Day of discovery for UK wildlife

A range of activities is taking place across the UK to mark International Day for Biological Diversity. Activities ranging from "walking with wolves" to dragonfly spotting will help people to join the worldwide action on a local level, say organizers.
The event is part of a campaign to highlight the loss of species and ecosystems due to human activity. It marks the highlight of a collection of events this year, the UN International Year of Biodiversity.

Off-road safari

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What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the term used to describe the incredible variety of life that has evolved on our planet over billions of years. So far 1.75m present-day species have been recorded, but there maybe as many as 13m in total. The Grant Museum of Zoology in London invites visitors to explore some of the world's weirdest and most wonderful wildlife, including flying lizards and giant starfish.

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New targets

The Darwin Prize, open to those aged between seven and 14, "provides an arena for children to talk passionately about biodiversity, a subject that many are already very enthusiastic about", explained Marie Clements from the Museum. Local wildlife enthusiasts all over the UK can also take part in a week-long "Hide and seek" survey by The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) to help investigate the importance of wetlands for local species.

The action does not stop when the Sun goes down. People all over the UK are invited to spot bats as they take to the night sky, as part of the International Night of Biological Diversity.

The wide range of activities this weekend is taking place just months before world leaders gather in Nagoya, Japan, to set new targets to tackle the rate of decreasing biodiversity.

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