BBC Wildlife Magazine

BBC Wildlife Magazine is a celebration of the natural world, featuring all the latest discoveries, news and views on wildlife, conservation and environmental issues. With strong broadcasting links, authoritative journalism and award-winning photography, BBC Wildlife Magazine is essential reading for anyone with a passion for wildlife who wants to understand, experience and enjoy nature more.

Follow us

The sea of life...

Get your digital copy

Contact us

The people behind our stories

IN FOCUS

WILDMONTH • Our countryside is being energised by the longer, warmer summer days. What will you spy in June?

MIKE DILGER’S WILDLIFE WATCHING • In his series of great places to watch wildlife in the UK, the star of BBC One’s The One Show this month dons his boots to enjoy boggy and mossy woodlands filled with willow tits, myriad insects and even the odd otter.

CHOICE LOCATIONS

SPECIES TO LOOK OUT FOR

Hidden BRITAIN

FLIGHT OF FANCY • This parasite’s wings are stranger than fiction.

Secrets of the sleeping cephalopods • Scientists have discovered that octopuses and other cephalopods have alternating sleep states – and perhaps even dream – like us.

Noise pollution harmful to tree growth • Loud industrial noise causes long-term damage to trees and plants by disrupting animal behaviour, study finds.

Wild salmon genetic diversity in decline due to ‘stocking’

Scolopendra alcyona

IN NUMBERS

Rare European vulture killed by livestock drug

Britain’s grey squirrels to be genetically modified • Is this a real solution to controlling the controversial critter?

MARK CARWARDINE • The conservationist discusses China’s attitudes towards animal welfare and invites your thoughts on the subject.

Anouk Spelt • Anouk Spelt’s work with urban-nesting gulls in Bristol has important implications for how to manage interactions with wildlife in our cities.

THE BEE HITTING THE BIG TIME • Tree bumblebees first reached the UK two decades ago and have since become one of our most prevalent species. How are these enterprising insects managing to thrive?

Spot the difference • How to tell a tree bumblebee fr om other common specie s.

Gaining ground • Many other invertebrate species are claiming new territories, both UK species that are expanding their native ranges, and European species making it here from the continent. Here are four examples:

Meet the NEW BIG 5 • Shooting with cameras rather than guns is the idea behind a new international initiative to promote the synergy between wildlife photography and conservation.

NUMBER 1 ELEPHANTS • CHAMPIONED BY DR PAULA KAHUMBU CEO and founder of Wildlife Direct

NUMBER 2 POLAR BEARS • CHAMPIONED BY KRISTA WRIGHT executive director, Polar Bears International

NUMBER 3 TIGERS

NUMBER 4 LIONS • CHAMPIONED BY DR SHIVANI BHALLA founder and executive director of Ewaso Lions

NUMBER 5 GORILLAS • CHAMPIONED BY DR. TARA STOINSKI president, CEO and chief scientific officer, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

The journey continues…

THE SEA OF LIFE • As we celebrate United Nations World Ocean Day on 8 June, our knowledge of the power and fragility of our oceans still has a long way to go.

Whispering grass • Fringing coastlines around the world, seagrass meadows are vital habitats, hothouses of biodiversity and important carbon sinks – but they’re being lost at an alarming rate.

SOUND SYSTEMS OF THE SEA • The underwater world can be a dark and murky place, so many creatures rely on sound to survive. But some species are adapting their acoustic calling cards in exciting new ways.

Species that use acoustic crypsis • At least 13...