Part 1: The Orangutan, The Hummingbird, The Swift, The Snake

In this omnibus edition, best-selling author Katherine Rundell introduces four remarkable creatures. First, the orangutan - so intelligent it can wash clothes and steal canoes just by watching us - yet now critically endangered. Next, the hummingbird, a jewel of the skies with ultraviolet vision and wings beating up to 80 times a second, threatened by habitat loss and past exploitation. Then the swift, a bird that spends almost its entire life in flight - even sleeping on the wing - now disappearing from British skies as nesting sites vanish. Finally, the snake: often feared, but in truth a creature of speed, ingenuity, and fragility, with many species in steep decline. Blending myth, science, and cultural history, Katherine Rundell celebrates the wonder of the animal world.

Written and Presented by Katherine Rundell
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan and Sophie Anton