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This is amazing footage.  Occasionally barnacle geese, usually keen to keep to the British coastline when in flight, as forced inland because of poor weather.  When they do, the lucky inhabitants of cities like Edinburgh will be lucky enough to witness the flight of a whole flock as they make their way further north.  The sight is something to behold from the ground, so just imagine if you were in the sky with the geese! Well, imagine no more because thanks to John Downer Productions, you can now see these remarkable  birds doing what they do best.  If this seems familiar, you may have seen it while watching the Earthflight TV series, which was called Winged Planet in the US.  The result is more than a little jaw meets floor to say the least.

Edinburgh’s sites are not the only thing barnacle geese might see as they complete their annual migration. The Svalbard population (the most likely to be in our video) of barnacle geese migrates annually between the high Arctic and western Scotland. They breed during the short summer in Svalbard, where predator pressure is low, then begin their autumn migration in September, flying south across the Norwegian Sea. The geese winter mainly in south-west Scotland, particularly the Solway Firth, with smaller numbers dispersing along the east coast and occasionally over Edinburgh. In spring (April–May), they return north via the Norwegian coast to Svalbard, completing a round journey of around 3,000 kilometres. This remarkable migration is typically undertaken in tight family groups, forming the distinctive V-shaped skeins often seen crossing Scottish skies.

 

Did you know that a new species can be named by qualified scientists all over the world, as long as they follow international rules? Probably, a more amazing fact is that new species are still being discovered on a daily basis.  The Natural History Museum in London helped to identify 262 species in 2025 alone. The global number runs into the thousands.

The species do not have to be around – many of the new species that are identified each year are fossilised remnants.  However, in 2025 the Natural History Museum helped with animals including a toad whose tadpoles skip the tadpole phase, and some dazzling new jewel butterflies (one or two of which were around, but alas may not be any more).

To discover more about how many species were discovered last year, watch the Natural History Museum video below.

In the subantarctic region of the Southern Ocean, roughly halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica lies Macquarie Island. Although it is closer to New Zealand, Australia, in fact, owns the island.  Not that the royal penguin cares – it has called the island its (only) home for tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of years, relying on its rocky shores and tussock-covered slopes for breeding, nesting, and raising its chicks in one of the most remote and windswept environments on Earth.  As such, it is the only place on Earth (apart from two small islets about 30 miles away where around 1,000 breed) that the royal penguin mates and reproduces. Image Credit

Image Credit

So, why the name? This is almost always the first question that people ask when they first come across the royal penguin.  We’re not really sure when they acquired their common name, but it is likely that it was at around the same time that they were first recorded by European sealers in 1810 (and that was an oh dear moment for the species, to say the very least).  The sealers were no doubt struck by the bird’s bright yellow crest, which resembles a crown or royal ornament.  They were also struck (with no doubt at all), by the opportunity the royal penguin presented to make some money. More about that sad chapter later.

Once thought to be functionally extinct, the kākāpō — New Zealand’s iconic, flightless parrot — may be heading for its largest breeding season on record. Image Credit

Conservationists expect all 84 breeding females in the population to lay eggs this season, a remarkable milestone for a species that numbered just 51 individuals in 1995. Today, the population stands at around 273 birds, the result of decades of intensive conservation work.

The surge in breeding activity is linked to an unusually large crop of rimu fruit, a critical food source that triggers kākāpō reproduction. When food is abundant, the birds are far more likely to mate and lay eggs. What’s particularly intriguing is that the fruit will not be fully ripe until after chicks hatch - yet the birds appear to “predict” the coming abundance and begin breeding in advance.

That said, success is far from guaranteed. Eggs must still hatch, chicks must survive, and juveniles must reach independence - a process that will not be fully assessed until late 2026. The species’ slow breeding cycle and long lifespan mean recovery is measured in decades, not years.

There are also lingering concerns about genetic diversity. The severe population bottleneck has led to fertility issues and increased vulnerability to disease, challenges conservationists continue to manage as best they can.

Still, the outlook is hopeful. If even a portion of this breeding season succeeds, it could mark another significant step away from extinction for one of the world’s rarest parrots - and a powerful reminder of what long-term conservation efforts can achieve.

Will these turtle hatchlings reach the sea without being captured by predators, and will they withstand the power of the waves once they get there?

On the beaches of Africa, a clutch of tiny turtle hatchlings emerges from the sand, driven by instinct alone. The journey before them is short in distance, but immense in danger. Every movement draws attention, and every second increases the odds stacked against them.  Although this video from the BBC does not explicitly state this, I have an idea that these are hatchlings of the Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

To say that they have the odds stacked against them is something of an understatement. Above, yellow-billed kites circle patiently, their sharp eyes trained on the shifting sand. Nearby, crows watch from a distance, intelligent and opportunistic, waiting for the moment to strike. At ground level, ghost crabs scuttle across the beach, perfectly adapted ambush predators ready to seize any hatchling that strays too close. Together, these hunters form a gauntlet that few will pass unscathed.

Of course, there is always one hatchling that emerges last. Smaller, slower, just a heartbeat behind the others. Naturally, our attention fixes on this one. We root for it, silently urging it forward, as if encouragement alone might tilt the balance in its favour. But what are the odds?

Even reaching the shoreline is not the end of the trial. The surf itself is a formidable barrier, its waves capable of dragging a fragile body back onto the sand or tumbling it helplessly in the shallows. And beyond the breaking waves, the danger does not disappear. A moment’s hesitation can be fatal, as a shadow passes overhead and a pair of sharp talons plunges down from the sky.

This is nature at its most uncompromising. No quarter is given, no second chances offered. Yet enough hatchlings survive to keep the species alive, just as they have for millions of years. Each successful dash to the sea is a small victory, not just for the turtle, but for life’s stubborn persistence against overwhelming odds.

Narrated in the measured, reverent tones we associate with Sir David Attenborough, this scene reminds us that survival in the natural world is never guaranteed — it is earned, moment by perilous moment.

Watch the video below:

The robin, both European and American is famous for its red breast.  The subject of nursery rhymes and Christmas cards the male of the species is resplendent in red. Australia, too, has a robin.  One might, of course, expect this particular country to produce something a little different: it has form, after all.  So, step forward the pink robin, Australia’s passerine of pulchritudinous pinkness.


Just in case you think this is some kind of practical joke, here's a rare and short video of the pink robin.

This very interesting video is all about the Red Panda and how it got its name.  You might think that it was a straightforward process, but that isn’t really the case with beautiful animal which belongs in a class of its own (quite literally).  Of course, this tells the story of how it got its English name.  And it made me wonder – what do the Chinese call both species of panda?  As you will have seen from the video, panda is not a word of Chinese origin. Image Credit

The answer?  Well the Chinese call the giant panda 大熊猫 (dà xióng māo).  If we break that down, 大 (dà) = big, 熊 (xióng) = bear, and 猫 (māo) = cat. So literally, it means “big bear cat.”  That's a beautifully pragmatic name, even if it is scientifically inaccurate (but they probably didn't care about taxonomy). So what of the red panda? The answer is glorious! 小熊猫 (xiǎo xióng māo), literally means “small bear cat.”  It makes me think that Chinese is a very sensible language, far more so than English.  So one panda is the big bear cat and the other is the small bear cat. Ta da.

I digress – take a look at the video which explains, very humourously, how the Red Panda got its name (and other assorted facts).

Did you know that there are over 50,000 spiders on planet Earth today?  Just imagine if there were that many different species of human on the planet.  Good grief!  As well as being one of the most successful types of animal of all time, there are many questions the average person in the street couldn’t answer about arachnids.  For example, were spiders around at the time of the dinosaurs? When did the ability to produce silk happen and was it used in the same way as spiders use it today?  Where on the planet did spiders first emerge?  And are there any species of spiders that have weathered the millennia and are still with us today after millions of years?

All these questions and many more are answered in this fantastic video from Animated Earth (otherwise known as Peter Schumaker and Tristan Reed).  It really is one of the best natural history animations that I have seen over the last few years.  As such it answered a few questions about spiders for me that I didn’t even realise that I wanted to ask – such as how likely are spiders to survive an extinction event?

Watch the video below:

Dogs like nothing better than when something a little out of the ordinary happens. So, when the world has turned white one morning and the water has gone hard and slippery, you can’t blame a dog for getting a little excited, can you?

At first you might be a little unsteady on your paws but when there is a new and interesting experience to be had then a few slips and slides hardly matter.

There's no single optimal strategy you can follow at dice games to win money every round at non GamStop casinos. However, you can still make smart choices.

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Deal or No Deal Live is a live casino game from Evolution, combining the Wheel of Fortune with a live game show. Hosts guide you through the familiar briefcase game, but ultimately, the choice is yours whether to accept the banker's offer or not. Previously, you could only watch players make their decisions on television, but now you can try it yourself in a non GamStop casino and play your favorite titles off GamStop with the same level of excitement and interaction.

Deal or No Deal Live is a live game with high risks and high potential winnings. This live game show has a relatively long runtime and includes three different rounds. The final round is the actual show, where live presenters guide the game.

No one is quite sure where the name Tanuki came from, but a possibility is the old Japanese word tanoke which means spirit of the fields.  Since people first came to Japan they have lived alongside this remarkable canid species.  Despite what it’s English name might suggest, this is not a racoon.  It is so-called simply because of the physical similarity between it and racoons. It’s a member of the dog family, but it’s definitely not a dog either.  Image Credit

Image Credit

Why? The tanuki is not a “dog” in the everyday sense (like Canis lupus familiaris, the domestic dog). It’s more closely related to foxes than to domestic dogs, and it has quite different behaviour and appearance. For instance, it can climb trees and even hibernate, which dogs can’t do.

Most people have heard of the Ring-tailed Lemur (above) and could suppose that it is the only species. However, there are many varieties of Lemur, a lot of which are beautiful and incredibly rare. Take a look in to the planet of the lemurs and discover for yourself the wonderful diversity of this lesser known family of animals. Image Credit Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar

The Red-ruffed LemurThis exquisitely colored species is critically endangered and part of its habitat in Madagascar has recently been made in to a National Park. This may at least ensure the survival of some of the species but as it is unable to tell where it is safe for itself, many of the animals live outside the park’s boundaries and are still prey to humans as ‘bush food’. Who could possibly bring themselves to eat this delightful animal in the full knowledge that it is nearing extinction?

We often read about people taking over the natural habitat of other species but it is rare to come across a case where the animals come back and reclaim their territory from us.  Yet this is exactly what has happened in San Francisco.  Local Californian Sea Lions have always been present in the city’s bay but had been pushed out to Seal Rocks, a small formation at the north end of the Ocean Beach.  Pier 39’s K-Dock was developed and opened in 1978.  Little did we know that the sea lions also had their eyes on this particular piece of seaside real estate.

They bided their time but their opportunity to move in (or back, if you argue that their presence along the Californian coastline predates human occupation by tens of thousands of years) came just over a decade later in 1989.  It was then that it was decided that the docks needed refurbishment.  In order to facilitate this all the boats had to be removed from Pier 39.  This left large open spaces inside the Bay.  A small number of sea lions saw their opportunity.  They metaphorically weighed anchor from the stony slopes of Seal Rocks and began to arrive at Pier 39.

 Sometimes, nature isn’t pretty – but it is still fascinating. Some spider species have a way of ensuring that the next generation gets a good start in life. In this particular case, narrated by the ever mellifluous Sir David Attenborough, the mother spider dies shortly after her eggs hatch. Rather than let her go to waste, her spiderlings take advantage of the situation. Drawn towards their mother, whose dying movements mimic the struggle of an insect caught in the web, they proceed to gobble her up without so much as a by your leave. The video below shows the full, gruesome truth, so if you are a little squeamish then perhaps avert your eyes. Ah, too late…

Water! From a purely biological point of view water has a number of properties that are paramount for the proliferation of life on this – or any other – planet. Its life giving and sustaining properties is what sets it apart from all other substances.

From the largest mammal to the tiniest insect we all have to drink. If we don’t we die. Here, we focus on the little guys, the ones which you can hardly imagine need much water. Indeed, sometimes they can be in danger of being carried away in their enthusiasm to sate their thirst. Thanks to some wonderfully macrophotography we get to see this most vital of functions being carried out – with some gusto – by a host of insects.

When you are building a new home sometimes you need some help. A little teamwork goes a long way and these green tree ants (or weaver ants) from Australia could teach us a thing or two about that. Their own task may, to begin with, seem almost impossible but with some supreme acrobatic skills anything, it seems, is possible.

When Your Pet Needs Emergency Care

When it comes to your pet’s health, it’s not always clear if something is a true emergency or if it’s something that can wait. But in some instances, a long interval can exacerbate the condition. Below are the signs to know when it’s an emergency and your pet may need the attention of a veterinarian sooner rather than later.

Red-Flag Symptoms--Time to Act Now

Some signs are clear evidence that your pet is in danger. What are they? Have a look:

• Blue, pale or grey gums (from lack of circulation or oxygen)
• Fainting, unresponsiveness or collapse
• Convulsions or violent tremors
• Hemorrhage or bleeding (uncontrolled), large lacerations
• Palpably taut or distended abdomen with pain.
• Poisoning (oral, e.g., chocolate, drugs, chemicals)
• Difficulty with urination without passing, which is a more serious problem in male cats (it can be fatal)

Note: If you see one of these red-flag signs, do not hesitate. Contact your regular veterinarian or request an at-home visit from Veteris in an emergency.

Non-urgent But Important Symptoms

Watch for these symptoms and get your pet to the vet ASAP.

• Vomited or had bloody diarrhea on more than one occasion.
• Anorexia over 24 hours
• Difficulty walking
• Crying, yelling or being too physical.
• Drooling or bad breath
• Swollen or tender spots
• Constant coughing or wheezing

These types of symptoms can be due to infection, injury or an underlying condition. It's smart to step in as early as possible, Carlos says, because once it reaches emergency levels, in general.

What Veteris Can Do Now at the Eleventh Hour?

Veteris can help. It’s a 24/7 emergency mobile vet service. They can come right to your house and tend to your animal’s needs, keeping them alive happy, and healthy. That too without any hassles of travelling and time wasted at a clinic.

What is Veteris?

Veteris is a UK wide mobile vets on call service that offers emergency vet at home. No matter what time of the day or night, if it’s a bank holiday, Veteris will meet your need to find a registered vet in the nick of time. They'll collect his/her gear and fetch your "emergency" complaint while you sit at home.

Key features:

Covers all the big cities of UK including London, Birmingham, and Manchester).

• Fast response to severe symptoms
• Licensed, trained veterinarians with emergency equipment
• Transparent rates, no hidden fees

Conclusion

Turst your instincts when it comes to your pet's health. If something does not feel right, check it right in there. Timings matters the most in these situations. You might be feeling that this is something small but it can turn into your nightmare in no time. So, keep a look at the red-flag symptoms and report to your vet as early as you can.

We have already told the story of how the critically endangered Lord Howe Island Stick Insect was brought back from the edge of extinction in the animation Sticky.  Of course, there is still much work to be done.  This entrancing video shows – for the first time – the hatching of a young stick insect.  It was captured by  zoo keeper Rohan Cleave at Melbourne Zoo. The eggs incubate for over six months and, until now, the hatching process has never been seen.

This goes to show - yet again - the invaluable conservation work that is done by zoos across the world. Watch the video below.  If this doesn’t bring a smile to your face, then it’s unlikely that anything will!

Now you see me, now you don’t.  Australia is well known for all creatures great, small, venomous, bitey, spiky, leapy and apparently hell-bent on ruining your day - there’s a list of them as long as your arm.  However,  the wraparound spider (Dolophones conifera) is not on that particular list.  Although it has given many the shock of their lives when it suddenly appears in front of them, this spider doesn’t want to hurt you. In fact, it has developed a cunning camouflage technique with the sole purpose of being left alone.  It’s waiting, resting up, patiently letting the daylight hours pass it by until night falls and its work may begin again. Image Credit

Image Credit

In the meantime, it needs to be unseen, particularly from its main predator – birds.  So, over countless millennia it has evolved the ability to wrap its body around twigs of its forest home.  It can do this so effectively that when still it simply looks like a small nodule where new shoots, leaves, or flowers might emerge.  The underside of its bodies is concave, and this allows it to press itself so closely on and around a twig that nothing or no one can spot them unless they decide to move.