markcarwardinenews
- Mark has just finished filming a one-hour special Last Chance to See - Return of the Rhino, with Stephen Fry. Following up on the northern white rhino story as featured in the original 2009 series, they have been to the Czech Republic, South Africa, Kenya and Swaziland. It will be shown on BBC2 in the autumn.
- Mark and Stephen Fry head off this summer to investigate the environmental and social implications of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. This will be broadcast on BBC2 in October.
- Mark spent most of May in Sumatra photographing the Sumatran rhino (type sumatra into 'photo search' to see some of his images). Today this critically endangered species is extinct almost everywhere and fewer than 200 survive in a handful of fragmented locations. The threat from poaching is ever-present, but fortunately, anti-poaching patrols have reduced hunting to a bare minimum. Now the challenge is to grow the population to a more sustainable level. Mark's feature about the Sumatran rhino is in June BBC Wildlife. For more information and how to help, go to Save the Rhino.
- In June, Mark was Chairman of the judges for the final of this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year. The results will be announced at an Awards Ceremony at the Natural History Museum in October.
- He also judged Wanderlust magazine's World Guide Awards. Fellow judges included writer Bill Bryson and Wanderlust's editor-in chief, Lyn Hughes. The results will be announced at London's Royal Geographic Society on 28 September.
- Exciting news - after months of hard work, Mark's new company, the Wildlife Art Company, is now launched. Supplying exquisite on-line illustrations for publication, it's well worth a look! Click here for a quick browse.
- Sirocco the kakapo, who gained notoriety after his performance on Mark's head (right) in Last Chance to See, has made such an impact in his native New Zealand that he has been chosen as its ambassador for conservation and even has his own website called spokesbird.com - Mark does a video welcome to the site, together with John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
- Last Chance to See was recently voted top TV / Radio programme of 2009 by readers of Wanderlust magazine.
© Mark Carwardine 2010