Best of Natural History Radio Folgen

High up a remote Himalayan Mountain in Nepal is a Buddhist monastery. The monks say there is no doubt yeti's roam the high forest, they see and hear them and they sometimes even attack people. The tantalising prospect of being the first to prove that this mythical ape like creature actually exists has been the goal of many explorers - but the beast has always evaded capture. Then the discovery of a supposed yeti's hand kept in the monastery set off a remarkable chain of events that drew in a mountain explorer, an American oil tycoon, a Hollywood film star and a high tech lab for forensic science in Scotland. But is it a yeti? Presenter: Matthew Hill Producer: Mary Colwell Editor: Julian Hector

In a special edition of Saving Species, recorded in front of an audience at the University of Bristol, Brett Westwood chairs a discussion about the building tension between the natural world and the burgeoning human population. Every 2 seconds another child is born. The human population is now over 7 billion and is projected to rise to 9 billion by 2050. All these people will need food, water, energy and materials, is that possible? How can a burgeoning population really live with a flourishing natural world? Sustaining Life takes the issue of the human population and nature head on. Presenter: Brett Westwood Producer: Mary Colwell Editor: Julian Hector

30/30 For the final live programme of the series there will be an update from the BTO on the location of the five tagged cuckoos in the forests of Central Africa. Also on the move but on a much shorter journey are shags. Bob Swann reports from his well-monitored seabird cliffs at North Sutor in Scotland where he has been checking the ring numbers of the shags. Peter Burgess from the Devon Wildlife Trust takes Chris Sperring on an end of year update on the beavers who are being used to manage rare culm grassland. Mark Brazil reports on the conservation of the rare Lear's Macaw. Kelvin Boot joins Brett in the studio with the latest Wildlife news roundup Keep an ear out for the Saving Species special debate on "Sustaining Life" pre-recorded for broadcast on Friday 23rd December at 8pm. Presenter: Brett Westwood Producer: Sheena Duncan Editor: Julian Hector