Raft spider footage details behaviour never filmed before
Thursday 17th January 2013
Fen raft spider
Wildlife documentary film making student James Dunbar has produced a short film on the secret life of the raft spider.
Based at Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Redgrave and Lopham Fen nature reserve last summer, James worked closely with spider expert and reintroduction project leader Dr Helen Smith to obtain the unique footage.
James explains:
"I made this film because I wanted to tell the story of the Fen’s raft spider, and hopefully show people a side of these creatures that they wouldn’t otherwise have seen. Many invertebrates have complex and wonderful behaviours that we very often overlook. Perhaps this is because they are small or, for some ridiculous reason, people are afraid of them.
Some of the behaviour shown in this movie has never been filmed before, namely the egg sac spinning sequence. I was able to do this thanks to the cooperation of Dr Helen Smith, manager of the raft spider conservation program, who allowed me to have access to her captive bred spiders."