February 2020
CONTENTS
WILD MONTH
10 Seven species to spot What to look for in February
16 Mike Dilger’s wildlife watching Visit a woodland ride to spot early spring flowers
21 Nick Baker’s hidden Britain Hair ice and how it forms
23 News
Can fake rhino horn reduce demand for the real thing?
25 Conservation report
Critically Endangered gharial
27 Mark Carwardine
The conservationist discusses human population growth
28 Meet the scientist
Protecting hirolas in an area that is on the verge of being a war zone
29 Truth or ction?
Beluga plays fetch in the Arctic
FEATURES
32 News: plastic problem
COVER STORY
Can we remove plastic from our oceans without further impacting wildlife?
40 Remembering David
Bellamy COVER STORY We celebrate the inspirational ‘jolly green giant’ and share fond memories
44 Caught in the cross re COVER STORY
Iran’s threatened cheetahs and the fate of the scientists that studied them
54 Secrets of skin COVER STORY The science behind the largest organ and how it keeps species alive
58 Coastal otters
Why do these semi-aquatic mammals thrive on Shetland’s shores?
February 2020
66 The great tree debate
COVER STORY
Instead of planting saplings, should we let trees propagate themselves?
70 Photo story: salmon
The fight is on to save the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest: wild salmon
OUR WILD WORLD
87 At home
Natural history TV, books and more
91 Working for nature
Leon Moore is reviewing bird records
93 Puzzles
94 Your photos
96 Feedback
Your letters and Tales from the Bush
REGULARS
6 In focus
Nudibranch and jabiru
80 Q&A COVER STORY
How do giraffes give birth?
106 Wildlife champion Folk singer Sam Lee on why he loves the nightingale
The people behind our stories
ALICE LIPSCOMBE SOUTHWELL Science writer Alice reports on the latest plastic extraction technology
that is attempting to clean up our waters. “It’s clear that we cannot continue living our lives as we always
have done,” she says. See p32
BENGARROD Biologist and BBC presenter Ben reveals some of the extraordinary
ways in which skin is key to an animal’s success. “The vertebrate integument is a wonder of evolution and adaptation,” he says. See p54
RICHARDMABEY In the race to o set carbon emissions through reforestation, nature writer Richard shares his view. “Our automatic reflex to the need for more trees is that humans must deliberately plant them within
a decade,” he says. See p66
LEONMOORE Tour guide Leon hopes he can make
a di erence to the protection of birds and other wildlife in Guyana by verifying bird reports. “The sightings will inform and develop conservation
initiatives,” he says. See p91
BBC Wildlife
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