Page 3

Without whom...

As we were putting this issue to bed, we learned of the passing of one of BBC Wildlife’s most celebrated former contributors.

David Bellamy was the face and voice of nature for those of us raised in the 1970s and 80s. He introduced us to endless wonders of the natural world, from exotic jungles to the ends of our gardens. We didn’t just want to watch him, we wanted to be him. Any time we found ourselves in the wild, we’d burst into impressions of the charismatic botanist. We pay tribute on page 40.

You may not know that Bellamy was once imprisoned, though his incarceration was mercifully brief. If only the same could be said for the scientists in Iran jailed as spies while working to protect the rare Asiatic cheetahs that live there. We had hoped to bring you their story with a happy ending, but were shocked when hopes of a release were dashed by sentences of up to 10 years. What chance that by the time you read this, an appeal will see them freed?

Thomason

: Brydon

page

; Th

Cooper/Getty

ley

: Ash

lings

; sap

: ITV/Shutterstock

llamy

; Be

Lanting

: Frans

Cover: cheetah

Shetland is home to a high proportion of coastal-dwelling otters that have been studied for years. Read the full story on p58

facebook.com/wildlifemagazine twitter.com/WildlifeMag instagram.com/ bbcwildlifemagazine

February 2020

Paul McGuinness Editor

G d

Get your digital copy

B B iO P th A to

Buy a digital edition of BBC Wildlife Magazine for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, PC or Mac. Visit iTunes, the Google Play store, Amazon or zinio.com to find out more.

Q Advertising neil.lloyd@immediate.co.uk; 0117 300 8276

Q Subscriptions bbcwildlife@buysubscriptions.com; 03330 162 121

Q Editorial enquiries wildlifemagazine@immediate.co.uk; 0117 300 8570

Q Syndication emma.brunt@immediate.co.uk; 0117 300 8979

BBC Wildlife