Theknowledge
Your wildlife travel survival guide
HOW TO SKILLS VOLUNTEERING BOOKS DVDS Latest KIT PHOTO WORKSHOP
How to...
Hunt for fossils
Alister Cruickshanks, founder of www.ukfossils.co.uk,
shares his tips for finding the remains of creatures past
T
he British Isles is comprised of
rocks that cover almost every
geological period, from the last
Ice Age to more than 2 billion years ago
and, unlike many other countries, UK
laws are generally very relaxed about
collecting fossils.
With more than 11,000 miles of
coastline, abandoned quarries and
riverside cliffs, fossil hunting can be
carried out all over our island. However,
many locations are designated as SSSIs
(Special Sites of Scientific Interest). This
means it is against the law to hammer or
dig in cliffs or damage rocks that are fixed
‘in situ’, but you are free to pick up loose
fossils from the beach, or hammer loose
rocks and boulders.
You don’t need experience to fossil hunt,
and often you don’t need any tools. What
you do need is a little patience and a keen
eye. Fossil hunting is a bit like ‘shape
hunting’. You look out for particular shapes
in the rocks. The most popular and
sought-after fossils, such as ammonites,
resemble the shape of a snail’s shell.
Belemnites look like bullets, and
crinoids have a distinct
‘star’ shape. Another
very common find
are echinoids,
which are round
or sometimes
heart shaped, but
always with a star
marking on top.
You should
purchase essential
safety wear such as glasses
to protect your eyes from stone chippings,
and fossil hunting equipment such as a basic
Above: a belemnite fossil.
Here: the fossil-hunting
coast of the Isle of Sheppey,
Kent. Below: an ammonite
geological hammer. These are available from
UKGE (www.ukge.com).
Once you get used to looking for the
shapes of these common fossils, you will
start to build on your knowledge, finding
more unusual or less common types. First,
though, you need to know the best places to
look. Fortunately, there are countless guides
and books available, and even DVDs
showcasing the most popular
areas of the UK, such as the
famous Jurassic Coast in
Dorset. A first point of
call could be the UK
Fossils Network
(www.ukfossils.co.
uk), which has the
largest database of
fossil-hunting
locations, with over
350 fully featured guides.
Once you make your first find, you will
want to have it identified to make sure it’s a
genuine fossil. You will more than likely
meet other collectors if you’re hunting on a
fossil beach, so you can ask their opinion.
Most experienced hunters will be happy to
help or give advice. For a personal expert
service, you can take it to your local
museum or to the Natural History Museum
in London (www.nhm.ac.uk).
With just a basic camera phone, the other
option is to take three different angled shots
of the find, and use either the Natural
History Museum’s ‘identify by email’ service,
or post the images of your finds on the
national fossil forum, www.discussfossils.
com, which is monitored by experts.
Finally, something important. Fossil
collecting can be dangerous if you do not
follow basic safety procedures and take
sensible care. Buy protective gear and keep
well away from cliff faces because loose rock
falls and land slips are common. You should
also always check local tide times if hunting
on the beach, and stay away from river mud.
Have you done any fossil hunting? Write and tell us about it by emailing [email protected]
wildlifeextra.com
MAY 2014 101
Theknowledge
Skills
Stay happy, healthy and wise on your wildlife-watching
adventures with the help of our expert mini-guides
Insider’s guide to...
Freediving
Despite its extreme image, non-competitive freediving can be enjoyed by
anyone, says Emma Farrell, one of the sport’s leading instructors
F
reediving is the sport of breath-hold diving, without scuba
tanks, which humans have been doing for as long as they
have walked the earth.
There are many advantages to learning to freedive, including
increased confidence both in and out of the water, better breathing,
better hydrodynamics, and increased safety. The discipline gives
you greater control over your breathing, and the techniques learnt
can be used as a form of meditation and relaxation.
Many people learn to freedive because they want to take better
underwater photos, are interested in hunting and gathering their
own food, or simply like the feeling of grace and
weightlessness and the more natural
views of marine life you can enjoy.
If you are interested in learning to
freedive you should be sure to
choose a recognised course with
a qualified instructor. The first
thing you will learn is how to
breathe correctly. It is not just
about holding your breath.
Proper breathing slows your heart
rate, ensures your body is well
oxygenated, and relaxes and focuses
your mind for the dive. Freediving is as
Travel medecine
Stomach upsets
It is estimated that
30-50 per cent of
travellers will
experience travellers’
diarrhoea during a one
or two week stay in
low income and developing countries
where standards of sanitation are poor.
The most common cause of infection is
a bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella or
campylobacter. However, parasites and
viruses are also known to be causes.
Contaminated food and water are the
main sources of infection. High risk foods
102 MAY 2014
much about what goes on in
your mind as in your
body. It is also very
important to avoid
any form of
over-breathing,
as this lowers
CO2 in your
blood, distorts
blood chemistry
and increases the
risk of a black out.
You will then learn
how you can move
effortlessly wearing long
fins which maximise power
while minimising effort.
The great thing about the sport is that
anyone can do it, even people who have been precluded from scuba
diving. Age is no barrier – the current female world record holder in
seven out of eight freediving disciplines is a woman in her 50s.
Please note: if you are thinking about taking up freediving you must
ensure you are medically fit, and learn with a recognised instructor.
For more information go to www.gofreediving.co.uk
Specialist travel health nurse Beverley Tompkins
from Nomad Travel gives the lowdown on
avoiding and treating this common complaint
include raw fruit and vegetables, dairy
products, undercooked meat and seafood.
Ice in drinks and tap water in many
countries can be highly contaminated and
should always be avoided. Care should be
taken with street food.
To prevent infection, hands must be
washed thoroughly after using the toilet
and before eating or preparing food.
Drinking water should be bottled, boiled
or purified, and food should be thoroughly
cooked and piping hot.
Travellers’ diarrhoea can affect people
at any point on their trip. It is usually self-
limiting, resolving within a few days,
although symptoms can be distressing
and debilitating and can have an impact
on travel plans.
Medicines such as loperamide and
sachets of rehydration solution should be
carried to help manage the symptoms of
diarrhoea and reduce the risk of
dehydration. Antibiotics such as
Ciprofloxacin and Azithromycin can be
prescribed by a GP or specialist travel
health nurse to carry as self-treatment for
moderate to severe cases.
www.nomadtravel.co.uk
wildlifeextra.com
Theknowledge
Volunteering
Taking the plunge
Thinking about volunteering on a marine conservation project?
Richard Nimmo of Blue Ventures Expeditions explains how to do it
A
nyone wanting to volunteer with
marine wildlife is faced with a
mind-boggling array of options
across the world’s oceans, but there are a
few universal considerations. Here are the
things I think every would-be volunteer
needs to consider before signing up:
How much will it cost and what’s the value?
The cost of a trip is always a factor with
marine projects they are likely to be
expensive because of all the equipment
required. Compare what is and isn’t included
in the costs as some projects will include dive
equipment, dive training and certifications,
while others won’t. The time that you spend
on or in the water is likely to be the most
important factor to you, so if you are joining a
diving project ask how many dives you will
get each day. I have heard of diving projects
that don’t deliver as much diving as expected.
wildlifeextra.com
www.thegreatprojects.com
Project profile
Voluntourism
Where and when?
Think carefully about where you want to go,
but don’t limit yourself to familiar countries.
If it is a particular marine experience that you
are looking for, rather than a particular
destination, then make that the focus of your
research. Another consideration is the variety
of marine life and the timing of your visit.
Conduct your own research about each
location to understand what you are likely to
see. Remember, even in some tropical
countries the water temperatures will vary
considerably from summer to winter and
there are times of the year when the sea
conditions are not ideal for diving or boat use.
SPONSORED BY
Manage your expectations
If the project you are considering is focussed
on one study species, it’s important to
understand how likely you are to encounter
it, so ask about the frequency of sightings and
the host organisations’ rules and protocols.
While you may want to swim with turtles,
sharks, dolphins or whales, you also need to
consider if it’s really appropriate and whether
it is safe. There are often national government
and international organisation guidelines for
interactions with wildlife, such as the
Department of the Environment guidelines
for Whale and Dolphin watching in Australia
and the International Whaling Commission
general principles for whale watching.
Health and fitness
On any marine project you need to be
confident in and around water and it is
probably best that you are not
susceptible to seasickness. Your host
organisation should have your safety
at the top of their priorities, as marine
work can be in remote places and
physically challenging. The expeditions
that I run require all diving participants to be
able to swim 400m in the sea and tread water
for two minutes. Carefully consider the risks
and make sure the organisation has clear
safety protocols, a good staff-to-participant
ratio, offers relevant training and has a good
safety record. www.blueventures.org
Mammal
counting
Wild Days Conservation founder,
Andy Jefferies, about their
conservation holidays in the UK
How did Wild Days come about?
A chance conversation! I met co-founder Kathy
Gill in London and we pondered why there
were so few opportunities for people to go on
conservation holidays in the UK. A seed
was sown ...
What’s involved?
People come with us to learn
about conservation in the UK
and to participate actively. We
train people to set small mammal
traps so that we can do surveys. They
learn how to take the animals out of the traps,
weigh them and release them safely. We set
camera traps, too, so that we can learn more
about the movements of the larger mammals.
Our survey work feeds straight into the work of
the Mammal Society, an organisation that has
been working for 60 years in the UK. It directly
contributes to the management of important
areas of natural Britain and to the National
Mammal Atlas Project.
What is the Atlas Project?
The NMAP aims to produce the first atlas in
over 20 years giving data on mammal
distribution across the UK. This is something
that has been seriously under-recorded so far,
which has led to a lack of knowledge of how
well mammals are doing, and has hindered
their effective conservation.
How vital is the volunteers’ work?
Conservation is too important to leave only to
the experts! The interest and
enthusiasm so many people have
to do something positive is
hugely inspiring, and our
dream is to channel that in
the most positive way.
What will volunteers gain?
Muddy boots and a happy heart!
Plus, new friends, new interests and an
enormous sense of well-being. If they also take
home the knowledge and skills to go on and
make their own contribution to conservation
locally, we’ll be highly delighted.
Wild Days Conservation’s first project takes
place 22-28 June in Dorset. For more
information tel: 01603 505731; www.
wilddaysconservation.org
MAY 2014 103
Bookshop
Book of the month
Animal
Architecture
Ingo Arndt, Jurgen Tautz
and Jim Brandenburg
(Abrams, RRP £18.99)
Our price £15.99
if you quote WT021
Move over Kevin McCloud,
yout time is up! Humans may
think they have the monopoly
on grand home designs, but
we’ve still got a long way to go
to match the most
outrageous, implausible and downright designer abodes from
the natural world. Every day, all over the world, creatures are
designing and building their perfect space to live in, catch their
prey, attract their mates and raise their young – and there isn’t
an expensive architect or curmudgeonly builder in sight!
If you have ever wondered how or why these impressive
structures were created, Animal Architecture, a new coffee
table tome featuring studio and in-situ shots by awardwinning nature photographer Ingo Arndt is the book for you.
Available from 1 May, the book showcases 120 of nature’s most
complex and elegant structures, from the colourful mating
arenas of bowerbirds in West Papua to the fantastic nests
created by ants in Africa.
Ingo’s images provide close-up details of the designs, and
are accompanied by fascinating facts about the evolution of
animals and insects, survival methods, mating habits, genetic
dispositions and more.
Birds of the Serengeti
Adam Scott Kennedy
(Princeton University Press, £17.95)
Our price £12.95, quote WT024
This guide will add to the experience of seeing
the spectacular wildebeest migration and the
predators that stalk them in Tanzania’s Serengeti
by getting you to look to the skies as well, and
observe the park’s colourful birdlife. The book
features 264 of the species most likely to be encountered on a safari
to the area, and includes nearly 500 colour photographs. It also gives
interesting information on the birds’ ecology and behaviour.
Animals of the Serengeti
Adam Scott Kennedy and Vicki Kennedy
(Princeton University Press, £17.95)
Our price £12.95, quote WT025
Part of the same series as its sister title Birds of the
Serengeti, this book brings to life the animals and
reptiles that are likely to be encountered within
the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation area
of Tanzania. It’s an indispensible companion for
anyone thinking of making a visit to the region, to enhance your
overall experience of the wildlife to be found there and inform you
about the characteristics and behaviours that you will observe.
wildlifeextra.com
Theknowledge
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor
Clues & Signs
Tristan Gooley
(Hodder & Stoughton, RRP £20)
Our price £16.99, quote WT022
Get back to nature with this book and learn how
to find your way around the countryside with
clues taken from the land, sun, moon, stars, trees,
plants, animals, sky and clouds. This book will
make you look at the world in a totally new light and will also help
you to equip yourself with all the observance tools you need to carry
out natural weather forecasting, navigation and tracking.
The Galápagos: A Natural History
Henry Nicholls
(Profile Books £15.99)
Our price £11.99, quote WT023
Nicholls, who is a nature writer and blogger for
the Guardian, explores the spectacular Galapagos
Islands and their natural history, with Charles
Darwin as his accompanying guide. There are
detailed chapters on rocks, birds, plants, sea and
human life and Nicholls also questions the role
tourism has played in the development of the islands since Darwin
made them the cradle of his evolutionary theory.
Birds ID Insights
Dominic Couzens and David Nurney
(Bloomsbury, £16.99)
Our price £12.99, quote WT028
Designed for birders of all levels, it allows readers
to compare the plumages of similar pairs and
groups of species, including age and seasonal
differences, making it a perfect aid to identifying
the more difficult birds found in Britain and other
parts of north-west Europe. It features over 300 species, including
the likes of olivaceous, Sardinian and subalpine warblers, crested,
thekla and short-toed larks, middle spotted woodpecker, booted
and short-toed eagles, with clear artwork and useful identifying tips.
The Fly Trap
Fredrik Sjöberg
(Particular Books, £14.99)
Our price £12.99, quote WT015
Inspired by his own experience of collecting
hoverflies, Swedish entomologist Fredrik Sjöberg
explores the fascinating life of fellow Swedish
naturalist René Malaise. This near-forgotten
scientist travelled across Burma and invented the
insect catching device known as the ‘Malaise trap’.
TO ORDER
To purchase any of the featured books or DVDs at our special
discounted price, go to: www.wildsounds.com/wildtravel or
call: 01263 741 825 and quote the relevant offer code above.
Offers valid until 30 June 2014
Free postage for all UK orders. A
percentage of every sale will be donated
to our selected charity, World Land Trust
(www.worldlandtrust.org)
MAY 2014 105
Theknowledge
Essentialviewing
A look at the latest wildlife DVDs and upcoming natural history TV for you to enjoy
Jan Haft
German film director Jan Haft talks about his
documentary The Green Planet which explores
the wonders of a European forest
Tell me about The Green
Planet film?
We produced a two-part series about
the mid-European forest for German
TV, which had the best audience
share on Germany’s prime time
natural history slot so far. So the idea
came up to continue shooting and go
for a theatrical version.
Why focus on forests?
It’s one of the habitats that lies very
close to us and yet it has never been
seen like this before. My goal is to
show that our European nature is as
just as fascinating as
somewhere far away.
Are you pleased
with the film?
I am very happy
with the film,
although every
filmmaker will
see things to be
improved in
every film he
has completed.
What makes the
film special for you?
It is our first theatrical release
and it’s one of our films that has been
produced in a local habitat.
What was your most memorable
encounter while making it?
The wild boar and its piglets in a
spring forest is one of the most
memorable experiences for me.
Any surprises?
Many small surprises, every time
research led into existent footage. For
example, a caterpillar fighting an ant,
the birth of the fox cubs or the fruit of
the strawberry going red in time
lapse, which probably has never been
shown before.
EARTHFLIGHT
BBC Earth
This film unlocks the secrets of the skies, showing
the world from a bird’s point of view. Amazing
sights from six continents are revealed as the
viewer joins the journeys of snow geese, cranes,
flamingos, pelicans, eagles and other birds. Catch a
ride with cranes high over the waterways of Venice
or glide over the edge of the spectacular Grand Canyon with the bald eagle.
Std DVD RRP £19.99. Our price £11.99, quote WT034
BluRay RRP £25.99. Our price £15.99, quote WT035
Did you have a favourite species?
Absolutely – the stag beetle. It is the
largest and most charismatic of all of
Europe’s beetles and a threatened
species as well.
How did your love of the natural
world come about?
When I was a boy I watched wildlife
films, and wildlife filmmakers were
my great idols. Those films
boosted an interest in
nature which had
always been there.
So a dream came
true when my
wife and I were
able to make a
living out of
this profession.
Who do you
hope will watch
the film?
Of course it is great to
make films for nature
enthusiasts, but we also hope
to reach and inspire the ordinary TV
viewer and film goer who is not
necessarily dedicated to wildlife
documentaries.
What is your next project?
We are involved in a series about
North American National Parks for
National Geographic and at the same
time we’re covering local topics such
as Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria and a
two part mini-series on golden and
white-tailed eagles.
THE GREEN PLANET, Studio Hamburg Doclights
Std DVD RRP £17.99. Our price £12.49 if you quote code WT018
106 MAY 2014
This month’s DVDs
JUST THE FACTS: FAMILIES IN THE WILD
– HYENAS AND MONKEYS
Cerebellum
There are two releases in the Just the Facts: Families
in the Wild series this month: monkeys and hyenas.
The series Families in the Wild explores the family
units and amazing intricacies of some of nature’s
most beautiful and fascinating animals.
DVD RRP (each) £14.99. Our price £12.49, quote
code WT016 (monkeys) or WT017 (hyenas)
WALKING WITH DINOSAURS
BBC Earth
Experience what it was like when dinosaurs ruled
the Earth. Watch with the family and embark on a
prehistoric adventure, where Patchi, an underdog
dinosaur, becomes a hero.
Std DVD RRP £19.99. Our price £13.99,
quote code WT030
BluRay RRP £27.99. Our price £19.99, quote code WT031
3D BluRay RRP £33.99. Our price £25.99, quote code WT032
TO ORDER
Go to page 105 for instructions on how to order these
DVDs at our special Wild Travel Bookshop prices
This month’s TV
Deadly
Islands
Discovery Channel
In a six part series
that starts on 1 May,
zoologist Dave
Salmoni explores some
of the world’s most
remote islands and the
species that thrive there,
highlighting the predators and their prey.
He investigates how and why these native
inhabitants have successfully survived and
flourished – despite the harsh conditions.
wildlifeextra.com
© bbc/darren williams
5 minutes with...
Kitlist WALKING
Theknowledge
Our choice of the latest men’s walking shoes to hit the high street for a range of budgets
Budget
1 HI TEC
The Hi-Tec Alto waterproof trail shoe, which is made
up of a suede leather and mesh upper, is lightweight
and breathable shoe suitable for light hiking. The
ghillie lacing system means the shoe moulds to your
foot and features a lightweight injection moulded
EVA midsole to ensure your foot is cushioned.
£44.99, www.hi-tec.com
Mid-range
1 MAMMUT
Mammut’s Graphite Imperial shoe is lightweight and
comfortable and suitable for most terrains. Features
include a rolling concept that provides supports to the
foot to reduce ankle rolling, and its sole is made of the
newly developed gripex technology for secure footing.
£108, www.mammut.ch
Top-end
1 SALOMON
The X Over Leather GORE-TEX® trail walking shoe is
suitable for those who enjoy long-distance hikes.
Features include an EVA injected midsole that cushions
your foot when running on aggressive terrain, memory
foam that wraps the heel to provide a customised,
adaptive fit and GORE-TEX® lining. £124.99, www.
salomon.com
wildlifeextra.com
2 KARRIMOR
The Karrimor Bodmin Low III men’s walking shoe
features a Weathertite waterproof and breathable
lining, while its 3D moulded toe protects both your
toes and the shoes from knocks and scuffs on rocks.
They also feature a Phylon midsole for cushioning and
a durable rubber outsole for added grip.
£69.99, www.karrimor.com
2 MERRELL
These Moab GORE-TEX shoes by Merrell feature
synthetic leather/breathable mesh uppers and are
lined with GORE-TEX® XCR fabric lining. The outersole is
made from Vibram’s Multi-Sport Sole/TC5+ Rubber,
which will provide you with great traction in wet
weather conditions or when walking on slippery rock.
£100, www.merrell.com
2 SCARPA
The Zen Pro by Scarpa is a stylish walking shoe that is
equally at home on a variety of terrains including
alpine trails and via ferrata. Features include a smooth
and precise climbing zone around the toe for rocky
terrains and a 1.8mm water-resistant suede upper that
will keep you dry and comfortable.
£124.99, www.scarpa.co.uk
3 REGATTA
The lightweight Regatta Edgepoint men’s trail
shoe is perfect for low-level defined trails. The
upper is durable PU nubuck with mesh panels for
breathability. It has rubberised heel and toe
bumpers to protect against scuffs and scrapes,
while the EVA footbed provides comfort.
£45, www.regatta.com
3 BERGHAUS
Suitable for running, biking and hiking the
Vapour Claw GTX shoe features comfort, weather
protection, breathability and a superb grip on
multiple surfaces at any angle, whether wet or
dry . Waterproof protection is achieved with a
GORE-TEX breathable membrane, also allowing
you to hit the trail in all weather conditions.
£100, www.berghaus.com
3 HAGLÖFS
The Haglöfs Mens Ridge GT walking shoe is
waterproof and lightweight, and made from soft
and comfortable leather with a GORE-TEX® lining.
Features include GEL rear foot cushioning, and
AHAR (Asics High Abrasion Resistance Rubber) is
used on the heavy contact areas of the outsole.
£130, www.haglofs.com
MAY 2014 107