08 Wild Times

As the winter months approach, many species are preparing for the new season – hibernating bats find a roost, barnacle geese flock to our relatively mild coasts, and bright pink, popcornlike berries offer a feast on spindles.

32 Seal pupping

Our annual fiesta of synchronised birthing is soon followed by almost half the world’s grey seals flocking for a mating game on our beaches.

36 Hidden Britain

The ocean quahog is as obscure as British wildlife gets, and yet it holds a remarkable secret: this humble clam is the world’s oldest ever animal.

42 Cover feature: meet nature’s engineers Few animals (humans aside) have quite such a dramatic effect on their environment as the hippopotamus, one of nature’s many ecosystem engineers.

52 Sloths in Costa Rica

As tourism begins to open up again in Central America’s pioneering conservation hotspot, the sloth has emerged as an unlikely poster-species to promote the vital work needed to protect Costa Rica’s wildlife.

60 Tony Juniper exclusive

How is the chair of Natural England getting on with the job of saving England’s wildlife?

66 Flamingos in Mexico

The coastal lagoons of Yucatan turn a pinky orange as thousands of Caribbean flamingos flock to the region for a frenzy of feeding and breeding, as this vibrant photo story illustrates.

76 Inside COP26

Dr Tara Shine has been keeping a keen eye on plans for the 26th annual climate conference, which kicks off in Glasgow imminently.

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80 Golden hares on

Rathlin Island A rare leucistic mutation to the Irish hare has resulted in an almost-mythical creature: the golden hare.

86 Thylacine extinction

Supposed sightings of the ‘Tasmanian tiger’ question its extinction status.

66

Mexico hosts a familyfriendly flamingo festival

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David tells us about The Mating Game, p97

90 Q&A

How many muscles are in an elephant’s trunk? Why isn’t the air full of insect poo?

96 Go Wild

Sir David Attenborough narrates The Mating Game on BBC One

100 ID Guide

Autumn treasures to look out for

103

103 Crossword

Plus Spot the Difference

104 Photo Club

This month’s competition

108 Yo u r L e t t e r s

Join the debate

114 Tales f rom the Bush

This month we visit the Skellig Islands, off Ireland’s west coast

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discoverwildlife.com BBC WILDLIFE 5