Last night’s show was the last of the episodes, which is truly sad. It’s been an awe inspiring programme in so many ways, not least of which is the fact that Mount Bosavi is an area so new to science – and to man – that the majority of its creatures are unafraid of humans, simply because they’ve never encountered them before.

This show has truly brought the enormous diversity and adaptability of nature to our screens; we’ve seen birds that use volcanic ash to incubate their eggs, we’ve seen – finally! – the new species of rat that’s enormous but cute, and a new species of Cuscus that could become the next big thing cuddly toywise.

Lost Land of the Volcano has offered many spectacular sights, not least of which have been the frequent shots of Steve Backshall in a state of semi-undress and/or wet, which to be honest, would’ve been worth tuning in for, without the 40 some new species discovered. Read more & comment »

We were back in the jungle last night for the second episode of this fascinating show, and within minutes, George had some new skills to add to his CV which might appear something like this…

‘I work well within a team and have demonstrated my ability to hold a crocodile’s mouth closed with one hand while gripping the venomous spikes of a catfish with another.’

The camp’s catch-it-and-cook-it kitchen staff had accidentally snared the croc in their fishing net, along with an equally unwelcome catch in the form of a singularly scary and ugly catfish. See, this is the trouble with going to places where Sainsbury’s don’t deliver… Read more & comment »

I love these types of shows where we get to see all manner of jungle critters from the safety of our couches without ever having to actually go near one. Which is rather much how I feel about the ‘stars’ of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.

And speaking of which, instead of the cleared-of-creepy-things set they use for that show, I reckon the celebs should be taken to Mount Bosavi where Lost Land of the Volcano was filmed. They’d really and truly experience the jungle then!

However, I digress. Last night’s show featured several of the kinds of folk I admire greatly for having the ‘nads to be the intrepid souls who do the close up and hands on work. And the team of such souls featured naturalist Steve Backshall, cameraman Gordon Buchanan and head scientist Dr George McGavin, all of whom did a brilliant job of bringing all that hitherto rarely – if ever – seen flora and fauna to our screens. Read more & comment »