'Independent' writer wins wildlife award

The prestigious Silver Medal of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has been awarded to The Independent's Environment Editor, Michael McCarthy.

The medal was given for "his contribution to the public understanding of wildlife and the need for its conservation, and his tireless advocacy of the cause".

The citation referred to his weekly column, Nature Studies, as "the most in-depth, regular analysis of conservation issues appearing anywhere in the UK print media".