Conker Nature Magazine - July / August 2024: The Natural World Edition The Hidden Britain Issue

JULY/AUGUST 2024

BRITAIN’S SPECTACULAR MIDNIGHT LIGHT SHOW

VIXEN AMONG WILDFLOWERS

MEET

ALL OF

THE WHITLEY AWARD WINNERS OF 2024

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INSIDE COVER

MODEL: Henry IG:@henrybarnowl PHOTOGRAPHER: Scott Duffield IG: @scott.duffield.photography FB: www.facebook.com/Scott.duffield.photography WB: scottduffieldphotography.pixieset.com WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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Editor-in-chief Lucy Morris Sally Marie Rosie Jones Tobias James Kararaina Bishara Darren Wynne Heather Wilkins Laura Woolley Isabelle Price Laszlo Balogh

Executive Editor Wildlife Editor Digital Editor Features Editor Photo/Sub Editor Photo Assistant Travel Editor Advertisement Director Logo Illustrator

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CONTENTS

JULY / AUGUST 2024

CEMETERY FOX 08 ENCHANTED FAMILY & VIXEN AMONG WILDFLOWERS

PHOTOGRAPHER: EMILY JANE TAYLOR IG: @CAPTURE_NATURE_EMILY_TAYLOR

24 WILD OBSERVER THIS MONTH, THE CONKER NATURE TEAM DELVE INTO THIS SUMMER’S WILD OBSERVER FOR THE JUNEAUGUST SEASON.

26 THE OSPREY

PHOTOGRAPHER: SRIMANTA RAY IG:@SRIMANTA_RAY

SHOWCASE - THE 32 WILDLIFE LITTLE OWL PHOTOGRAPHER: SCOTT DUFFIELD IG: @SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY FB: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SCOTT.DUFFIELD. PHOTOGRAPHY WB: SCOTTDUFFIELDPHOTOGRAPHY.PIXIESET.COM

38 WILDLIFE OF CANADA

PHOTOGRAPHER: HAILEY STAMPER IG: @HAILEYMADISONBOUDOIR

AND FLOWERS FROM 48 SUNSET ENSLEV, DENMARK PHOTOGRAPHER: ALYONA MADSEN IG: @ALYONAMADSEN

SHOWCASE - THE BARN 52 WILDLIFE OWL MODEL/OWL: HENRY IG: @HENRYBARNOWL PHOTOGRAPHER: SCOTT DUFFIELD IG: @SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY FB: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SCOTT.DUFFIELD. PHOTOGRAPHY WB: SCOTTDUFFIELDPHOTOGRAPHY.PIXIESET.COM

AWARD WINNERS OF 62 WHITLEY 2024 COVERED BY: LUCY JANE MORRIS IG: @LUCYMORRISWILD | @CONKERNATUREMAGAZINE EVENT AND WORDS: THE WHITLEY AWARDS 2024 IG: @WHITLEYAWARDS

WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

JULY / AUGUST 2024

84 HORSES PHOTOGRAPHER: LOLITA BOGACHEVA IG:@BOGACHEVALOLITA

86 FREYA PHOTOGRAPHER: ALEXANDER ULYANOV IG: @ULIANOV7233 DOG: FREYA

92 OSKAR PHOTOGRAPHER: JULIYA SIDOROVA IG: @JULIYA_ANIMALIMAGE WB: ANIMALIMAGE.WFOLIO.PRO PT: WWW.PINTEREST.COM/SIDULIYA

96 LITTLE SUPERSTAR PHOTOGRAPHER: KIR BROUCH IG: @SCHIZISS

BOREALIS - BRITAIN’S 100 AURORA SPECTACULAR MIDNIGHT LIGHT SHOW

PHOTOGRAPHER: SCOTT DUFFIELD IG: @SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY FB: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SCOTT.DUFFIELD. PHOTOGRAPHY WB: SCOTTDUFFIELDPHOTOGRAPHY.PIXIESET.COM

106LAKES PHOTOGRAPHER: NATALIA KLIACHINA IG:@NATALLIA_NATALIA_

112 MONT SAINT-MICHEL PHOTOGRAPHER: ALEXANDRA SHILOVA IG: @ALEXASHIL

114 SUMMER’S TREATS PHOTOGRAPHER: MARIIA SOKOR IG: @MARIA_SOKOR

NATURE’S WILD 120 CONKER WONDERS DISCOVER THIS MONTH’S WILD ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDING THE LATEST BOOKS AND TV SHOWS READY FOR YOU TO DIVE INTO.

WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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Editor’s Letter

July/August 2024 PHOTOGRAPHER: SCOTT DUFFIELD IG: @SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY

FATFACE: PIQUE STRIPE T-SHIRT & PERRANPORTH POLO £28 AND £29.50

Lucy Morris Editor-in-chief Welcome to the July/August issue of Conker Nature Magazine!

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As we joyfully step into the heart of summertime, we’re excitedly turning our focus to The Hidden Britain Issue, a captivating exploration of the diverse and often overlooked wildlife of the British Isles.

Summer, with its longer days and warm weather, undoubtedly brings with it a flurry of activity in the British wildlife scene, transforming the countryside into a vibrant tableau of life.

F&F: GREY LOW HIKER BOOT - £18

From the buzzing bees that are busy pollinating the beautiful, blooming flora, to the frolicking foxes that play under the cover of the long summer twilights, there is a plethora of wildlife to be discovered.

Between the months of June and August, you can expect to spot an array of creatures soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the balmy weather. Wake up to the music of chirping birds in the early morning light, and watch swifts and bats as they perform their aerial ballet in the warm summer evenings.

REGATTA: SAMARIS III LOW WALKING SHOE£100 REGATTA: BAYLETTA JACKET CORAL£80

But it’s not just about the creatures that are easy to spot. In this issue, we are looking into the lives of secretive nocturnal wildlife and those who thrive in the less-travelled corners of the isles. From the elusive nightjar to the mysterious badger, there are countless hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Find out more on page 24.

Also this month, we cover the latest news with the announcement of 2024’s new Whitley Awards. From Brazil to Bhutan, you can discover the groundbreaking science masterminded by some of the greatest conservationists on earth, fighting for their corner of the planet. Find out their stories and their works from page 62.

Our wild watch out is buzzing with new entertainment this month, with the latest and greatest books and shows for you to delve into whilst enjoying the summer sunshine in your garden.

BUSBY & FOX: OLIVE PRINTED DRESS - £115

JOHN LEWIS: ANYDAY GREEN JUMPER £28 FABLE ENGLAND: ENAMEL BLUE BUTTERFLY HUGGIE EARRINGS £30

BUSBY & FOX: ROCOCO POLKA DOT GREEN DRESS £139

FABLE ENGLAND: MEADOW CREATURE IVORY MEDIUM BACKPACK - £78 V&A: TULIP HAIR CLAW - £32

CELTIC & CO: FISHERMAN’S SANDALS - £69

So, this month we hope you enjoy exploring the verdant woods, DOBBIES: GARDEN PLAYHOUSE - £299.99 roaming across the open moorlands, and skimming along the coastal cliffs to uncover the secrets of Britain’s hidden wildlife! As we look ahead, a new adventure beckons us. We are thrilled to invite you to join us next month for the Conker Nature Big Marine Issue. This is an expedition that promises to be every bit as exciting and enlightening as you expect. We will be diving deep into the marine world, immersing ourselves in the rich diversity of its fauna, understanding the intricate ecosystems, and exploring the captivating cultures that revolve around the oceans. See you next time!

WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

AFTER NOAH: WOODEN TRAY £45

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GET INTO SUMMER WITH DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRE

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.SWANKYMEDIAGROUP.COM/NATURE Dobbies: Cashbar Armchair - £129 | Tweed Green Metal Watering can, 4.5l - £24.99

ENCHANTED CEMETERY FOX FAMILY & VIXEN AMONG WILDFLOWERS PHOTOGRAPHER: EMILY JANE TAYLOR IG: @CAPTURE_NATURE_EMILY_TAYLOR

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VIXEN AMONG WILDFLOWERS PHOTOGRAPHER: EMILY JANE TAYLOR IG: @CAPTURE_NATURE_EMILY_TAYLOR

A Foxes dream is springtime enchantment Melodies of birdsong, keeping me captivated The sweet smell of bluebells fill the air The Vixen sits pretty, without a care.

I watch patiently in awe, as new life emerges She stays close to her young with devotion.

True Magic and ethereal environment I’m lucky to witness, this fairytale moment.

For you are beautiful and such a special animal To see you live in peace, free from harm is only natural.

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WILD OBSERVER WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW

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THE SYMPHONY OF SUMMER: A WILDLIFE OBSERVER’S GUIDE

This process is crucial in enabling plants to reproduce, which subsequently leads to the growth of a third of the food we consume.

he 21st of June marks the summer solstice, characterized by the longest day when the sun rises earliest and sets latest. During this period, insect life is at its peak. It presents an excellent opportunity to acquaint yourself with moths, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and other fascinating minibeasts!

Additionally, summer is the perfect time to explore the seashore, investigate rock pools, and discover what treasures the tide has washed ashore.

WILDLIFE SPOTLIGHT: COMMON LIZARD (ZOOTOCA VIVIPARA)

The summer months of June, July, and August bring about a delightful increase in the activity of various wildlife species.

This noticeable surge is predominantly due to the warmer weather conditions that summer brings. Several factors contribute to this increased activity, including the abundant availability of food, the commencement of mating seasons for certain species, and the essential need for sun exposure in some of the sun-loving species.

Common lizards, also known as viviparous lizards, are fascinating creatures that can be found across Europe and Asia. They are characterized by their small size, typically reaching lengths of up to 15 centimeters, and their unique ability to give live birth, which is a rarity among reptiles.

This month we are spotlighting a truly wonderful species to catch a glimpse of this summer. The Common Lizard (Zootoca Vivipara).

Deer: These large, majestic creatures can be seen more frequently during the early morning hours and late in the evening. The lavish vegetation that summer provides offers a bounty of food, allowing these animals to graze freely and store up much-needed energy in preparation for the upcoming colder months of winter.

These lizards exhibit a wide range of colors and patterns, with most having brown, grey, or olive green bodies covered in irregular spots or stripes. The males, in particular, can have bright orange or yellow undersides, especially during the mating season. Such vibrant colors not only make them attractive to potential mates but also serve as a warning sign to predators.

Birds: The summer months see a diverse range of bird species busily nesting and raising their fledgling young. This makes it a particularly ideal time for avid bird watchers to indulge in their hobby. The warmer weather also results in an abundance of insects, a favourite and common food source for many bird species.

Their diet primarily consists of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates, which they catch with their quick reflexes and sharp teeth. Unlike many other lizards, the common lizard does not shed its tail as a defense mechanism. Instead, when threatened, it will often stay perfectly still to avoid detection.

Butterflies: There are various species of butterflies that are particularly active during this period. Their life cycle aligns perfectly with the seasonal blooming of flowers in the summer, providing these beautiful insects with an ample supply of nectar sources.

Common lizards play a crucial role in the ecosystem as both predators and prey. They help control insect populations and, in turn, provide food for larger predators such as birds, snakes, and even larger lizards.

Reptiles: Cold-blooded reptiles such as snakes and lizards are more common sightings during the summer. These animals come out to bask in the sun, making for a fascinating sight.

Being cold-blooded, they rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature, hence the increased activity during the warm summer months.

Insects: Bees and other insects are extremely productive during the summer months, playing a vital role in pollination.

Despite being widespread, common lizards are facing threats due to habitat loss and climate change, which can disrupt their hibernation and breeding cycles. Conservation efforts are therefore essential to ensure the survival of these remarkable creatures.

In July especially, Female common lizards, having mated in spring, are currently carrying eggs. They spend extended periods basking on rocks, fences, or open ground to warm their swollen bellies. The eggs undergo internal hatching, and a brood of about half a dozen small black lizards is ‘born’ either this month or the next. Keep an eye out for any hatchlings!

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THE OSPREY PHOTOGRAPHER: SRIMANTA RAY IG:@SRIMANTA_RAY

Srimanta captured these pictures near Purbasthali, West Bengal, India. In the golden glow of afternoon, an osprey perches proudly on a branch, tearing into a freshly caught fish with fierce determination. The shimmering waters below reflect the peaceful ambiance of nature’s hunt in action.

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WILDLIFE SHOWCASE - THE LITTLE OWL PHOTOGRAPHER: SCOTT DUFFIELD IG: @SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY FB: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY WB: SCOTTDUFFIELDPHOTOGRAPHY.PIXIESET.COM

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CHARITIES BACK UK WORKERS SAYING NATURE MUST BE AT THE HEART OF BUSINESS DECISIONS

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.SWANKYMEDIAGROUP.COM/NATURE Common Frog (Rana temporaria) ©David Lawson / WWF-UK

Wildlife of Canada PHOTOGRAPHER: HAILEY STAMPER IG: @HAILEYMADISONBOUDOIR

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SUNSET AND FLOWERS FROM ENSLEV, DENMARK PHOTOGRAPHER: ALYONA MADSEN IG: @ALYONAMADSEN

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WILDLIFE SHOWCASE - THE BARN OWL MODEL/OWL: HENRY IG:@HENRYBARNOWL PHOTOGRAPHER: SCOTT DUFFIELD IG: @SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY FB: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY WB: SCOTTDUFFIELDPHOTOGRAPHY.PIXIESET.COM

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©Dr Purnima Barman | Greater Adjutant Stork, India

WILDLIFE NEWS | THE 2024 WHITLEY AWARD WINNERS

WHITLEY AWARD WINNERS MOBILISE ACTION TO SAVE WILDLIFE, FROM BRAZIL TO BHUTAN COVERED BY: LUCY JANE MORRIS IG: @LUCYMORRISWILD | @CONKERNATUREMAGAZINE EVENT AND WORDS: THE WHITLEY AWARDS 2024 IG: @WHITLEYAWARDS WINNER: DR PURNIMA DEVI BARMAN IG: @STORKSISTER WINNER: NAOMI LONGA IG: @SEAWOMENOFMELANESIA WINNER: ARISTIDE KAMLA IG: @KAMLAARIST AND @AMMCO_SIREN WINNER: FERNANDA ABRA IG: @NANDA_ABRA WINNER: KUENZANG DORJI IG: @RSPN_BHUTAN WINNER: LEROY IGNACIO IG: @SRCS.RUPUNUNI WINNER: RAJU ACHARYA IG: @FRIENDSOFNATURENEPAL

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W

hitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a UK charity supporting grassroots conservation leaders countries.

An early pioneer in the sector, WFN was one of the first charities to channel funding

who combine the latest science with community-based action, to benefit biodiversity, climate and people.

India’s Dr Purnima Devi Barman received the 2024 Whitley Gold Award of £100,000 for galvanising a movement of more than ten thousand local women to save the Greater Adjutant Stork and its wetlands habit in Assam. The wildlife biologist has transformed the outlook for the scavenger bird and the local women, known as “stork sisters,” who have become conservation leaders.

Sir David Attenborough, WFN Ambassador and long-term supporter of the charity, said the winners represent some of the most impressive conservationists in the world and they “combine knowing how to respond to crises yet also bring communities and wider audiences with them.”

Charity Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, presented the awards to Purnima and the six new winners on May 1 2024 at the Royal Geographical Society in a ceremony that marked the 30th anniversary of the very first award. The new winners received £50,000 each to fund their work.

The winners are mobilising action within their communities to protect biodiversity and mitigate the impacts from rising temperatures, wildfires and flooding in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change. They join a network of 220 Whitley Award alumni who play a powerful role in shaping the global environmental agenda and who have influenced more than 200 international and national policies over three decades. Find out their stories in this Conker Nature coverage.

The winners all the way from Brazil to Bhutan are; Dr Purnima Barman, Naomi Longa, Aristide Kamla, Fernanda Abra, Kuenzang Dorji, Leroy Ignacio, and Raju Acharya.

WILDLIFE NEWS | THE 2024 WHITLEY AWARD WINNERS

in the Global South. Over 30 years it has channelled £20 million to more than 200 conservationists across 80

directly to projects led by in-country nationals. Its rigorous application process identifies inspiring individuals

©Dr Purnima Barman | Greater Adjutant Stork, India HRS

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©Dr Purnima Barman | Community Women

India’s Dr Purnima Devi Barman Wins 2024 Whitley Gold Award for “Hargila” stork comeback in Assam, amid plans to scale up the “Stork Sisters” to 20,000 women and expand overseas

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ndia’s Dr Purnima Devi Barman was given a 2024 Whitley Award for her work to save the Greater Adjutant Stork – known locally as Hargila - whose numbers have quadrupled in Assam to more than 1,800 thanks to a dynamic campaign she masterminded and which she is expanding to include 20,000 women.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the stork from “Endangered” to “Near Threatened” in December 2023 in a success story that has transformed the outlook for the bird as well as the lives of the rural women, known as the “stork sisters.”

“Hargila were always misunderstood and treated as a bad omen or a disease carrier. If I didn’t do something, we were going to lose this bird forever.” So, I made it my mission to save them” They became the driving force in safeguarding nests as well as rebranding the Jurassic-looking scavenger from one-time bad omen to cultural symbol. Purnima is now doubling her 10,000-strong army of stork sister supporters and expanding from Assam to the state of Bihar and overseas to Cambodia, to cover all three remaining breeding grounds of the bird.

The stork holds significant ecological value as a vital pillar in Assam’s wetlands which comprise more than 15 percent of the state. Wetlands are facing the most rapid decline of all ecosystems around the world and are disappearing three times faster than forests, according to the United Nations. An important habitat for migratory birds and wildlife species, they also protect from heavy monsoon flooding which is more unpredictable amid climate change.

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With her Whitley Gold Award, Purnima plans to To increase the population of Greater Adjutant Storks to 5,000 birds by 2030 by expanding work overseas to Cambodia via local community programmes as well as to the state of Bihar in East India.

She also aims to reach out to Calcutta where historically there were large populations of Hargila which featured on the city’s coat of arms but where the stork is believed to have gone extinct.

©Dr Purnima Barman, India | Greater Adjutant Stork

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WILDLIFE NEWS | THE 2024 WHITLEY AWARD WINNERS Dr Purnima Barman, India with Whitley Award Presented by HRH The Princess Royal | ©Whitley Fund for Nature

Purnima now aims to more than double the global population of the bird to 5,000 as she ratchets up her campaigning – which until now has mainly spread by word of mouth - with her female “Hargila Army” of stork sisters. Their contribution “extends beyond merely safeguarding the bird,” according to Purnima, as it “empowers thousands of women, enhancing their livelihoods and catalysing social change within villages as women emerge as conservation leaders.”

Numbers of the Greater Adjutant had fallen to as low as an estimated 450 birds in Assam, the largest breeding colony for the bird, before Purnima intervened in 2007. The biologist, who now works at wildlife NGO Aaranyak in Guwahati, initially started a campaign to save it from extinction.

With a wingspan of 2.4 metres, the stork can reach 1.2 metres in height.

It builds nests that it expands to as large as 1 metre wide as chicks grow. A scavenger of carrion, scraps and refuse, with a preference for landfills, it was reviled by villagers who viewed it as unsanitary and would cut trees where it nested to rid themselves of the birds. Once found across southern Asia and mainland southeast Asia, the Greater Adjutant population slumped to just 1 percent of historic numbers.

A 2017 Whitley Award winner, Purnima who has a Ph.D. in Greater Adjutants, initially faced hostility from the tree owners she confronted who were cutting nesting trees of her “graceful and cherished child.”

But her advocacy for the bird – which plays a vital role in nutrient recycling and maintaining ecosystem health, consuming decaying organic matter – quickly garnered support of local women. They were keen to participate in the Hargila Army and to join her in protecting the nesting trees which are mainly located in private property. Membership has now become a badge of honour.

The women’s work delivered impressive results: nests increased to 250 in 2021 from just 27 in 2007 in one nesting colony in Kamrup District in northeast Assam which has since been recognised as an Important Bird Area. The project has rescued more than 500 Greater Adjutant chicks that fell from nests. The Hargila Army also planted 45,000 saplings near the stork nesting trees and wetland areas to increase nesting habitat.

The IUCN now estimates the global population of the bird to be at least 3,180 with approximately 1,830 in Assam, 600 in Bihar and 750 birds in Cambodia.

The awareness activities quickly expanded to include producing textiles with the motifs of Greater Adjutants; baby showers at local temples to celebrate the arrival of stork chicks. Their outreach extended to schools.

In one campaign, known as “village-to-village,” Purnima and the stork sisters make surprise visits to villages to run impromptu field visits with locals that can last all day.

“Magic happens when we involve communities. The lives of women have changed from being homemakers to conservationists, now they are leading communities and empowering others. In the Hargila Army we have more than 10,000 women and they are all united for a cause”

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“Communication is key when we talk about biodiversity. Many people feel they have to go far but conservation starts in your own backyard. Save the trees in your backyard - and save the wetlands.”

With her Whitley Gold Award, Purnima plans to: •

To increase the population of Greater Adjutant Storks to 5,000 birds by 2030 by expanding work overseas to Cambodia via local community programmes as well as to the state of Bihar in East India. She also aims to reach out to Calcutta where historically there were large populations of Hargila which featured on the city’s coat of arms but where the stork is believed to have gone extinct.

•

Expand her community-driven conservation initiatives to increase the number of Greater Adjutant breeding pairs by 20 percent in their current range within two years by safeguarding the four nesting colonies in Assam which are found in the Brahmaputra Valley. Purnima will create an awards scheme to protect the nesting trees which are owned by villagers who are mainly farmers growing rice, mustard plants and seasonal vegetables.

•

Establish a collaborative network of WFN alumni, students, scientists and policymakers. This will include conservation education to more than 20,000 students in schools in Assam and a knowledge exchange programme between university students in Bihar university and University of Assam. They will also join forces with the Ethical Conservation Alliance - pioneered by fellow WFN alumni - to share experiences, and support conservation practitioners around the world to build respectful partnerships with local and Indigenous communities.

•

Develop a rewilding training programme in partnership with the Assam Forest Department and other stakeholders.

•

Expand and scale up the women empowerment activities of the Hargila Army by adding an additional 10,000 women, which is now regarded as a high-status brand by men and women. Through regular radio programmes and podcasts, Purnima - who is already a popular guest on local radio and TV shows - aims to reach 50,000 people, promoting storks and scavengers as symbols of cleanliness and sustainability. Social media campaigns will extend the conservation knowledge to over one million people.

MEET THE WHITLEY WINNER Purnima Devi Barman, a wildlife biologist from Assam, India, won a Whitley Award in 2017 for her work to protect the Greater Adjutant Stork and its wetland habitat with her team at Aaranyak.

Before her intervention, the stork – or ‘hargila’ in the local language – were thought of as smelly, dirty and unwanted vermin and their numbers had dwindled to an estimated 450 birds in the state.

Changing attitudes and galvanising local people, primarily women, to safeguard nests, their numbers have now quadrupled to more than 1,800. Looking ahead, Purnima now wants to double the global population of the bird to 5,000 by 2030, working across the stork’s range in India and Cambodia.

Follow Purnima on Instagram @storksister Image Credit: Carla Rhodes

WILDLIFE NEWS | THE 2024 WHITLEY AWARD WINNERS

©Dr Purnima Barman, Community | ©ProntoProd

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Papua New Guinea’s Naomi Longa wins 2024 Whitley Award to expand AI monitoring and management of coral reefs in coral triangle with all-female team

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apua New Guinea’s Naomi Longa was given a 2024 Whitley Award to expand her work to monitor and manage coral reefs in the biodiversity hotspot of Kimbe Bay and to further extend her female-driven marine conservation model in local waters of the Coral Triangle, home to 76 percent of the world’s coral reef species.

threatened ecosystems on earth. Warmer waters are leading to more bleaching events. Fishing practices involving the use of dynamite and cyanide which destroys the reefs - leaving empty craters – and stuns fish making them easy to capture, have contributed to overfishing. Pollution and coastal development are further degrading ecosystems.

The biologist and co-director of NGO, Sea Women of Melanesia, will create a network of marine protected areas with local Indigenous women in Kimbe Bay, a globally significant marine ecosystem within the Coral Triangle that is threatened by climate change, overfishing and habitat destruction. The Coral Triangle spans six countries, is home to 6,000 coral reef fish species and provides food and livelihoods for more than 120 million people.

In the most comprehensive data on coral and reef conditions from the Papua New Guinea waters of the Coral Triangle, Naomi’s team of divers and snorkelers has collected more than 15,000 reef survey images and provided 2,500 for analysis to ReefCloud, an open-source platform that uses machine learning and advanced analysis to rapidly extract and share data from images with the world’s coral reef monitoring community.

Kimbe Bay lies in the West New Britain Province of the southwestern Pacific country and is home to reef fish ranging from pygmy seahorses to whale sharks. Internationally recognized as a “hope spot” within the Coral Triangle, it counts 900 species of coral reef fish and some of the world’s most picturesque dive sites, making it a popular tourist destination.

This allows for swift assessments of coral health and coral community composition, returning results within a few hours of images being uploaded, instead of days or weeks to get similar results from human analysis. Sea Women of Melanesia can then accelerate applications for marine protected areas to the Papua New Guinea government on behalf of partner villages. Naomi’s team manages about 20 LMMAs – Locally Managed Marine Areas, for which government approval is required, with plans to add four more with Whitley Award funding to build out a network around Kimbe Bay.

Effective marine conservation has historically been hindered

by Papua New Guinea’s socio-political challenges. Naomi plans to address that with her women-led conservation model as she creates a potential blueprint for the region. The Coral Triangle includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

Coral reefs, which play a crucial role in safeguarding coastal communities from erosion and storm surges, are one of the most

Naomi’s team is also collaborating with ReefCloud developers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science to integrate it into new reef monitoring protocols for Pacific Nations that blend the latest AI technology with traditional cultural and ecological knowledge.

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With her Whitley Award funding, Naomi plans to deepen engagement with five coastal communities and combine traditional knowledge with western science to create a network of LMMAs spanning 1,268 hectares.

These will promote sustainable fisheries management, habitat restoration, wildlife recovery and climate change resilience. Naomi will engage and train ten women in five local villages to enable them to monitor the reefs primarily through snorkelling and scuba diving.

Image left: Naomi Longa, Papua New Guinea, with Whitley Award Presented by HRH The Princess Royal | ©Whitley Fund for Nature Image right: Papua New Guinea Coastal Landscape | ©Whitley Fund for Nature

“Winning the Whitley Award is an incredible honour and a validation of my work in protecting the globally significant coral reefs of my country.”

Naomi says she is rooting her work in understanding and respect for the cultural norm while advocating for gender equality and empowerment of women. Many women in PNG have limited access to decision making processes though are keen to be involved in conservation.

Sea Women of Melanesia’s programme is flexible to allow for household responsibilities and duties.

The NGO has proven success in marine ecosystem recovery and the sustainable management of marine resources.

The Sea Women of Melanesia currently has 85 members and Naomi, a native of the primary hub of Kimbe, says the active involvement of local women who possess deep connections to the coral reefs and are dedicated to safeguarding their communities’ natural resources sets her organisation apart.

Created in 2021 with a team of 10 women, the NGO has rapidly expanded amid widespread recognition among local women of the changes occurring on the coral reef and a strong desire to protect them.

The Sea Women of Melanesia has responded to demand by providing continuous mentorship and skills development to empower women to take leadership roles in their communities.

MEET THE WHITLEY WINNER Located within the western Pacific Ocean’s Coral Triangle, Kimbe Bay is an area of staggering marine biodiversity which contains 76% (605) of the world’s coral reef species and 6,000 coral reef and 800 species of fish.

The Coral Triangle also provides food and livelihoods for more than 120 million people. This marine region, however, is under threat from overfishing, habitat degradation and climate change. Follow Naomi on Instagram @seawomenofmelanesia

Cameroon’s Aristide Kamla wins 2024 Whitley Award for pioneering work to save African Manatee habitat from invasive species

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amroon’s Aristide Kamla was given a 2024 Whitley Award for his landmark work to restore the habitat of the African manatee in Lake Ossa. The marine scientist has become the country’s foremost specialist in the mammal, addressing threats to its freshwater habitat from rapidly expanding invasive species and pollution.

Founder and CEO of the African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization, Aristide and his team used biological control to clear most of the Salvinia molesta plant species from Lake Ossa, one of Cameroon’s largest lakes and a designated wildlife reserve.

Introducing a natural predator, the salvinia weevil, they shrank the invasive weed back by more than 70 percent. Aristide is now working to identify the source of the nutrient pollution that fuelled the outbreak which covered half the lake’s surface in 2021.

The African manatee inhabits the Atlantic coastal waters of 21 African countries stretching from Mauritania to Angola. One of three manatee species which include the Amazonian manatee and West Indian manatee, the African manatee also faces threats from poaching and entanglement in fishing nets. Aristide worked closely with the local fishers in the first study of manatees in Lake Ossa, a biodiversity hotspot which supports about 17,000 people, including more than 300 fishers. Globally, freshwater species have fallen by 83 percent since 1970, the largest decline of any species group according to the most recent Living Planet report.

They excrete nutrient-rich faeces which fertilize the water and seagrass beds which contribute to water quality, carbon sequestration and shoreline stability.

Aristide’s NGO has since trained a network of fishers who voluntarily report sightings of marine mammals. Using their mobile application, SIREN, they have collected data around more than 20,000 sightings.

With his Whitley Award funding, Aristide plans to continue to reduce Salvinia coverage in Lake Ossa; identify the main sources of nutrient enrichment in the lake through water quality monitoring campaigns. His team, in collaboration with Rainforest Connection, will deploy an acoustic sensor system to detect and deter artisanal logging activities on the islands of the lake and the riparian forest bordering it, as well as support local fishers to develop fish farming to reduce their impact on the lake and enable recovery of this freshwater ecosystem.

Aristide plans for a healthy population of African manatees to attract more tourists to the area. The lake comprises three interconnected lakes and is a thriving wetland complex of manatees, freshwater turtles, crocodiles and mona monkeys.

Aristide has initiated a scientific and cultural festival called Street Manatee to gather stakeholders, including government representatives, traditional leaders, fishers, universities, researchers, private sector representatives, and donors to address aquatic ecosystem management.

“When we started, salvinia coverage was 50% of the lake’s surface. Today, it’s brought down to less than 10%, and we are now seeing more manatees.”

3 Aristide’s work aims to address how poor management of the watershed upstream affects aquatic ecosystems and livelihoods downstream. Pollution from human activities is a significant threat to the manatee. Agricultural activities as well as the construction of dams, contribute to nutrient enrichment in the lake.

Aristide, who received a Fulbright scholarship to pursue his doctoral studies at University of Florida, was the first to use biological control in Cameroon to combat invasive plant species within a manatee habitat, collaborating with the Cameroonian government and local stakeholders. At least 3,500 harmful invasive species have been recorded globally in every region of the world, a UN report said last year. Aristide’s solution to Lake Ossa’s problem involved importing the initial batch of weevils from Louisiana State University to release into the lake.

Actively engaging the local community - inviting people to witness weevils feeding on the invasive plants - helped inspire trust in Aristide’s work. Education on how the manatee is a crucial sentinel within water ecosystems was key. Manatees prevent overgrowth in fish habitats by grazing on submerged plants.

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Image above: Aristide Kamla Cameroon, with Whitley Award Presented by HRH The Princess Royal | ©Whitley Fund for Nature Image right: Aristide Kamla Headshot | ©Whitley Fund For Nature

Bhutan’s Kuenzang Dorji wins 2024 Whitley Award for solutions to protect Golden Langur Monkeys as climate change drives behaviour shift

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behaviour.

hutan’s Kuenzang Dorji was given a 2024 Whitley Award for his work to protect Endangered Gee’s golden langur in the East Himalayas and his solutions for local farmers whose crops the primates are targeting as climate change drives a shift in their

Kuenzang, a wildlife biologist at the Royal Society for Protection of Nature in Bhutan, is focusing his work on “building harmony” between people and primates in his community-led project in the world’s first carbon negative country which offsets more carbon than it emits. Forests cover about 71 percent of the kingdom’s land area however, changing weather patterns have disrupted the seasonal cycles of the trees whose leaves the monkeys rely on for food.

Bhutan’s constitution mandates the protection of at least 60 percent of forest cover however, habitat loss caused by economic expansion including hydro power projects, road construction and housing development, has forced many of the country’s 2,500 golden langurs into closer contact with humans. They were traditionally viewed as good omens in the small landlocked country of 700,000 people.

The Himalayan Ranges have grown ecologically fragile with many of Bhutan’s subsistence farmers living below the national poverty index and unable to absorb the cost of losses from langurs which have started to forage on crops, including oranges and guava. They have even been known to eat spicy chili peppers and then uproot the plant in frustration.

Traditional approaches to guarding fields, such as scarecrows and electric fences, proved futile against the monkeys’ high cognitive abilities, according to Kuenzang, who is known locally as “Langur Kuenzang.”

Kuenzang is developing practical solutions to help langurs and people in his 6,500 square kilometre project area, which includes the six remote districts in Bhutan where the golden langur is found, including the Royal Manas National Park, a World Heritage Site. The area is home to 100,000 people and his work will focus primarily on Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, which are home to the largest population of the primate and where human-langur interaction is at its highest in Bhutan.

A former national park warden, Kuenzang has devised a series of deterrents to stop the langurs from foraging and to protect the primates from other threats. His initiatives include use of heatmaps to identify conflict hotspots; strengthening community-based intervention with alternative deterrents; protecting the langurs by installing signs to reduce road kill incidences and installing animal repellent near high voltage power stations where the langurs are at risk of electrocution. Under his plans, citizen scientists will learn how to collect primate data that supports long term monitoring.

The protection of crops is already yielding results and helping to boost the income of local farmers - protecting as much as 80 percent of their crops while freeing women and children from standing guard over the land. Local people now acknowledge that while langurs may cause some harm, the ecosystem services they provide - through seed dispersal - far outweigh the damage they cause.

World leaders will provide updates on their plans to protect biodiversity and “live in harmony with nature” by 2050 when they meet for the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity conference (COP16) in Colombia in October. Bhutan, a predominantly Buddhist country, is regarded as a global leader in that front, spearheading many global initiatives such as the introduction of Gross National Happiness which was conceived in 1972 and which kickstarted a global industry in happiness; it banned plastic bags in 1999 and was the first country to announce a net zero target for its economy in 2015.

“If I put myself in the shoes of the local people, I can really feel how frustrating life is in the middle of the forest.”

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With his Whitley Award funding, Kuenzang plans to: halve the incidence of human-langur conflict; strengthen women’s farmers groups for increased crop protection; foster “conservation conscience” through outreach programmes at schools and villages which will reach 300 people; reduce electrocution and vehicle-langur collision, and nurture future primatologists through research fellow awards to 10 budding primatologists.

Image above: Kuezang Dorji with Whitley Award Presented by HRH The Princess Royal | ©Whitley Fund for Nature Image right: Kuenzang Dorji Headshot | ©Kuenzang Choden

EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH BHUTAN’S KUENZANG DORJI

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elcome, Kuenzang, and congratulations on your Whitley Award. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!

CNM: Could you begin by introducing yourself to our readers and briefly describing your journey as a wildlife biologist and conservationist?

KD: I am Kuenzang Dorji, Bhutan’s only primatologist, dedicated to the study and conservation of our country’s rich biodiversity.

I work with Bhutan Nature Study and am currently affiliated with the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN). My role involves collaborating closely with local communities to tackle the challenges facing both wildlife and people.

From a young age, I have been passionately opposed to the harming and killing of animals. This conviction was deeply influenced by my father, a farmer who upholds strong Buddhist principles that oppose hunting, fishing, and any form of harm to animals.

While I didn’t initially recognize this as conservation work, I now see that these early experiences were the foundation of my journey in wildlife conservation. My commitment to protecting wildlife and promoting coexistence between humans and nature has only strengthened over the years.

CNM: You have extensive knowledge and experience as a former national park ranger, a wildlife conservationist, and a primatologist. Can you share your initial journey into the conservation field? Was there a specific inspiration or individual who ignited your passion for conservation? Have you always been fascinated with wildlife since your childhood?

KD: With a deep-rooted passion for wildlife nurtured since childhood, I embarked on my professional journey as a Park Ranger at Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park under the Royal Government of Bhutan. In this revered role, I was entrusted with the responsibilities of wildlife protection, forest management, and law enforcement. My inspiration comes from His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan, often hailed as the Father of Environmental Conservation.

Recognizing Bhutan’s need for wildlife biologists, I collaborated with the late Dr. Pralap Yonson from Nepal and the late Dr. A.J.T. Johnsingh from India. Through their mentorship, I acquired essential skills in wildlife surveying. These esteemed biologists greatly influenced me, leading me to dedicate approximately 10,000 hours to studying Bhutan’s diverse wildlife.

A pivotal moment in my career came in 2003 when I became the first biologist to photograph the endangered and charismatic Bengal tiger in the wild using camera trap technology. This achievement not only ignited my passion for conservation but also solidified my unwavering commitment to protecting our natural heritage.

CNM: Locally, you’re known as “Langur Kuenzang” due to your work with the Golden Langur, anthropogenic threats, and human expansion in Bhutan. Can you recall your first case of the Golden Langur encountering humans and the impact it caused? Was there a solution to the problem or is it still ongoing?

KD: In 2019, during my nationwide research on the population status and conservation threats to golden langur, I was alarmed to discover that local communities in the sub-districts of Langthel and Rangtangling, Bhutan were facing significant issues with golden langurs. These endangered primates, once revered as symbols of good fortune and natural majesty, were now being seen as pests. The langurs were foraging on agricultural crops, including fruits like oranges and guavas, as well as vegetables such as cabbage, chili, and squash.

This shift in perception is a serious conservation concern. The damage caused by golden langurs to farmers’ crops threatens food security and adversely affects the livelihoods and social well-being of the local people. However, there is a viable solution.

Empowering local communities to take the lead in developing innovative deterrents for the langurs and protecting nearby forests as langur’s habitat can yield mutual benefits.

Given the cognitive abilities of these langurs, the challenge is substantial. We must stay one step ahead to ensure our interventions are effective, necessitating continuous innovation. By involving the community and fostering adaptive solutions, we can address this conflict and promote coexistence between people and langur.

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WILDLIFE NEWS | Q&A WITH KUENZANG DORJI

Golden Langur Species, Bhutan | ©Pema Dorji

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WILDLIFE NEWS | Q&A WITH KUENZANG DORJI

Central Himalayan Langur | ©Whitley Fund For Nature

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ne of the biggest challenges you’ve faced is protecting crops from the Golden Langur population. You’ve mentioned that the langurs have been known to eat spicy chilli peppers and then uproot the plant out of frustration. Traditional approaches such as scarecrows and electric fences have proven futile against the monkeys’ high cognitive abilities. How have you been working with farmers to mitigate human-golden langur conflicts? Has there been a successful solution? How do you plan to continue this effort with your Whitley Award?

KD: I have been working closely with local communities for decades, valuing their knowledge and skills and integrating them with scientific findings. Through a process of trial and error, blending traditional and modern approaches, we developed an effective langur and other wild animal deterrent. This device is simple, affordable, and accessible.

It consists of an artificial tiger toy equipped with natural predator sounds, creating the illusion of a predator’s presence to deter langurs from agricultural areas and nearby forests.

We tested this device with four women’s vegetable groups, who had been losing 70% of their crops to langur raids.

CNM: World leaders will meet for the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity conference (COP16) in Colombia in October to provide updates on their plans to protect biodiversity and “live in harmony with nature” by 2050.

Bhutan, a predominantly Buddhist country, is considered a global leader in this aspect, leading many global initiatives. It introduced the concept of Gross National Happiness in 1972, banned plastic bags in 1999, and was the first country to announce a net zero target for its economy in 2015.

What advice would you give to people and scientists in similar roles to you, who are striving to inspire their leaders for change?

KD: In a world driven by economic priorities, being a conservationist is a challenging role. However, regardless of a nation’s wealth or power, environmental conservation must take precedence over economic development. It is the collective responsibility of every individual to protect our planet.

I urge everyone to cultivate a deep sense of care for nature to live in peace within oneself first, and foster harmony with others. By doing so, we can all become conservationists, working together to safeguard our environment for future generations. Let us embrace the accountability of handing back the natural world in its original state that was loan from our children.

CNM: We appreciate your time, Kuenzang. Our readers will enjoy learning more about you and your remarkable conservation work with the Golden Langur and for Bhutan. Thank you for joining us!

FOLLOW THE WHITLEY WINNER Bhutan, along with a small region in Western Assam, India, is the last remaining home of Gee’s Golden Langur.

Although Bhutan’s constitution mandates the protection of at least 60% of forest cover, habitat loss caused by economic expansion including hydropower projects, road construction and housing development, has forced many of the country’s 2,500 golden langurs into closer contact with humans.

Though traditionally viewed positively in this small landlocked country of 700,000 people, the golden langur is now seen as a crop raider by subsistence farmers. Follow Kuenzang on Instagram @rspn_bhutan TOP FACTS: - Langurs have adjusted their feeding habits to forage on crops, often choosing to eat oranges, guava, maize and vegetables.

- Local people now acknowledge that while langurs may cause some harm, the ecosystem services they provide – through seed dispersal – far outweigh the damage they cause.

- Bhutan is the world’s first carbon-negative country; its vast forests absorb more carbon dioxide than the country emits from all activities.

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Brazil’s Fernanda Abra wins 2024 Whitley Award for spearheading use of low-cost canopy bridges in Amazon to save primates from road impacts

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razil’s Fernanda Abra was given a 2024 Whitley Award for her pioneering work to build and monitor low-cost canopy bridges over Highway BR-174 in the Amazon rainforest in a project she plans to scale for widespread adoption to protect tree-dwelling mammals from road impacts.

An associate researcher at Brazilian NGO Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas, (IPÊ), Fernanda plans to promote the use of the canopy bridges to benefit endangered primates, such as the Guiana spider monkey and other mammals, across the world’s most biodiverse country by first expanding her work to one of the Amazon’s most deforested areas.

Fernanda, who is also a postdoctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, plans to address a scarcity of research on this subject in Brazil by systematically monitoring wildlife use of the bridges in one of the few sciencebased initiatives in the country to focus on threats of roads to arboreal mammals. This includes loss of connectivity in the canopy and road mortality caused by vehicle collisions.

Forty percent of primate species are endangered in Brazil with fragmentation and road accidents among the main threats they face. Brazil has the fourth-largest road network in the world.

President Lula last year unveiled a 1 trillion reais (£156 billion) spending programme to boost infrastructure, expected to include the construction of new highways.

Key to the success of Fernanda’s “Reconecta Project” was winning the support of the Waimiri-Atroari Indigenous people, whose 2.3 million hectares of land the federal highway bisects, and whose territory is considered one of the best preserved in the Amazon.

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More than 150 Waimiri-Atroari people participated in the construction and installation of the canopy bridges along a 125 km section of the highway. Fernanda also collaborated with Brazil’s federal transport and environment agencies – the National Transport Infrastructure Department (DNIT) and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) – as well as with the Federal Amazonas University, or UFAM. Brazil’s President Lula has made saving the Amazon rainforest a priority since his election in 2022, pledging to achieve zero deforestation by 2030 and directing more resources to agencies that maintain diverse ecosystems. The Waimiri-Atroari people have been lobbying for artificial canopy bridges for decades after Highway BR-174 became a source of wildlife mortality following its construction in the 1970s when Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship. The construction of the highway set off a surge in illegal deforestation and the Waimiri-Atroari people suffered the most serious case of genocide of Indigenous people in Brazilian history, according to the United Nations.

Since Fernanda and her team built 30 artificial canopy bridges to restore forest connectivity for wildlife in 2022, they have been used by eight arboreal species, with the Golden handed tamarin - an important cultural symbol for the Indigenous people - the most frequent user.

“The Waimiri-Atroari people, they are the heart of the project.

They know everything about the local wildlife. They know about the ecology of the animals. They know about temporal and spatial patterns. And this was fundamental for us to establish the Reconnecta project here.”

With her Whitley Award funding, Fernanda plans to measure the success of the bridges in increasing habitat connectivity for tree-dwelling species and reducing road mortality on BR-174 and expand the project to Alta Floresta, a frontier town located in the state of Mato Grosso.

Image above: Forest Landscape under threat | ©Whitley Fund for Nature Image below, left: Fernanda Abra Brazil, with Whitley Award Presented by HRH The Princess Royal | ©Whitley Fund for Nature Image below right: Frog Species Brazil | ©Whitley Fund For Nature

Guyana’s Leroy Ignacio wins 2024 Whitley Award to expand flagship indigenous-led conservation movement to protect Red Siskin Bird

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uyana’s Leroy Ignacio was given a 2024 Whitley Award for galvanising one of the country’s first Indigenous-led conservation movements and to strengthen protection for the Red Siskin, a small Endangered finch which has become a flagship species for conservation in the rapidly developing rainforest nation.

Guyana is navigating unprecedented change after a massive offshore oil discovery transformed it from one of South America’s poorest countries into the world’s fastest growing economy.

President and founding member of the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS), Leroy is leading an expansion of the community-managed conservation zone in southern Guyana, with his team of local rangers, to include the full range of the small songbird.

Leroy, who is Indigenous Makushi, and his team are the primary agents for monitoring the Red Siskin for which they helped secure legal protection after it was “scientifically” discovered in Guyana in 2000 by Leroy and a group of friends from local Indigenous communities accompanied by international scientists. Leroy says that the Red Siskin was ‘scientifically’ discovered, as prior to this, local communities were already aware of the presence of the bird.

This inspired the creation of the 75,000 hectare Red Siskin Community Managed Conservation Zone to protect the bird in collaboration with five Indigenous communities. They designed the zone on their land in one of the first of its kind in Guyana, proving a model for other communities, and attracting eco-tourism to the remote area.

One of South America’s smallest countries, rainforests cover more than 90 percent of Guyana’s landmass which store 19.5 gigatons of carbon, according to the country’s president. However, economic growth could threaten Guyana’s rich biodiversity and open up remote areas to development: Guyana’s discovery of some of the world’s most significant oil finds could see it produce as much oil as Nigeria by 2028.

“Through winning the Whitley Award, we want to bring more recognition to indigenous people who assist international researchers and highlight their ability to lead their own research and conservation initiatives.”

Image above: Leroy Ignacio Guyana, with Whitley Award Presented by HRH The Princess Royal | ©Whitley Fund for Nature Image below: Red Siskin Fieldwork Species | ©Chung Liu

The South Rupununi is a mixture of grassland savannahs and forests inhabited by the Indigenous people from the Wapichan, Makushi and Wai Wai who represent 57 communities. Most people live a subsistence lifestyle through farming, fishing, and hunting.

Historically it has had low levels of deforestation.

The country is home to the only significant wild population of the Red Siskin after it was discovered to exist outside of Venezuela – where it was once common but numbers collapsed due to the wild bird trade. Historically called cardenalitos in Venezuela, its feathers were used to decorate hats and it was hunted to cross-breed with canaries to produce a red canary.

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Leroy’s SRCS now plans to strengthen the monitoring, management, and sustainability of the zone amid threats to the bird which include trapping and habitat loss caused by wildfires. With his team of rangers – some of whom are now third generation - Leroy will bolster protection for the Red Siskin’s remote habitat from wildfires through active habitat management and controlled burning of areas at risk of wildfires around Red Siskin hotspots while working with communities and government to co-manage the site. Leroy’s team plans to lobby financial support for the active preservation of wildlife which extends to preserving species, including giant anteaters and giant armadillos.

Guyana is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change – at risk of droughts and floods. Nine in ten people live along the country’s coastline, which is two metres below sea level in some areas, according to the World Bank.

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Nepal’s Raju Acharya Wins 2024 Whitley Award to bolster 10-year plan to safeguard owls

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epal’s Raju Acharya was given a 2024 Whitley Award to to bolster protection for owls in central Nepal after spearheading a government-backed ten-year plan to safeguard the birds which had been overlooked from conservation efforts.

Founder and Executive Director of Friends of Nature, a Kathmandu-based environmental NGO, Raju was instrumental in driving The Owl Conservation Action Plan in 2020 which addresses the threats to owls from hunting, illegal trade, and habitat loss. The Whitley Award funding will help boost initiatives in central Nepal, home to the greatest density of the birds and 19 of the country’s 23 owl species.

Forest makes up one-third of this region; older trees also act as roosting, den or hibernation sites for owls which struggle to find nesting locations in semi-urban areas.

Raju’s project aims to build on Nepal’s success in conservation which has harnessed the proactive participation of communities.

He aims to foster collaboration between the ethnic groups to foster broader understanding of owls to reduce the use of catapults, discourage the consumption of owl meat and advocate for the adherence to the government regulations which protect the birds.

Raju has spent decades shoring up support for Nepal’s owls which include the jungle owlet, rock eagle owl and Eurasian eagle owl – all of which are currently listed as Least Concern or Data Deficient under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. Raju’s work is addressing a danger of focusing conservation efforts solely on highly threatened flagship species.

Raju will address the use of catapults by students who hunt the owls by creating five catapult-free zones. He aims to raise awareness among students and the public by creating 100 conservation camps. The abundance of birds significantly increases in those areas with larger numbers of old trees and Raju’s team will restore and rehabilitate 1,200 hectares of owl habitat by protecting 500 old trees and installing 100 artificial nests in semi-urban areas.

Threats to the owls are significant: the birds are the subject of an illicit trade in central Nepal, with 1,500 owls hunted or traded each year in Nepal. The region, which borders China and India, is home to 2.4 million people from ten ethnic groups which co-exist harmoniously but which hold contrasting views on whether the owls represent good or bad omens. Some people associate them with death, while in other areas, owl feathers are regarded as sacred objects that can ward off evil.

At the forefront of owl research in Nepal and known locally as “Owl Sir” for his efforts to draw attention to the plight of owls, Raju hopes to engage early career scientists to join him on his mission. Editor of a digital owl newsletter called Hapsilo, Raju set up the Nepal Owl Festival eleven years ago. The festival has boosted eco-tourism to the region and become one of the country’s biggest conservation events despite owls being lower priority species than tigers and snow leopards.

Hunting by teenagers using catapults and habitat loss are other threats to the owls amid the felling of old trees whose cavities are crucial nesting sites for the birds.

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With his Whitley Award funding, Raju will conduct training events to increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies, policy makers and “owl envoys” – local ambassadors for the owls - with a goal of reducing hunting and trade by 25 percent.

“The appreciation from local people and colleagues serves as constant inspiration for me to continue my work.”

FOLLOW THE WHITLEY WINNER Central Nepal comprises of forest, farmland, glaciers and grassland, providing habitat for 19 species of owl.

Recognising they are a low conservation priority in the country, Raju Acharya led on the development of the ‘Owl Conservation Action Plan for Nepal’ in 2020. The Action Plan identifies the major threats to owls as hunting, illegal trade, habitat loss and degradation.

Follow Raju on Instagram @friendsofnaturenepal

Image right: Raju Acayara Nepal, with Whitley Award Presented by HRH The Princess Royal | ©Whitley Fund for Nature Image above: Barn Owl Species | ©Whitley Fund For Nature

THE BIG MARINE ISSUE ON SALE: AUGUST 5TH 2024 Image overlay: Cameroon Lake Ossa Wetland Landscape | ©Whitley Fund for Nature Naomi: Fieldwork headshot | ©Whitley Fund For Nature Aristide: Headshot | ©Whitley Fund for Nature

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AURORA BOREALIS - BRITAIN’S SPECTACULAR MIDNIGHT LIGHT SHOW PHOTOGRAPHER: SCOTT DUFFIELD IG: @SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY FB: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SCOTT.DUFFIELD.PHOTOGRAPHY WB: SCOTTDUFFIELDPHOTOGRAPHY.PIXIESET.COM

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LAKES PHOTOGRAPHER: NATALIA KLIACHINA IG:@NATALLIA_NATALIA_

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Mont Saint-Michel OLD AND BEAUTIFUL ABBEY IN NORMANDY PHOTOGRAPHER: ALEXANDRA SHILOVA IG: @ALEXASHIL

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SUMMER’S TREATS PHOTOGRAPHER: MARIIA SOKOR IG: @MARIA_SOKOR

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FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES GIVES FIRST LOOK AT TWO BRAND-NEW 2026 GRAND VOYAGES OFFERING WORLDWIDE EXPLORATION

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.SWANKYMEDIAGROUP.COM/TRAVEL Idyllic islands | ©Fred. Olsen Cruise Line

WILD WONDERS

Wild Show Watch Out

Springwatch 2024 | Released May 27th 2024 BBC Two Springwatch is back ­­– bigger and better than ever!

The main location for Springwatch 2024 is RSPB Arne in Dorset. BBC will be returning this spring to catch up on the stories and wildlife characters from Springwatch 2023 – one of the most dramatic seasons watchers will get to witness. In the show, we will be exploring key sites across the county of Dorset, discovering the varied landscapes and local wildlife that call it home. We’ll also be on a road-trip discovering all that the Isle of Bute, Loch Lomond and Glasgow has to offer.

Springwatch’s mission, as always, is to inspire, engage and captivate their audience.

Wild Show Watch Out

Living with Leopards | Netflix - New Release A film crew follows two leopard cubs as they make the fascinating journey from infancy into adulthood in this up-close-and-personal nature documentary.

1h 11m documentry directed by Alex Parkinson (“Last Breath”) and narrated by worldrenowned wildlife cinematographer Brad Bestelink.

Watch Living With Leopards with a subscription on Netflix.

Travel Show Watch Out

Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure | BBC Four: Releasing 27th May 2024 Clive once again returns to screens with his new travel series, Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure, a celebration of island life and Clive’s own ancestry.

Following on from his much loved Italian Road Trip, this time Clive embarks on an epic journey to reconnect with family, explore his own heritage and experience the rich mix of cultures that makes island life so very special.

In this series, Clive will take viewers across the four islands of Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados and the Dominican Republic, unearthing family roots and forging personal connections with each unique location.

As always, the audience will be encouraged to join the conversation as we celebrate this season full of new life and hope. We’ll react to topics and questions from viewers as they come in – and nothing is off limits when it comes to discussing the wildlife we love.

With an overarching theme of ‘Little Things Make A Big Difference’, Springwatch explores the premise that even the smallest of actions to help our wildlife can have a massive impact when we act collectively.

We’ll have a whole new array of live nest-cameras rigged across our springtime location to bring a fresh cast of characters to a primetime audience. We’ll have a range of pre-recorded films, which have been capturing what’s been happening across the UK this year. And we’re not shying away from some of the hard-hitting truths and challenges affecting our wildlife.

This year, we’re revealing more behind the scenes of Springwatch so the viewers can have exclusive access into how the series is made and the care we take not to disturb our wildlife cast of characters.

The Springwatch digital team will, as always, be providing a wealth of exciting extra content.

Hannah Stitfall will be presenting two live Watch Out shows every week with exclusive behind the scenes content, breaking wildlife news at it happens and answering questions from the audience. As ever, Watches’ digital team will be on hand to answer viewers’ wildlife-related questions on Facebook and Twitter, working with partner organisations and experts to respond to even the trickiest of inquiries.

WILD BOOK ROUND UP How to read a tree Hodder & Stoughton | £10.99 By Tristan Gooley Do two trees ever appear identical? No, but why? Every small difference is a clue.

Each tree we meet is filled with signs that reveal secrets about the life of that tree and the landscape we stand in. The clues are easy to spot when you know what to look for, but remain invisible to most people.

As the author of the international bestsellers The Walker’s Guide and How to Read Water, Tristan Gooley knows how to uncover the phenomena worth looking for. He has been instructing people in the art of reading trees for two decades and this book includes signs that will not be found in any other book in the world. Voted Waterstones Book of the Month for June

The Accidental Garden Profile Books Ltd | £12.99

By Richard Mabey We regard gardens as our personal dominions, where we can create whatever worlds we desire. But they are also occupied by myriads of other organisms, all with their own lives to lead. The conflict between these two power bases, Richard Mabey suggests, is a microcosm of what is happening in the larger world.

In this provocative book, rooted in the daily dramas of his own Norfolk garden, Mabey offers a different scenario, where nature becomes an equal partner, a ‘gardener’ itself. Against a background of disordered seasons he watches his ‘accidental’ garden reorganising itself. The garden becomes a place of cultural and ecological fusion, and perhaps a metaphor for the troubled planet.

The Rising Down Faber & Faber | £25

By Alexandra Harris When the celebrated critic and cultural historian Alexandra Harris returned to her childhood home of West Sussex, she realised that she barely knew the place at all.

As she probed beneath the surface, excavating layers of archival records and everyday objects - bringing a lifetime’s reading to bear on the place where she started - hundreds of unexpected stories and hypnotic voices emerged from the area’s past. Who has stood here, she asks; what did they see?

EDITORS PICK NATURAL WORLD TV SHOW SECRETS OF THE NEANDERTHALS

By Netflix | Produced by BBC studios | Narrated by Patrick Stewart | Released on May 02nd

‘S

ecrets of the Neanderthals takes viewers on a journey from their preconceptions of Neanderthals as a dim-witted creature to a complex and creative people, through the lens of a unique, ongoing excavation and a landmark new discovery - the best preserved Neanderthal skeleton found in over a quarter century. Narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart.

BBC Studios Science Unit has produced Secrets of the Neanderthals, an enthralling new documentary film that features new discoveries and advances in science that are leading us to a deeper understanding of our closest relatives.

The Neanderthals survived for over 300,000 years yet for some reason, they are gone, and we remain. This archaeological adventure sets out to understand how they were so successful for so long, and why they disappeared. It launches globally on Netflix on Thursday 02nd May. With exclusive access to the famous Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, Secrets of the

Neanderthals follows a group of archaeologists from the University of Cambridge and Liverpool John Moores University, led by Professor Graeme Barker, as they team up with their Kurdish colleagues to excavate this iconic site for the first time since 1960. Over a number of seasons, they make a startling discovery - a new body, ‘Shanidar Z.’ This is the first articulated Neanderthal skeleton to be found in the region for almost a quarter of a century. The film follows lead palaeoanthropologist Dr Emma Pomeroy as she painstakingly excavates these precious remains and sets about reassembling it with the team in Cambridge.

Alongside the new discovery, the team is reinvestigating some of the other bodies found in the cave during the original excavations between 1953 and 1960 by Dr. Ralph Solecki - including the famous ‘flower burial’. The discoveries they make in this remarkable cave are building a vivid new picture of the world of the Neanderthals. Using the innovative new VFX techniques, the underlying shape of Neanderthal skulls has been mapped onto the faces of modern human actors, allowing this lost world to be brought back to life with the most realistic reconstructions of the Neanderthals ever achieved. And all of it is based on the archaeological evidence from Shanidar alongside other locations across the Neanderthal range.

In Krapina, Croatia, the film visits a cave where evidence of Neanderthal cannibalism may contain a hidden meaning; in a secret location in Bruniquel, France, a ring of stalagmites has been discovered deep into a cave, built

by Neanderthals some 170,000 years before Stonehenge; and finally in the Gorham’s Cave complex of Gibraltar, evidence points to one of the last places Neanderthals inhabited before they finally went extinct.

What is emerging from these sites is a radical new understanding of our distant cousins.

Far from being brutish, thickset ‘cavemen,’ Neanderthals are revealed to be a caring, empathetic, and creative group of people. They were just another way of being human.

Secrets of the Neanderthals, an 80-minute documentary film, is made by BBC Studios Science Unit for Netflix. The Director is Ashley Gething and Clementine Cheetham is the Producer. The Executive Producers are Andrew Cohen and Gideon Bradshaw. It will launch on Netflix on Thursday 2nd May.

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Next month.....

Conker Nature Big Marine Issue

In this issue: We delve deep into the marine world, exploring the fascinating life beneath the waves. From the tiniest plankton to the largest whales, our focus this month is on the intricate and diverse ecosystems found in our oceans.

But that’s not all! We’re also bringing you inspiring ideas for your home and garden, showcasing how you can incorporate a touch of the sea into your living spaces. Our Pets section will guide you on how to take care of pets that love the water, while our Food segment will feature delicious seafood recipes that you can try at home.

Prepare your travel bucket list as we uncover some of the world’s best marine destinations. Get ready for a wave of exciting content in our September 2024 issue!

on sale 05th august 2024 Photographer: Farzan Samsamy IG: @farzansamsamystudio

PHOTOGRAPHER: HAILEY STAMPER IG: @HAILEYMADISONBOUDOIR

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