Charlie Lyon
Charlie is a freelance contributor who is passionate about the countryside, wildlife and environmental matters
Recent articles by Charlie Lyon
Do these male animals have the worst lives on the planet? 10 doomed males – screwed by evolution – destined to live brutal, short and unforgiving lives
These unlucky lads of the animal kingdom seriously got the short end of the stick
Why one cunning plant stinks of dying ants
Japanese botanists says it's the first example ever recorded of plants copying ants in the name of pollination
How stress makes koalas more at risk from a fatal STD
A new study has revealed that stress in koalas appears to drive up koala retrovirus levels, leaving them more vulnerable to chlamydia, which causes blindness, infertility and death
Canada's wildlife, from mammals to reptiles, in devastating decline and fighting for survival, say experts
A new report from World Wildlife Fund Canada paints a grim picture, detailing widespread population declines across bird, fish and mammals and more
It may look like a wolf, but don't be fooled. DNA of Darwin's Falkland Islands wolf reveals a far stranger truth
The Falkland Islands wolf didn’t seem to fear humans, Darwin recorded, but that’s because it was a domesticated South American fox species
A turquoise jay? Oh yes... ultra rare and weird bird spotted in Texas – and scientists blame climate change for its existence
Researchers believe that the natural hybrid offspring of a green jay and a blue jay, which are different species separated by millions of years of evolution, has been created by climate-driven shifts in the birds’ ranges
10 rarest shells on the planet, from a gigantic deep-sea snail the size of a shoe box to a bizarre comb-shaped shell with delicate prongs
We take a closer look at the world of ultra-rare shells – where the molluscs that create them live and why they're so hard to find
10 most beautiful snakes in the world – from sunshine-coloured vipers with beguiling eyelashes to monochrome marvels of the sea
Snakes get a bad rep, but these top 10 species prove they are some of the most enchanting animals in the world
Big cat vs small cat: what's the difference between these furry felines?
What's the difference between a big cat and a small cat? We look at what truly separates big cats from their smaller cousins
Meet nature's strangest strollers: The fish who use fins as feet to 'walk' on land
From the mountains of Venezuela to the mudflats of Japan, across the globe these amazing fish have evolved to walk across dry land
10 amazing Antarctic animals – including one with antifreeze blood and another with razor-sharp teeth to bite air holes in the ice
Discover the most remarkable, captivating wildlife that thrives in one of the least hospitable places on Earth – Antarctica
Tough day? The cutest baby animals in the world will get you through
From fluffy owl chicks to gangly elephant calves, discover adorable baby animals with ultimate awww factor
"Wildlife thrives with the return of beavers" – UK government gives go ahead for more beavers to be released into the wild
Applications to return Eurasian beavers into river catchments in England will now be accepted, the government has announced. Wildlife groups say it will pave the way for this native species to roam wild in British rivers and lakes once more
20 of the world's most mind-blowing insect photos revealed
From the steely stare of a bush cricket to a Mediterranean mantis drinking in the sunset, here are some of the winning images from the Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2024
Year of the Snake: Discover what this elusive reptile signifies in the lunar calendar
Contemporary art and literature may paint the snake in a negative light – as a deadly, fearsome reptile. But in ancient China it was a revered animal
This strange dinky glowing ocean creature, which disguises itself as a moonbeam and dies as soon as it breeds, amazes scientists at night
This colourful marine animal can also eject ink as another layer of protection against predators
Scientists thought this whale could only live for 70 years – turns out it's double that. Here's how they made the discovery
Spoiler alert: it wasn't by measuring their earwax
Ghost nets: What you need to know about these deadly ocean polluters
What are ghost nets? Why do they cause so many problems and can anything done? We talk to the experts to find out
Candy-coloured kingfishers and pheasants in regal hues – discover the 10 most colourful birds
These avian wonders with brilliantly coloured plumage are found across the globe
5 of the loneliest plants in the world, plus the race to help them reproduce
With sometimes as little as just one remaining specimen, these critically endangered plants will disappear from our planet forever without the help of talented horticulturalists
Dinosaur teeth from formidable carnivore discovered in English countryside
The discovery reveals how fearsome predators, including the tyrannosaur and spinosaur (pictured) roamed the South East
5 giants of the sky – including one enormous bird that's as long as a car
Meet the wandering albatross, whose wingspan is roughly the length of a Fiat 500, and four more feathered titans