presented by Sir David Attenborough.
Loss of Antarctic sea ice could impact seabird food supply
Albatrosses and petrels may be forced to fly further to feed
Tarsiers in trouble
Urgent action is needed to ensure survival of the Yoda-like primate
SNAP-CHAT
Chien Lee on shrew loos, rogue drones and being rained out of bed
VISIONS OF NATURE
The winners of the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition 2024, from David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
