I thought I would look at a few epic journeys undertaken by wildlife. Millions of Australian birds, and numerous mammals, sharks and reptiles all migrate.

Tardigrades or moss piglets are of the phylum Tardigrada. They are tiny creatures found everywhere on our planet from ponds and rivers to lichen and moss, under sea and atop mountains. Around 0.5mm a basic microscope allows you to look at them; they have 8 legs and a bear like appearance. They are known to be able to survive great extremes; some can go without food or water for 30 years. Cook them to 150°C or freeze to -272°C these are tough critters and in order to survive a crash landing on the moon they will need to be very tough indeed. How long will they survive, are they capable of colonising the lunar surface? I have no idea but we do know that invasive species of almost any kind often manage to adapt and survive.

Some years ago Colleen and Keith conducted the first in-depth study of honey badgers in the Kalahari Desert. A great success has been their 'Honey Badger Friendly Honey Campaign', which helps to reduce the numbers of honey badgers killed by commercial beekeepers. Beekeepers were taught how to keep their hives out of reach of the honey badgers and to not kill the badgers on sight – so a win win conservation result. Reducing human wildlife conflict is often a key ingredient to any successful conservation agenda. Locals need to derive benefit from wildlife conservation to become engaged and willing partners – so any practical ideas that help protect their crops and provide income helps support a project's likely success. So hats off as they say to Colleen and Keith.

Nowadays they live in Mozambique and have established the Niassa Carnivore Project www.niassalion.org. Their project leads and monitors over 100 Mozambicans and they are involved in wildlife positive microenterprises, anti poaching and education. Set in the little known (but well worth a visit) Niassa reserve in northern Mozambique.

So yes you can even go and visit one of their initiatives at Mpopo trail camp in Mozambique rateltrust.org/tourism/mpopo-trail-camp

Whilst reading a bit about them I really like the fact that Colleen's long-term personal objective is to "live a life of passion and purpose".

Snake catching bag and frame – special offer with a free Snakebite bandage.

NEW Special offer $150 inc GST and postage Australia wide. Should be $180 +

Phone for credit card payment, order online or call 08 9243 3044 to order.

Online use the discount code SNAKE BAG and tick pick up from store, but we will ship.

Snake bite gaiters: Only $99 a pair including tax and postage. Normally $120 +

Online use the discount code GAITERS and tick pick up from store, but we will ship.

Marine iguanas are special as they have evolved to feed on algae - they are the only lizards utilizing the ocean for food. There are six closely related subspecies each from a different Island within the Galápagos archipelago found some 1,100 kilometres from the Ecuadorian mainland. They are mostly black but males brighten up during the breeding season. Considerable amounts of time are spent basking ensuring they are warm enough to dive into the cool waters to nibble and graze on the algae found below the water line. As they dive they can slow their heartbeat to half its normal rate allowing them to forage for as long as possible, gripping the rocks with long claws as they feed. The excess of salts accumulated eating marine algae is sneezed out of their nostrils and whilst they sit and bask they sneeze almost continuously ejecting salty crystals. At various times cats, rats and human activities have been threats to their survival but the Ecuadorian Galápagos Conservation Trust works hard keeping pests in check and ensuring ongoing survival of the islands' unique wildlife.

Marine iguanas average from 0.7 to around 1.5 metres in length, much of that is a muscular tail. Lucky specimens can live around 5-12 years and they weigh in at well over 1kg and probably up to 3kg or more judging by some of the larger ones I have seen.

I have been lucky enough to see various species of iguanas in Central and South American countries as well as on the Caribbean island on Montserrat (where they are somewhat of a delicacy). I have also had the amazing experience watching them on several islands in the Galápagos where their unique geographical isolation and relative predator free environment makes it very easy to observe them. They mostly consider humans as harmless – and only reluctantly move away when you are within inches of them. In fact on occasions you had to be careful not to tread on them as they were both numerous and ponderous in equal measure.