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DECEMBER 2012

WILD

British wildlife to enjoy this month

6 SPECIES & HABITATS Spawning salmon in Scottish rivers, the mass roosts of little egrets, and waterfowl flocking to reservoirs. Plus an ID guide to hardy ferns. 13 YOUR LOCAL PATCH Territorial robins carolling their repertoire of songs. 15 THINGS TO DO Watch for wary wild boar trotting through the Forest of Dean. Plus what to do if you find a dead bird.

44 RACE TO RESCUE THE WORLD’S RAREST DOG How a dedicated group of conservationists is battling rabies to save the last surviving Ethiopian wolves.

AGENDA

News, conservation & analysis

38 A bonanza of new mammal species in Peru and the impacts of the primate pet trade. Plus Mark Carwardine on the fight to save moon bears from the bile industry.

W2

Essential information & expert advice

87 TV PLUS We preview new BBC series

Polar Bear Family and Me, and go behind the scenes of a rhino conservation film. 91 BOOKS December’s best reads, and

David Lindo reveals his favourite book. 95 Q&A Your questions answered, plus the latest discoveries and fascinating facts. 100 THE BIG QUESTION HOW

DO ‘VIRGIN BIRTHS’ OCCUR? How animals reproduce without mating.

REGULARS

19 RICHARD MABEY

A BRUSH WITH NATURE Richard curates a very contemporary Cabinet of Curiosities. 21 BILL ODDIE WILD AT HEART

Why golf courses boast above-par birding. 36 SPECIAL READER OFFER Act now! 103 YOUR LETTERS 109 CHRISTMAS QUIZ Win a limitededition David Shepherd book worth £2,500. 111 YOUR PHOTOS 130 TALES FROM THE BUSH

Tracking down nesting bald eagles in Mexico.

4 BBC Wildlife

60 GIANT OTTERS ÒThe crunching sounds as they eat echo across the lake.Ó

Philippa Forrester