Pets and animals

Rock Fever
Dr Sibis Mouton travels to the Seychelles where she discovers the thrill and the beauty of life on the remote granite islands.

It was 8 o’clock on Praslin Island and I was still fast asleep when a knock on my door woke me. It was my friendly landlady, Emilia. She had come to inform me that it was possible to land on Aride Island today and that this long awaited day trip was now finally going to materialize for me. Aride, about 16 km from Praslin, is the most northerly of the Seychelles granite islands. It is also the most important bird reserve in the Seychelles, host to more than 750,000 breeding pairs of seabird species, which is more than on any other island in the region. It is home to several thousand frigate birds and five species of land birds endemic to the Seychelles, amongst them the very rare Seychelles magpie-robin. As the island is almost completely protected by its dangerous surf, it was not colonized until after 1851. Today there are only between five and ten people stationed on the island at any given time, so it is a real getaway if you have the spirit of Robinson Crusoe pumping in your veins. The island essentially ‘belongs to the birds’.

Bird Numbers
Lots of birds aren't travelling to the UK for the winter any more because of climate change, according to a report.

RSPB experts said many birds no longer needed to migrate as far as the UK from places like Greenland and Siberia to find warmer weather and food. The numbers of seven regular visitors, including the shelduck, mallard and Bewick's swan, are going down. They are worried that the new migration areas might not have enough food and nesting areas for the birds to thrive. But the report does have good news as it says hard work by conservationists in the UK has increased the numbers of some types of birds, particularly wading birds like the avocet.

Endangered Animals
The number of endangered animals in the UK has doubled over the past 10 years, according to wildlife experts.

Hedgehogs, house sparrows and harvest mice are among the 1,149 species that have been identified as being under threat and in need of help to survive. Hundreds of wildlife experts spent more than two years working out which species need the most protection. The government-approved list is aimed at increasing awareness of conservation and the animals and habitats at risk.