A vet’s life with a difference: All Creatures Great and Small in the South Atlantic islands

The role of resident vet in the British Overseas Territories encompasses the complexities of caring for the world’s oldest known living land animal – Jonathan the giant tortoise, 190 years old – and MoD mascots at the Falklands airbase; pursuing mystery creatures and invasive microorganisms; relocating herds of reindeer; and rescuing animals in extraordinary and rugged landscapes.

Witty, warm and beautifully crafted, Jonathan Hollins’s tales of island vetting are not only full of wonderful creatures – they are also steeped in the unique local cultures, history and peoples of the islands, far removed from the hustle of modern life. Discover the Falklands, a sprawling archipelago rich in wildlife and fish; lush St Helena and its cindery sister Ascension; and Tristan da Cunha, a tiny, remote community of 250 people carving out an existence on an active volcano.