The Wild About Us

Sneezed on by a marine iguana and swimming under a whale shark in the Galapagos

Fergus and John remember their seperate visits to the remote Galapagos Islands where each had unusual encounters and the spirit of Darwin was definately with them!

The accidental whale riders and fun in the Bay of Fundy

Fergus remembers a key family moment conquering their fears in Canada's foggy Bay of Fundy, discovering the joys of whale watching. John also recalls very surprising 'close-encounters' with whales from filming the Blue Planet and how they convinced him that 80 ton leviathans can be the gentlest of giants.

Looking for a female voice for a Cheetah

Fergus goes on safari in the Eastern Cape of South Africa as a surprise birthday present, and brings back a great recording of his close encounters with Cheetahs. Playing it back, John suggests that they add another element to the recording. What results is an experimental new audio experience - let us know what you think!  Oh, and we need a female voice for a cheetah please...

The Gulper Eel and a journey to the deep dark sea

The gulper eel is one of the strangest creatures on Earth, and yet it may be more common than you think because it lives in the middle depths of the oceans, which are the biggest of all wildernesses on our planet. Fergus asks John about his ventures into this realm and what it's like to take a submarine down to two miles. You can see this with video images of gulper eel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vgryR_Wxrs

Once upon a time in the salt lakes of Canada

Fergus and John remember a life changing experience when they recorded a radio show together in Canada for BBC Radio 4's 'The Natural History Programme'. Although about 30 years ago they both vividly remember their few days in Wood Buffalo National Park, when there were no mobile phones and you could still truly lose yourself in the wilderness. Their legendary guide, Jacques Van Pelt, led them (and the radio audience) to stunning encounters with wildlife and a peculiar discovery, kept cool over winter in a stream.

Wolf At The Door - when and how we came to live with dogs (first ever episode)

Dr Fergus Keeling and Dr John Ruthven are Zoologists and lifelong friends since they worked together at the BBC’s Natural History Unit nearly 30 years ago. 

In this - the first podcast of a new series - Fergus and John discuss how and when dogs became our friends, how a sheepdog called 'Chaser' can remember over a thousand objects,  and how to get in to the minds of dogs (and possibly their owners). Fergus also remembers his beloved labrador 'Peanut' and how she came to have a BBC staff pass!