Programmes A Day For Nature

1 - Space For Nature - Florida

If you were asked to think of Cape Canaveral on America's west coast what would you imagine? Space shuttles, rocket launchers and men boldly going where none have gone before. What certainly doesn't spring to mind is wildlife but, as Nature Novice Richard Hall discovers, the John F. Kennedy Space Centre is surrounded by one of the largest nature reserves in Florida. The one hundred and forty thousand acres of so called buffer zone around NASA's headquarters forms the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and is a haven for all sorts of temperate and subtropical flora and fauna. Unspoilt brackish estuaries, marshes, dunes and pine forests provide a home for more than an amazing five hundred species of animal and bird including some of the rarest in America. Next Richard's visit is across the Atlantic where he takes a completely different turn when he moves from one of the most unspoilt areas of Florida to one of the busiest when he enters Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Duration: 30

2 - Quest for Coral: The Costa Brava & Sark

Coral. Even the name conjures up images of tropical beaches, crystal clear water and exotic locations. But what may not spring to mind is the Costa Brava, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. Well known for its beaches and bars, sunshine and shopping, this part of Northern Spain holds a wildlife ace up its sleeve as our intrepid Nature Novice, Richard Hall, discovers in this Quest for Coral. Richard visits the nearby Medes Islands, one of the few marine reserves in the Mediterranean. With the help of scuba gear, a tank full of air and local dive guide Paulo he takes the plunge. Just three miles long and a little over a mile wide, Sark is one of the smallest Channel Islands. It couldn't be more different from the Costa Brava. People travel here from far away to absorb the peaceful, car free island atmosphere and enjoy its wild beauty.
Duration: 30

3 - Wild Singapore

Richard Hall experiences the hustle and bustle of Singapore. The most famous hotel in Singapore is called Raffles - the landmark hotel where the recipe for the Singapore sling was written. Sadly the Hotel also lays claim to a folklore tale of shame. It's said that inside the long bar the last surviving wild tiger in Singapore was shot to death in 1902 after it was found hiding under the snooker table. Next Richard discovers a mere 12km from the city that the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has survived seemingly against all odds. At 533 feet this pristine rainforest covers some 400 acres and still retains nearly half its original native bird species and many small mammals. Richard also visits the beach on the northern island of Chek Jawa to follow the tide down with the volunteers of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research who are investigating one of the largest seagrass meadows in Singapore.
Duration: 30

4 - Goan Wild -India

Richard Hall meets a man solely responsible for cleaning up Goa's stray dog population. John Hicks formed International Animal Rescue eight years ago and in that short time has vaccinated and sterilised some 22,000 dogs. In the kennels holiday makers are encouraged to come and walk some of these four legged friends, but as Richard found, leaving the puppies behind in the kennels proves to be a real tug at the heartstrings! In part two we head back to the estuaries and the sea to learn more about the incredible White Breasted Sea Eagle that is so prominent in Goa. This amazing bird with its distinctive white chest has a very shrill call which once heard is never forgotten. Hall ends his journey at the biggest of all the wildlife sanctuaries of Goa, Bhagwan Mahaveer a sanctuary which covers an area of around 240 square kilometres. The sanctuary is home to Leopards, Spotted Deer, Black Panthers, Malayan Giant Squirrels, Pythons, Cobras and many more reptile species!
Duration: 30