Chris Packham
Encyclopedia
Christopher George "Chris" Packham (born 4 May 1961) is an English naturalist
, nature photographer, television presenter and author. He is the brother of fashion designer, Jenny Packham
. He lives in the New Forest
with his zookeeper girlfriend Charlotte and 16-year-old stepdaughter Megan.
, Taunton's College
, and the University of Southampton
, where he received a BSc
in Zoology
. After graduating he cancelled his study towards a PhD
to train as a wildlife cameraman.
appearances, notably in the BAFTA
-winning BBC1 children's programme The Really Wild Show
and nature photography series Wild Shots on Channel 4
, as well as the BBC One series The X Creatures
and BBC Two
's Hands on Nature and Nature's Calendar. He was until recently the lead presenter on the BBC South
region's version of the BBC
local television series Inside Out
, and also works on BBC South East Inside Out with Kaddy Lee-Preston
. In June 2009, he became a presenter on the BBC Two nature programme Springwatch, going on to present the series in 2010 and 2011.
He formed the production company 'Head Over Heels' with producer
Stuart Woodman, making wildlife programmes for Discovery Channel
, National Geographic, and the BBC
.
, vice-president of the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts, and The Brent Lodge Bird & Wildlife Trust and patron of Population Matters (formerly the Optimum Population Trust).
He has had papers on Kestrel
s published in British Birds
.
In 2011, he was awarded the British Trust for Ornithology
's Dilys Breese Medal for his "outstanding work in promoting science to new audiences". He said:
, Packham suggested that the Giant Panda
was too expensive to save, and that it should be left to become extinct so that funds could be redistributed to protecting other, less expensive animals and habitats:
He made a similarly controversial comment in 2008:
Packham later added:
In December 2009, Packham criticised reality TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! for mistreating animals, accusing them of plugging up spiders' fangs, needlessly killing insects and tying crocodiles' mouths shut.
In 2009 music bloggers noted how Packham was attempting to fit as many references to songs by The Smiths
into his Springwatch dialogue. In 2011 Packham emulated this feat, albeit this time referencing songs by the Welsh band Manic Street Preachers
.
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, nature photographer, television presenter and author. He is the brother of fashion designer, Jenny Packham
Jenny Packham
Jenny Packham is a British fashion designer known primarily for her bridal gowns and ready-to-wear collections. She is the sister of the naturalist Chris Packham....
. He lives in the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
with his zookeeper girlfriend Charlotte and 16-year-old stepdaughter Megan.
Education
Packham was educated at Bitterne Park Secondary SchoolBitterne Park School
Bitterne Park School is a large mixed secondary comprehensive school in the Bitterne Park suburb of Southampton, Hampshire, in the south of England. The school now has Arts College status. The school last received an Ofsted inspection on 8 March 2006. The inspectors reported that "Bitterne...
, Taunton's College
Taunton's College
Taunton's College is a sixth form college in Upper Shirley, Southampton attended by approximately 1340 students.-Admissions:It offers a range of courses, mostly A Levels and more notably the International Baccalaureate...
, and the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
, where he received a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in Zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
. After graduating he cancelled his study towards a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
to train as a wildlife cameraman.
Television
Chris is known for his televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
appearances, notably in the BAFTA
British Academy Television Awards
The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:...
-winning BBC1 children's programme The Really Wild Show
The Really Wild Show
The Really Wild Show was a long-running British television show about wildlife, broadcast by the BBC as part of their CBBC service to children. It also runs on Animal Planet in the USA.The show was broadcast continuously since January 21, 1986...
and nature photography series Wild Shots on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, as well as the BBC One series The X Creatures
The X Creatures
The X Creatures is a British documentary television series that was produced by the BBC in 1998, which was broadcast in 1999 on BBC 1. It was presented by Chris Packham, and examined the possibility of the existence of cryptozoological creatures....
and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
's Hands on Nature and Nature's Calendar. He was until recently the lead presenter on the BBC South
BBC South
BBC South is the BBC English Region serving West Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, western Berkshire, Oxfordshire, south east Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight.-Television:...
region's version of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
local television series Inside Out
Inside Out (BBC TV series)
Inside Out is the brand name for a number of regional television programmes in England broadcast on BBC One. Each series, made by a BBC region, focuses on stories from the local area...
, and also works on BBC South East Inside Out with Kaddy Lee-Preston
Kaddy Lee-Preston
Kathryn "Kaddy" Lee-Preston is a British meteorologist and weather presenter on BBC South East, and regular broadcaster on BBC Radio Kent.Educated at Bradfield College and Reading University she then trained as a meteorologist, spending time as a forecaster for the RAF, gas and electricity...
. In June 2009, he became a presenter on the BBC Two nature programme Springwatch, going on to present the series in 2010 and 2011.
He formed the production company 'Head Over Heels' with producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
Stuart Woodman, making wildlife programmes for Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, National Geographic, and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Wildlife
Packham is President of the Bat Conservation TrustThe Bat Conservation Trust
The Bat Conservation Trust is a British charity dedicated to the conservation of bats and their habitats in the UK. BCT was formed in 1990 and is the only national organisation solely devoted to bats...
, vice-president of the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts, and The Brent Lodge Bird & Wildlife Trust and patron of Population Matters (formerly the Optimum Population Trust).
He has had papers on Kestrel
Common Kestrel
The Common Kestrel is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called "the kestrel".This species...
s published in British Birds
British Birds (magazine)
British Birds is a monthly ornithology magazine that was established in 1907. It is now published by BB 2000 Ltd, which is wholly owned by The British Birds Charitable Trust , established for the benefit of British ornithology...
.
In 2011, he was awarded the British Trust for Ornithology
British Trust for Ornithology
The British Trust for Ornithology is an organisation founded in 1932 for the study of birds in the British Isles.-Activities:The BTO carries out research into the lives of birds, chiefly by conducting population and breeding surveys and by bird ringing, largely carried out by a large number of...
's Dilys Breese Medal for his "outstanding work in promoting science to new audiences". He said:
I have always been interested in scientific research an understood its importance in underpinning conservation action, not just in this country but around the globe. To receive this award from one of the leading scientific research establishments in the country is a real honour [and] is also very poignant for me. Dilys was instrumental in me getting my first wildlife-presenting job at the BBC. I accept the award for her and citizen scientists everywhere.
Views
In September 2009, during an interview with the UK TV guide Radio TimesRadio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
, Packham suggested that the Giant Panda
Giant Panda
The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
was too expensive to save, and that it should be left to become extinct so that funds could be redistributed to protecting other, less expensive animals and habitats:
It's time to give up on the cute and cuddly [giant panda] because we just can't afford it and we need to think of a much bigger picture […] Giant pandas cost too much to protect and should be allowed to become extinct.
He made a similarly controversial comment in 2008:
I'd eat the last panda if I could have the money we've spent on panda conservation back on the table for me to do more sensible things with.
Packham later added:
I really upturned the apple cart with what I said and I'm sorry I upset people. But I am glad it has raised a debate and that was always my intention. I don't hate pandas, I love cuddly animals. I love all animals.
In December 2009, Packham criticised reality TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! for mistreating animals, accusing them of plugging up spiders' fangs, needlessly killing insects and tying crocodiles' mouths shut.
In 2009 music bloggers noted how Packham was attempting to fit as many references to songs by The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
into his Springwatch dialogue. In 2011 Packham emulated this feat, albeit this time referencing songs by the Welsh band Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
.
External links
- BBC South presenter profile
- Presenter of Seven Man-made Wonders of the South
- Filming 'Nature's Calendar' at Woolston Eyes - West Midland Bird Club article about filming event with Packham.
- Chris Packham Original Message Board