Dodo
There are tales of caucus races, flightless pigeons and an auction house as Brett Westwood explores our relationship with that icon of extinction, the dodo
The Dodo is a byword for extinction and whilst none of us have ever seen a living Dodo it somehow feels familiar even though we know virtually nothing about it. As Brett Westwood traces our relationship with this icon of extinction, he meets a man whose home is a shrine of Dodo memorabilia, follows the auction of a Dodo skeleton, hears how a head and a foot inspired a famous Caucus race and handles a selection of beautiful Dodo bones. With the help of Lewis Carroll, this bizarre looking bird has captured our hearts and imagination, whilst the true story of this flightless pigeon is a poignant tale. Producer Sarah Blunt
Podcast
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Natural Histories
Stories of nature’s impact on human culture and society through history.