The wild side of Switzerland

Iconic Swiss species

Alpenrose Not a rose but a rhododendron

Susan Misicka and Ester Unterfinger

Immortalized by Swiss singer Polo Hofer, this flowering plant thrives in the Alps and in the Jura region.

Blueberry A sweet treat for hunter-gatherers

Susan Misicka and Ester Unterfinger

In May and June, Switzerland’s wild blueberry bushes are in bloom. They’re popular with birds, foxes and bears.

Golden eagle The raptor with the unjustified bad rap

Susan Misicka and Julie Hunt

This is the only large Swiss predator that survived the days when the bearded vulture, the lynx, the wolf and the brown bear were exterminated.

Alpine ibex In the thrall of the mountain king

Susan Misicka and Julie Hunt

Once extinct in Switzerland, the ibex is back. Thousands of the surefooted creatures now live in the Swiss Alps.

Biodiversity in Switzerland

Animal attraction New Swiss bear park gets green light

Susan Misicka

If all goes to plan, Swiss mountain resort Arosa will soon have a park for rescued bears.

Otter confusion Post delivers ‘wrong’ otter on stamp set

A quarter of a century after being driven out of Switzerland, the European fish otter has made its comeback – only for the post office to mistake ...

Swiss wildlife Bear tracks seen in Engadine

A wild bear has been spending time in the national park in eastern Switzerland.

Water quality Problematic pesticide levels in Swiss streams

Susan Misicka

High levels of pollution in Swiss streams pose a threat to the nation’s biodiversity.

Biodiversity conservation ‘I hope we’ll find ways to coexist with bears’

Susan Misicka

In terms of biodiversity, Switzerland is doing very badly, finds the head of conservation biology at the University of Bern.

Podcast Swiss Waterways: Looking for wildness

John Heilprin

Despite Switzerland’s abundance of water, few of its rivers are truly pristine.

Europe's Forests From Bern to Moscow, the climate and biodiversity challenge

John Heilprin

, Engelberg

Two centuries after the "Slide of Alpnach" brought Swiss timber to European markets, it's the lessons of using too much wood that draw global notice.

Man and nature Geneva goes wild for ‘biological corridors’

Simon Bradley in Geneva

Urban growth is a major threat to biodiversity. Aware of the dangers, the sprawling Swiss city of Geneva is introducing cross-border ‘biological ...

People and predators Wolves: welcome or worrying?

Michele Andina and Susan Misicka

Should an area in south-western Switzerland be a predator-free zone? A local initiative wants to eliminate protected species like wolves.

See in other languages: 9

(Keystone) — Podcast ‘Wolves and lynx have a role to play’

By
Susan Misicka

A conservation biologist explains the role of predators in an ecosystem, and tells us why we should stop and smell the free-tailed bats.

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Sci & Tech

Environment

Are the Swiss ready for bears? How to live with dangerous animals

Julie Hunt

Following the shooting of Switzerland’s only wild bear, M13, attempts are being made to stop future bears from suffering the same fate. (Julie ...

Special reports

Davos_Botanischer-Garten-Alpinum-Schatzalp

Planting the seed of biodiversity

They're not just beautiful. Botanical gardens also have an important role to play in nature, as this series of photos shows.

ProSpecieRara Switzerland’s endangered species on show

Julie Hunt

Rare Swiss breeds are being saved from extinction by the ProSpecieRara foundation. Traditional breeds are often more robust and cheaper to maintain.

See in other languages: 9

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The wild side of Switzerland

Iconic Swiss species

Alpenrose Not a rose but a rhododendron

Blueberry A sweet treat for hunter-gatherers

Golden eagle The raptor with the unjustified bad rap

Alpine ibex In the thrall of the mountain king

Biodiversity in Switzerland

Animal attraction New Swiss bear park gets green light

Otter confusion Post delivers ‘wrong’ otter on stamp set

Swiss wildlife Bear tracks seen in Engadine

Water quality Problematic pesticide levels in Swiss streams

Biodiversity conservation ‘I hope we’ll find ways to coexist with bears’

Podcast Swiss Waterways: Looking for wildness

Europe's Forests From Bern to Moscow, the climate and biodiversity challenge

Man and nature Geneva goes wild for ‘biological corridors’

Additional content about the topic

People and predators Wolves: welcome or worrying?

Podcast ‘Wolves and lynx have a role to play’

Are the Swiss ready for bears? How to live with dangerous animals

Planting the seed of biodiversity

ProSpecieRara Switzerland’s endangered species on show

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