Chris Packham's Six Keys to Wildlife and Science: Badgers, Wasps, Thrushes, T. rex, Poodles and Axolotls

In this New Scientist desert island discs style session, Chris Packham shares six species that have defined his life and scientific outlook. He recalls studying badgers and mapping latrines as a teenager, his fascination with wasps and nest behavior, the song thrush and its musical symbolism, the evolution of our understanding of T. rex, his deep bond with poodles and the loss that shaped him, and his quirky affection for axolotls. Interwoven are themes of field observation over captivity, the ethics of wildlife management, and the romance of touching fossils and relics. The talk also touches on tool use in birds, public speaking for neurodiverse presenters, and a timely call to protect living species amid climate change.

Introduction and Framework

Chris Packham speaks in a New Scientist event that frames his life around six species that have been pivotal to his science and identity. He emphasizes that science is not just data but a romance with the natural world, learned through watching animals in their environments and engaging with them directly rather than keeping them in enclosures. The conversation ranges from early memories to modern conservation battles, highlighting how personal experiences spur public engagement and scientific curiosity.

Badgers: Latrines, Identity, and Conservation

Packham traces his first major wildlife project to a badger set on the River Itchen in 1975. He describes how badgers mark territories with feces scented by anal gland fluids, creating latrines that reveal social structure. He recounts feeding marked food to three sets and mapping latrine use to map territories. The badger becomes a lifelong passion, extended by encounters with injured wildlife via the local RSPCA and later by his advocacy against the poorly supported badger cull. He shares a personal artifact a badger skull and discusses the robust skull and bite strength that reflects historical predator pressure. The tale ties to broader ecological and political issues in the UK around bovine tuberculosis and biosecurity decisions.

Wasps: Beauty, Ecology, and Practical Filming

Wasps enter as Packham recounts his early film work after university, noting their social structure and ecological roles. He describes experiments with wasp and hornet nests including placing nests in coats hangers to film nest development, and even a memorable close up of a wasp stinging his eye when misjudging a shot. He argues for respecting these insects rather than persecuting them and explains how nest survival strategies and pheromones shape colony dynamics. He also explains practical cautions for handling wasps and hornets, contrasting the creatures with their more dangerous cousins and stressing the importance of their ecological services.

Song Thrush: Music, Tool Use, and Garden Rewilding

The song thrush is presented as a beloved neighbor and a source of joy. Packham recalls lying in bed with a thrush singing outside during a rainy morning, describing the song as sparkling and full of joy comparable to favorite music. He links thrush song to neurobiological rewards and references recent work on zebra finch dopamine during song learning to illustrate cross species connections between animal behavior and pleasure. He discusses thrush decline since the 1960s and the role of cats in predation, highlighting garden rewilding as a path to recovery for song thrush populations. The thrush is also highlighted for its use of a single stone as an anvil a simple form of tool use that reveals cognitive complexity in birds.

T. rex and Paleontology: Lip, Feathers and Scientific Progress

Packham describes his lifelong fascination with T. rex, its massive size and aura of mystery. He notes that new paleontological evidence has reshaped understandings of the animal from a tail dragging dullard to a more dynamic creature, possibly feathered and lip covered to prevent tooth enamel from cracking. He references the Real T. rex program and the work of paleontologists like Dave Holme and Dean Lomax, illustrating how scientific ideas progress from conjecture to evidence. He keeps a woolly rhinoceros tooth as a tactile link to prehistory, underscoring the importance of touching artifacts to connect with extinct life and to inspire ongoing curiosity about our ancient past.

Poodles: Loss, Love, and the Ethics of Choosing Companions

The last mammal on Packham’s list is the black miniature poodle, introduced by his family after a television moment. He recounts the joy and heartbreak of owning dogs, including cherished pets Itchy and Scratchy and their collars the day they were euthanized. The narrative explores how pets sustain mental health during difficult times, including episodes of severe distress and even thoughts of ending life. The bond with his poodles Sid and Nancy, formed after a sequence of losses, becomes a central emotional pillar in his life, illustrating how human animal relationships shape resilience and meaning even in scientific work.

Axolotls: The Weird and Wonderful

In response to audience interest, Packham reveals his affection for axolotls as a favorite among living creatures. He praises their unusual appearance and ease of care and recalls having kept axolotls in the past showing his willingness to engage with unconventional pets that inspire curiosity and wonder rather than conventional cuteness.

Q&A Highlights: Tool Use, Public Speaking and Public Policy

During the Q&A, a question about tool use leads to a discussion of New Caledonian crows renowned for crafting specific tools for different tasks and teaching youngsters to make and store tools a remarkable example of animal intelligence. Packham also offers practical advice for neurodiverse speakers on public speaking emphasizing preparation, environment reconnaissance and managing anxiety. He underscores the importance of presenting credible science publicly and shares personal coping strategies that address sensory challenges and unfamiliar spaces.

Conservation, De-Extinction and the Climate Crisis

Packham closes by tying personal stories to global issues, arguing that resources should be directed toward protecting the species we still have rather than pursuing de-extinction. He critiques political leadership and anti science trends while calling for urgent action to address biodiversity loss and climate change. The conversation ends with a reminder that the survival of life on Earth depends on science, policy and a broad cultural shift toward valuing living ecosystems as the core of our future.