Bogotá’s beautiful wildlife

Brown hyenas are valuable, social animals. But they are being hunted relentlessly. Now, there are more and more protected zones and wildlife reserves where they can live in safety.

France is considered one of the top destinations in the world for winter sports, known as "les sports d'hiver". They're a major part of the country’s tourism industry. Ski culture goes beyond the slopes, and like many things in France, it also involves a lot of food. But has skiing become too expensive? And how can resorts cope with climate change? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula slalom the ins and outs of the white gold that is French skiing.

Poland plans to build a wall on its border with Belarus to prevent undocumented migrants from crossing into its territory illegally. But environmental campaigners warn a wall could have a dire impact on local wildlife. DW’s Jack Parrock reports.

Decades of conflict has made Iraq a hotbed for trafficking. From weapons to drugs, Iraq has dominated headlines. However, less attention has been focused on the trafficking of wild animals. In fact, the Middle East is considered one of the hubs of animal trafficking. Our correspondent in Iraq, Lucile Wassermann, went to meet the players in the trading of wildlife to understand the drivers behind it.

In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Lwiru Primates Rehabilitation Centre gives chimpanzees and monkeys a safe place to recover after they are rescued from the hands of poachers or illegal owners who tried to domesticate them.

Much of the wildlife in Ivory Coast has become virtually extinct after decades of heavy deforestation. But a nature reserve nestled in the centre of the country is doing its best to restore the region's fauna. In just over 20 years, the N’zi River Park has managed to recreate an animal ecosystem, fight poaching and organise its own safaris. Our correspondents report.

A testament to its history, France is sprinkled with beautiful villages and towns. To stand out, attract tourists or even new residents, many have turned to a variety of certificates, labels and competitions to boost their visibility. We've followed an inspector for the non-profit ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’ who looked at the town of Bergheim to see if it’s worthy of obtaining this certification. We also met Christophe Alaux, a marketing professor, to understand the role of these labels.

A five-yearly report by the Australian government said the country's flora and fauna was badly affected by bush fires, drought and global warming. It warned more species could head for extinction.

Delegates at a global summit on international trade in endangered species have voted to protect more than 50 shark species threatened with extinction – because of overfishing.

After 20 years working for a big IT firm and spending his vacations connecting with the natural world, Gautum Shah decided to quit his job and use his skills to do something he truly cared about: preserving wildlife. His production company Internet of Elephants makes games using real conservation data. The idea is to boost preservation efforts by helping people feel closer to wild animals.

Thanks to their architecture, history and exceptional heritage, some French villages are the pride of their inhabitants and a joy for tourists. Perched on its Corsican hilltop, the village of Sant'Antonino is not easily accessible. Here, people still ride donkeys and cultivate olives the old-fashioned way.

The most beautiful gardens in France are the fruit of monumental work by men and women, in partnership with Mother Nature. In the north of Corsica, the magnificent floral paradise of Parc de Saleccia was born from the ashes of a terrible fire in 1974. Much further north, near Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, the Château de La Ballue is most remarkable for its listed gardens, where geometric shapes abound.