Page 97 - BBC Wildlife - August 2017 UK

REVIEWS BOOKS

MEET THE AUTHHOR

John

Bartram

John was a gamekeeper
Cuttlefish can fool the eye
with their camouflage. We at Richmond Park,
can learn from them when London, for 30 years.
designing military uniforms.
What did your job involve? What changes have you
questions that occupied the I looked after all the seen in 30 years?
minds of science-fiction writers wildlife within the Park, The number of visitors
have now become thestuff of and specifically managed has increased enormously
genuine science, in this case and maintained the (from 1,250,000 in 1986
biomimicry, a strand of the historic red and fallow deer to 5,500,000 by 2016).
natural sciences that looksto herds. With an absence of Traditional seasons have
Adapt nature to solve pressing predators, it’s essential to also changed – 30 years
By Amina Khan problems in engineering. keep a healthy balance of ago the first stags to cast
Atlantic Books £12.99
Fox: Jamie Hall/FLPA; cuttlefish: Paulo de Oliveira/NHPA/Avalon generation of sticky plasters? knowledge of animals and their individuals to cull? FOR WORK
Khan leaves no stone
their antlers woulddoso in
species and numbers.
March/April, nowadaysthis
unturned in her quest to
Could gecko feet offer us a
explore how our advancing
window into the next
occurs in January/February.
How doyouchoose which
It’saselective process.
Could somethingbased on
bodies may come to influence
I WOULD
that has been injured. After `
First, we choose any animal
technology. Biologists working
cuttlefish skin be the next
LEAVE
wearable technology?Might
in engineering fields are
that, deer are chosen from
allowed refreshing freedom to
the upcoming robotics
certain age brackets. This
explain their experiments and
revolutioninvolve not
AND SEE 12
humanoids but… robo-snakes?
readers will leave this book
maintainsabalance across
In Amina Khan’s capable
the herdandensures that
with a buzzing excitement.
no single generation is
hands, what were once
Jules Howard Wildlife writer
MY GATE.”
over-culled.The weakest
are always removed first STAGS BY
to preserve the health
of the deer. Did you find dumped pets?
Yes, and there were no
What deer behaviour did end of surprises. We
you most enjoy? found goats, chinchillas,
Undoubtedlythe rut. gerbils, snakes, terrapins,
The behaviour andbody budgerigars, rabbits of
language of both sexes – all colours and even
The Plant Messiah Whales the posturing, fighting and a tarantula.
By Carlos Magdalena By Philip Hammond et al ‘wooing’ – is intriguing,
Viking £16.99 Natural HIstory Museum £14.99
exciting and entertaining. Do the public realise how
Inspiredby his mother’s This remarkable book is a rare I never tired ofit. much management the
passion for plants, Carlos beast – packing a blue whale- park requires?
Magdalena developed atalent sized amount of information into What are your standout No.Richmond Park isa
for growing them during a porpoise-compact volume. The memories? beautifully natural and
childhood. This is the tale of his authors, all researchers at the I lived in the park itself, wild oasis and many
journey from family highly regarded Sea Mammal and would often leave for people don’t realise how
smallholding in Spain to his Research Unit at University of St work in the morning to much effort, knowledge
roleasbotanicalhorticulturist Andrews, really know their stuff, find a dozen stags outside and passion goes into
at Kew, tasked with propagating and it shows in coverageofa my gate. I also found maintaining its balance
the rarest plants on the planet. wide range of aspects of whale many injured or orphaned and structure. Nature often
His green-fingered skills for evolution, ecology and, most animals over the years, needs a helping hand,
resurrecting species from the fascinating of all, whale culture. some of which I nursed which is what I tried to
brink of extinction earned him In addition, Whales does not back to health and released. do in my time there.
the soubriquet ‘Plant Messiah’ flinch from exploring our, at
and have taken him on collecting times, shameful relationship with O PARK LIFE: THE MEMOIRS OF A ROYAL PARKS
trips around the world: he is these compelling animals and the GAMEKEEPER by John Bartram chronicles the author’s
a man on a mission. seas and rivers in which they live. life as guardian of Richmond Park. (John Blake, £16.99)
Phil Gates Botanist Jon Dunn Author and wildlife guide www.johnblakebooks.com
August 2017 BBC Wildlife 97