Global Ideas

The European bison, also know as wisent, is sometimes called the “European king of the forest." That is especially true in the Bialowieza National Park, which straddles Poland and Belarus. It's home to the continent's largest bison population. The powerful yet gentle beasts are the key to existence for many of the forest’s other species. This week on Global Ideas, we find out more about the wisent that live in Europe’s last intact virgin forest and we’ll be talking to an expert about his work on the rare species and what makes them unique. Also, find out from the director of the Bialowieza National Park about the challenges of looking after Europe’s last primeval forest.

In the Kenyan highlands, malaria is spreading faster than ever. Frequent rainfall has created ideal breeding condition for mosquitoes especially as temperatures at night rarely drop below 16 degrees Celsius. According to a study, new cases of the disease have increased eightfold since the 1970s.

In the county of Kericho in southwestern Kenya, workers on tea plantations are falling ill at an alarming rate. Next week on Global Ideas, we take a look at how the World Health Organization is arming people against malaria by offering educational courses where participants learn how to detect the disease’s early warning signs. The “Kenya NGO’s Alliance Against Malaria,” or KeNAAM, is also jumping in, distributing mosquito nets, spraying repellent and building local health centers.