An investigation into dangerous animal sales in Romania. Written with Ovidiu Stancu. Published in Scena9. Watch the film here: Summary: Inside a private zoo at the edge of the town of Zaharești, Suceava county, stands a row of big cat enclosures, where dangerous animals live in cramped and muddy conditions, with nothing to occupy their […]
Exposing animal exploitation on the Adriatic. Written with Ovidiu Dunel-Stancu and Damira Kalač, and published in Vijesti Ulcinj is a sea-side resort in south Montenegro with only 12,000 residents, the majority Albanian-speaking. Yet during the summer these numbers rise by a further 120,000, as the town boasts one of the longest sandy beaches on the […]
Imagine a pet that only appears when it senses affection from its owner Thanks to the Mechanics Institute Review for publishing my short story Sugar Tiger Here’s the intro i rage about how jude is a fucking joke as a partner, and my mate cathy squints and purses her lips like she wants to say […]
I will be touring the UK with five great writers in the weeks before Halloween to read from our new collection of spooky short stories, Modern Gothic, published by Fly on the Wall press, winner of The Bookseller’s Small Press of the Year (North) award. This is the book This is the blurb “Embark on […]
Bears are caged outside restaurants in at least three locations in Slovenia. Our team visits and film the locations for the project Bears Uncovered. Restaurants in Slovenia also serve bear as a goulash and a carpaccio, and bear meat is available online. We order the bear stew, which is served with cornmeal and cranberry sauce. […]
I’ve co-directed and written a new documentary on Europe’s failure to manage its bear population: watch and find out more here Europe is failing to manage its bear population. The large mammals are victims of human abuse, and humans are victims of bear conflict. Bear numbers are rising in south Europe, where friction between humans […]
A short dialogue published in Final Girl Bulletin Board. Photo by Javier Amador – Dad, I’ve hit a roadblock. I need an idea for a project about the first years of the web. – The aughts were the best time ever. Online, we weren’t sure what was fiction or fact, if events were true or […]
An experimental work of mystery fiction, published in the 19th Issue of Sheffield University’s Route 57. Photo by Greg Rosenke Unknown Caller M6 delays between junctions 17 and 18 after bridge collision Karakoram Peak Final discounts on camping gear Log in to see your special offers From Alex Are you checking those figures from Q4? […]
A short story published in the Green Issue of Here Comes Everyone, Photo by Karl Anderson Wings, claws and pincers were everywhere. Flying, jumping, crawling, buzzing, spinning, nibbling, cutting, hustling, wrecking, rebuilding, eating, throwing up and eating the throw-up. In a wide-brimmed hat, poncho and loose pants, I kept watch on my feet, arms and […]
Can a regenerative farm succeed in Romania? A feature published in Scena9 in Romanian and in English At the edge of a village in Dâmbovița county, I leave a 4×4 parked on a strip of land, and walk into a field, fringed by wild grass and tall trees. Lines of parsnip, lettuce and cabbage open […]
Michael Bird Writer & Journalist 