Wild Arabia 3: Faith, Hope and Technology
- 2 Sep 07, 02:46 PM
±«Óãtv Radio Four Monday 3rd September 2100
In a hot steel box on a dusty hillside in the heart of Israel and an ex-Russian general sit hunched over a radar screen. They're watching thousands of honey buzzards on their spring migration. 500 million birds cross Israeli airspace twice a year, airspace they share with the highest concentration of military aircraft in the world. The result can be very messy.
In the last edition of 'Wild Arabia', Tessa McGregor hears how Yossi's data helps Israeli, Jordanian and Turkish pilots save themselves, their planes and the region's birds.
Faith, hope and technology are the tools being used by people like Yossi to cut through the borders and kick start a revival in the Middle East's wildlife.
In Saudi Arabia's the technology is genetic. With the help of the Robbie Robinson takes the last survivors of some of the region's most important mammals and selectively breeds them until they have a broad enough genetic base for a thriving wild population.
But if it's hope for the future you're looking for Iraq is our unlikely final stop. The marshes of southern Iraq, an area the size of Wales, were drained by Saddam Hussein to destroy the power of the Marsh Arabs. Azzam Alwash of Nature Iraq tells the programme how he saw the richest wildlife area of the Middle East turn to desert. This summer he's sent his researchers (accompanied by armed guards) out to the marshes. They've come back with good news, great photos and beautiful sounds specially recorded for 'Wild Arabia'. Water is flooding back and the birds and beasts are following. Despite the very worst that man can throw at the wildlife of the Middle East she still has the power to bounce back.
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superb and brave programme. counters despair with the resilience of wildlife and the faint hope of enlightened intervention. thank you for thr knowledgeable reportage.
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superb and brave programme. counters despair with the resilience of wildlife and the faint hope of enlightened intervention. thank you for thr knowledgeable reportage.
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Could you please make "Listen again" availabe for "The planets and the irascible ape? The current link doesn't work.
Thank you.
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It's nice to see some signs of recovery in Iraq - if only we human beings could follow suit...
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