Mark Carwardine is a zoologist, an active and outspoken conservationist, an award-winning and bestselling author, a TV and radio presenter, a widely published photographer, a wildlife tour operator and leader, and a BBC Wildlife magazine columnist.

He co-presented the BBC TV-series Last Chance to See, with the comedian and actor Stephen Fry, and the BBC-TV series Museum of Life, and has appeared on a great many other TV programmes over the years. He also presented the weekly half-hour radio programme, Nature, on BBC Radio 4 for many years, as well as dozens of two- three- and four-part series on BBC Radio 4.

He has written more than 60 books, including the Field Guide to Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, The Shark Watcher’s Handbook, Last Chance to See (with Douglas ‘Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ Adams) and The Guinness Book of Animal Records. His latest is How to Photograph Garden Birds. He was Chairman of the Judging Panel of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for seven years and was selected as one of the world’s 40 most influential nature photographers in Outdoor Photography magazine. In June 2025, Mark will present Rainforest Trust’s first BBC Radio 4 Appeal, broadcasting on World Rainforest Day.

But, sadly, Mark will probably just be remembered for being mounted by Sirocco the kakapo, a nocturnal parrot in Last Chance to See!