Page 387 - They Also Served
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documentary, which aired in January 2016, and a book followed, which was voted adventure travel book of the year. His next expedition was a trek of 1,800 miles along the centre of Latin America, from Mexico to Columbia, including traversing the notoriously dangerous Darién Gap in Panama. Following the usual documentary, his book, Walking the Americas, became another Sunday Times bestseller. Next, Wood completed another walk along the Caucasus, from Russia to Iran, before embarking on his most ambitious project.
In 2017, he walked 5,000 miles, circumnavigating the Arabian Peninsula from Iraq to Lebanon. During his travels, he filmed with Iraqi soldiers fighting ISIS and in the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, which was then under Russian control. More recently, in 2019, Wood walked across Botswana, following migrating elephants, with the resulting series, Walking with Elephants, and book, The Last Giants, doing much to highlight conservation efforts in the country. Wood added the animal welfare movement Tusk to his portfolio of charities of which he is a patron or ambassador, including ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. In 2012, Wood re-enlisted in the Reserves, serving as a specialist with the 77th Brigade and being promoted to major subsequently being awarded the VRSM.
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