The Jamaican Iguana has a dramatic boom-and-bust history. Described as abundant by renowned 17th century Irish aristocrat-cum-naturalist Sir Hans Sloane, only 250 years later it would be all but gone. Endemic to Jamaica, it was declared extinct in 1948, having not been seen alive for eight years. The introduction of the small Indian mongoose was […]
Wildlife
Who’s Protecting Who? The rediscovery of the Black Softshell turtle in the wild
The deity, Vishnu, is a powerful figure within Hinduism. As a formless, abstract being, he is only recognizable in his reincarnations. In one of his appearances, Vishnu appears as half man – half tortoise. This second turtle avatar, referred to as Kurma, helps “restore the cosmic equilibrium” in times of crisis, returning to the earth […]
The Cuban Solenodon: Is it a goat; is it a bird… no it’s a dinosaur rat!
If I told you that I knew an animal that smelled like a goat, chirped like a bird, kills with its saliva and runs on its tip-toes, you wouldn’t believe me- right? So there’s not a lot of point in my writing this, given that you believe my subject to be completely imaginary. Okay, now […]
Finding inspiration in rediscovery
I love what I do. I’ve been a naturalist since childhood, and I was lucky enough to grow up in the wilds of west Dorset where the woodlands, coastlines and hills gave me everything I needed to explore my fascination with wildlife and the natural world. In school, the only subject which interested me was […]