Long Read
The 13 birds of Christmas? Discover the birds behind the Twelve Days of Christmas carol
It’s got doves, hens and, of course, a partridge, but Stephen Moss explores how a much-loved carol may be all about birds, plus why the robin rules Christmas.
Sown vs native road verges: which is best?
Local councils and institutions are transforming road verges into rivers of flowers – and saving money while they do it. But are these sown ‘meadows’ any good for pollinators and other wildlife?
Wildlife and mental health: how birdwatching saved my life
After hitting rock bottom, it was taking time to mindfully appreciate the beauty of birds that set one man on the road to recovery.
Why are there so few female wildlife photographers?
Wildlife photographer Melissa Groo explains why so few wildlife photographers are female, and what is being done to encourage more young women to take up photography.
The thylacine became extinct in the 1960s... or did it?
Tantalising sightings of this enigmatic Australian marsupial continue to inspire the belief that it could still be out there.
What is the conservation industry doing to address its lack of diversity?
The conservation industry is the second-least diverse sector in the UK, but, says Jasmine Isa Qureshi, many organisations are working to make nature more inclusive. The times are changing...
The curious case of Winston Churchill and Winston... the platypus?
In the midst of war, Britain’s Prime Minister was obsessed with platypuses – and was sent one by the Australian government, despite the long journey and danger of U-boats.
Protecting the natural world is no joke, but is it okay to use humour when discussing it?
Should humour be used more often when we're talking about the natural world and how to protect it? Or does laughter detract from important conservation messages? Comedian and author Dani Rabaiotti investigates.
Can, and should, the royal estates be rewilded?
Prince Charles is a committed environmentalist, but when it comes to his own estate he could do a lot better. Here’s how the whole royal family can bump up their grades.
Why a wave of hippo poop is great news for predators, but not for fish
We explain how hippos and their poop re-engineers the ecosystems around them, and how that can mean life or death for other species.
Wildlife rangers: why they are nature's first responders, and why they need more support
Rangers are nature’s first responders. They risk their lives to protect our planet, yet some don’t even own a pair of boots. So, why are rangers not respected and supported? And what’s being done about it?
Bringing back the tiger: can we save the species from extinction?
Just over a decade ago, leaders of all 13 tiger range countries came together in a bold and inspiring pledge to save this iconic big cat. Their pledge? To double tiger populations by 2022, the next Chinese Year of the Tiger. So, with a few months to go, who is on track to deliver?
Wildlife, sustainability, and cruise ship tourism in the Arctic
Cruise ships full of eager tourists are heading to the Arctic, but are these trips raising awareness of our melting ice caps or exacerbating the problem?
Is the countryside the reserve of the privileged?
Writer, critic and journalist Anita Sethi discusses how the joys of being surrounded by nature can seem out of reach if your class, ethnicity or access to transport make the countryside a no-go zone.
Monkey business: if macaques want your food, they're not going to ask for it!
Barbary macaques are thriving on the Rock of Gibraltar. But is there enough space for both people and monkeys?
A book at bedtime: why children fall in love with fictional animals
Animals are synonymous with children's literature. Author Chae Strathie examines our long-running love affair with books featuring animal stars, and why they're so appealing.
The scaly enigma of pangolins, and how that could help to save them
Pangolins have baffled people for centuries. Weird ideas about ‘scaly devils’ and ‘fish hogs’ may explain why they’re the world’s most trafficked mammals, says Dr Natalie Lawrence, but they could also help save them.
Pangolins under pressure: why these unique mammals are threatened with extinction
The armour that protects pangolins makes them acutely vulnerable to the deadliest predator of all. James Fair reports on the conservationists fighting to save these amazing mammals from Homo sapiens.
The people who believe orangutans are family
Some among Sarawak's Iban consider their local orangutans to be 'family'. Mark Eveleigh joins these descendents of Bornean headhunters to discover why.
A natural paradise in Colombia
Colombia is number one in the world for avian diversity, but decades of conflict kept visitors away. In a new era of peace, it is ready to share its birding riches.
How do you deal with 'pests' if you love wildlife?
For a wildlife lover it’s tricky dealing with 'pests' such as wasps, ants and slugs. Do you live and let live … or become a vegetable patch vigilante? Helen Pilcher discusses the dilemma.
Dragon islands - how people live alongside the world's largest venomous reptile
Komodo dragons inspired legends of fire-breathing monsters and, as Mark Eveleigh discovered, the trust is almost as strange as the fiction.
A wild future? Ex-captive elephants in Thailand are being given a new start
A sanctuary in Thailand is rehabilitating captive elephants with the aim of returning them to the wild. BBC Wildlife's Richard Eccleston reports on the project.
The fascinating world of the lemon shark
Lemon sharks have personalities, make friends, use body language and learn tricks. They’re forcing us to rethink how we see big sharks, says Helen Scales.