All Creatures Podcast

Dr. John Vucetich is a professor and scientist at Michigan Tech University. For the past few decades Dr. Vucetich has studied wolf and moose interactions on one of the world's most unique biomes, Isle Royale in the United States. Isle Royale is a very unique biome as it is mainly isolated from the mainland of North America. It also offers many unique scientific perspectives on wolf/moose interactions and their impact on the environment. Dr. Vucetich also discusses his latest book Restoring the Balance: What Wolves Tell Us About Our Relationship With Nature, which highlights much of his work. This week's podcast is a fascinating insight into the life of a field scientist studying the lives of wolves and moose on Isle Royale. You can learn more about Dr. John Vucetich HERE You can learn more about his book HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the many incredible and unique birds of New Guinea is the Dracula Parrot. This unique psittacine (sit-a-scene) or "parrot" is the only one left alive in its family. In fact, the Dracula Parrot is heading towards extinction as it is sought for its feathers and is losing its pristine habitat. The Dracula Parrot does not have a fearsome reputation as it name might suggest. Rather, it is a frugivore that is a fig specialist. They are highly selective and usually feed on a few fig species, making them very important for their ecological niche. Parrots are also some of the most highly intelligent animals on our planet. They are amazing birds and very worth learning more about. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Aye Aye is one of the world's most misunderstood and endangered primates. Native to Madagascar, Aye Ayes have been targeted and killed by locals due to superstitions. Coupled with massive loss of habitat and other pressures, this species is on a beeline towards extinction. The Aye Aye is also one of the world's most unique primates and has radical physiology compared to other primates. Sadly, Madagascar has had a horrific year with not only the covid pandemic, but is experiencing one of the worst famines in their modern times. Thankfully, conservationists from around the globe and within Madagascar are responding in a fight to save species like the Aye Aye. This unique animal has so much to teach us and deserves our attention and help. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think of your typical songbird, you probably imagine a cute small bird fluttering about. Singing their songs and maybe catching a few insects here and there. Well, the Loggerhead Shrike has something to teach you. Not all songbirds are innocent. The Loggerhead Shrike is often called a "butcher bird" for its unique diet and behaviors. See the Loggerhead Shrike hunts all sorts of prey, small reptiles, amphibians, insects, mammals and even other birds. Then, when they catch their prey, they like to fly and spike it on a twig, fence, or anything that will hold their food. Sometimes they let their food spiked for days before they eat it. This cute bird has astounded the scientific and bird watching community for years, and is one you want to learn more about. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born Free USA was founded in 2002. In 1966, Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers starred in the classic wildlife film Born Free. The film told the true story of conservationists Joy and George Adamson who rescued a lioness cub named Elsa and successfully returned her to the wild. The mission of Born Free USA states that their vision is a co-existent future where humans no longer exploit wild animals. The further state they are working to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. Dr. Liza Tyson is the Program Director of Born Free USA and spent time with us discussing her and Born Free USA's work. You can learn more about Born Free USA by visiting their website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off our "Spooky October" with a unique creature of the deep, the Goblin Shark. While grotesque looking to some, this predator serves a critical role in helping our ocean ecosystem stay healthy. Not only is this shark freaky looking, it has some incredible physiology unseen in other species of sharks. In fact, the Goblin Shark is one of the oldest known species of sharks in our oceans. It has been described as a "living fossil" and is a fun species to learn about. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With less than 80 animals left in the world, the Sumatran Rhino is one of the world's most endangered rhino species. Only the Javan Rhino with estimates of maybe 60 animals is as close to extinction. Both Angie and Chris were very fortunate to meet up close one the these highly endangered mammals back in 2011. Harapan, one of 3 Sumatran Rhinos born at the Cincinnati Zoo, was held at a conservation center in Florida, and was returned to Sumatra in 2015 to help his species. While this species is on the brink of extinction, many are working hard to save what animals remain. We highlighted this in our interview of Dr. Barney Long (Episode 55) and his efforts to bring some of the Sumatran Rhinos under human care for a focused breeding program. We discuss this and many more aspects of how scientists around the world are fighting for these animals. These are an incredibly unique and ancient species of rhinoceros and well worth a listen. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all are aware of the ecological crisis we find ourselves in. This week we interview Dr. Amanda Romo, who is a professor and Director of the Learning Center at East Los Angeles College. Realizing the need to inform and educate the next generation on our world, she turned to the All Creatures Podcast as a learning tool for her students. In our interview, Dr. Romo talks about how she has integrated our podcast and using other tools to teach her students. She gives fascinating insight into how today's college students are not as aware about the planet's ecological degradation and how that knowledge can be integrated into any subject. Dr. Romo started her education at Pasadena City College, and then transferred to CSU Los Angeles, where she got her bachelor's and master's in English literature. She then did her doctorate in education at Arizona State University. In addition to teaching English/Composition, she is also am the director of the Learning Center at East Los Angeles College. She describes herself as an armchair scientist, and she loves to learn and read about wildlife conservation. She states, "The connection between wildlife conservation and climate change is a critical one, and it's a place where I see hope for the future. I'm especially interested in what happens when young adults are exposed to or engaged in wildlife conservation and how that can make them better stewards of the planet. I think that if we learn to love animals, and we want to protect animals, we will learn to protect ourselves." You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raccoons are a beloved species native to the Americas. These smaller carnivores are known for their high intelligence and incredible dexterity. You also might be surprised to learn Raccoons have been introduced to Europe and also Japan. They are now well established in these regions of the world. Additionally, while Raccoons as a whole are doing quite well living next to humans, some subspecies are endangered. They are very adaptable creatures and have so many fun behaviors that you will want to hear more about. Overall, Raccoons are just a fun species to learn more about. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were recently able to send money to the American Cetacean Society and Project Coyote conservation groups. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We once again head down under to Australia to cover one of its most iconic birds, the Laughing Kookaburra. With its extremely unique call, the Kookaburra is a favorite the world over. From the Family of kingfishers, Kookaburra's are an important species to the Australian continent and are also found in Papa New Guinea. The Laughing Kookaburra is the more famous of these birds and are a complete joy to learn more about. Australia and its wildlife, like most regions on the planet, are under threat of extinction. Thus, they deserve our love and attention. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were recently able to send money to the American Cetacean Society and Project Coyote conservation groups. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the more iconic mammals of Australia, this week we cover the Dingo. As a member of the Canid family, Dingos are technically not native to Australia. Rather, they were introduced by humans thousands of years ago. However, Dingos have remained relatively untouched from human interference for thousands of years. Today Dingos play a critical role in maintaining balance in Australia's ecosystem. These are amazing animals doing amazing things. It was a real pleasure to bring you this week's podcast covering everything Dingo!! For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were recently able to send money to the American Cetacean Society and Project Coyote conservation groups. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rocky Mountain Goat seems to defy gravity. They can scale and leap with ease across some of the most intense terrain on earth. What is especially interesting is the Rocky Mountain Goat is not a true "goat" but rather a "goat antelope." They also are the largest mammal that lives and survives at some of our highest altitudes, as well as in some of the harshest terrain in North America. They are just an absolute wonder to learn about. While not yet listed as a species threatened with extinction, with climate change and other pressures their populations are in decline. They are a species to keep an eye on. In this week's podcast we explore this species and what makes them one of the most unique mammals on our planet. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were recently able to send money to the American Cetacean Society and Project Coyote conservation groups. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are so excited to have one of the world's foremost orangutan experts, Leif Cocks, on to discuss the peril of one of our most beloved primates. Leif is the founder and president of The Orangutan Project. From there website it states, The Orangutan Project was established in 1998 by founder and world-renowned orangutan expert, Leif Cocks, as a result of his almost 30 year career working with orangutans. Leif is a passionate campaigner for orangutans and has been the President of The Orangutan Project since its inception. Leif’s years in the field have earned him respect within the conservation field. He has been a key player in developing conservation plans for orangutans and influencing positive change for orangutan protection and survival. This includes the first ever successful reintroduction of the zoo-born orangutan. This respect has given The Orangutan Project world standing in conservation. You can learn more about Leif and The Orangutan Project by visiting HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are back in Asia to chat about another big cat heading towards extinction, the Clouded Leopard. These magnificent cats are the oldest of the modern big cats and some of the most beautiful. Native to southern and south-eastern Asia, Clouded Leopards are facing extinction. much like big cousins the Tiger. Clouded Leopards are a special animal, with traits superior to almost any other cat species. They have the largest canine teeth to skull ratio of any cat. Their canine teeth, measuring up to 2 inches (5 cm), are the same size as the aforementioned adult Tiger!! They are specially adapted to climb up and down trees, better than almost any other species of cat on the planet. These are truly amazing cats and are a real pleasure to learn about. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were recently able to send money to the American Cetacean Society and Project Coyote conservation groups. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Douglas Chadwick has led an incredible career as a wildlife biologist and author. He has written 14 books and more than 200 articles for multiple magazines to include National Geographic. In fact, he was with National Geographic for over 35 years. Doug brings insight into our natural world like none other. He has traveled all over the world and has personally observed multiple aquatic and terrestrial species, and all the deterioration of our natural spaces. In his latest book, Four Fifths a Grizzly, Douglas discusses our place in the natural world. This is an incredible book spanning multiple topics that any wildlife enthusiast needs to read. You can learn more about Douglas Chadwick HERE You can learn more about Four Fifths a Grizzly HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While tuna is a fish many eat around the world, these fish are heading towards extinction. This is especially true of the most prized Bluefin Tuna. In fact, one 600 lb. Bluefin Tuna sold for $3 million USD at a market in Japan making this fish one highly sought after. The result is, Bluefin Tuna now number only 3.3% of their historic population. This is also distressing because tuna are some of the most unique and amazing fish in our world's oceans. They exhibit especially unique physiology and behaviors not observed in other fish. This week we take a deep dive (pun intended) into the world of tuna, with a particular focus on the Bluefin Tuna. The good news is, conservation efforts are being made around the world to not only protect Bluefin Tuna, but the other tuna species. We have so much to learn about our oceans and all the species that inhabit it. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were recently able to send money to the American Cetacean Society and Project Coyote conservation groups. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Kini Roelser is another amazing award winner from the prestigious Whitley Fund for Nature. Dr. Roelser is working hard to save the critically endangered Hooded Grebe and other wildlife on the Patagonia Steppe. The Hooded Grebe was only discovered in the 1970s and has suffered a dramatic 80% decline in their population over the last 20 years. Dr. Roelser shares with us his work and all the pressures this bird and other native wildlife in Patagonia are suffering from. He gives us great insight to what is happening in his part of the world in South America. ** NOTE: If you hear occasional baby noises during the interview you are not going crazy. Angie did an amazing job interviewing Dr. Roelser while keeping her newborn Maddox happy. She is an amazing mother and dedicated educator** You can learn more about Dr. Kini Roelser and the Whitley Nature Fund by going HERE Show notes HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. David Shiffman is a shark biologist who has dedicated his life to the study and preservation of sharks in our oceans. He is currently in South Florida, where he is working to understand sharks better, particularly off the coast of Miami in Biscayane Bay. He is also heavily involved in public outreach through his multiple social media channels. In our interview Dr. Shiffman talks everything sharks and lays to rest some disinformation out there and also tells us what the future looks like for sharks worldwide. You can follow him at: Save Our Seas Website HERE Twitter (@whysharksmatter) IG (@whysharksmatter) Facebook HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue to cover species from the ocean during this Plastic Free July with the Great Hammerhead Shark. There are 9 species of hammerhead sharks, all are on a trajectory to extinction. Alarmingly, the largest of the family, the Great Hammerhead, is critically endangered. Due to the pressures of overfishing, shark finning, by catch, and others, the Great Hammerhead is in deep peril. These incredibly unique sharks with their hammer heads deserve our attention and they need your help. This week, again we are talking sharks and specifically, what makes the hammerhead shark one of the most unique animals in the world. If you would like to join us this Plastic Free July you can join us https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org/ and search for the All Creatures Podcast team. Please help to keep our oceans clean. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were recently able to send money to the American Cetacean Society and Project Coyote conservation groups. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pedro Fruet was recently awarded the prestigious Whitley Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature. The endangered Lahille's Bottlenose Dolphin is only one of two subspecies of the Common Bottlenose dolphin. They have an estimated population of only around 600 individuals left in world off the coast of Argentina and southern Brazil and Uruguay. Pedro is leading the effort to save these special animals. He is working with local fisheries and government officials to help reduce the amount of bycatch, which is responsible for nearly 40% of dolphin fatalities in the area. He is also focused on educating the locals on the importance of the dolphins, among many other efforts. You can learn more about Pedro Fruet and the Whitley Nature Fund by going HERE Show notes HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we observe 'Plastic Free July," we return to the ocean to learn about the much loved Bottlenose Dolphin. We are always blown away by these special aquatic mammals. Dolphins are recognized as incredibly intelligent mammals and in this week's podcast we especially focus on their incredible behaviors. You will not want to miss it. Also, most are now aware that our oceans are continually polluted with plastics and other garbage. We briefly highlight these issues and more facing dolphins, whales and all other aquatic life. You can join us this month and pledge to reduce your own plastic consumption and waste. If you would like to join us this Plastic Free July you can join us https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org/ and search for the All Creatures Podcast team. Please help to keep our oceans clean. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were recently able to send money to the American Cetacean Society and Project Coyote conservation groups. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. You can also visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Paula Kahumbu is one of the most recognized woman working in conservation in Africa. She was recently awarded the incredibly prestigious Whitley Gold Award for all her hard work in preserving wildlife in Africa. Dr. Kahumbu was instrumental in helping to curb the ivory trade in Kenya. She hosts a television show, Wildlife Warriors, that is one of the most popular shows in Kenya. She is leading efforts to set up an Environmental Justice Desk to help solve human-wildlife conflicts. Her list of accomplishments and projects goes on and on. She is a true conservation hero and an inspirational leader to not only so many women across the world, but anyone with an interest in animal conservation. You can learn more about Dr. Paula Kahumbu and her Whitley Gold Award by going HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we head back to Africa to cover one of their more endearing primates, the Bush Baby. Specifically, we are covering the critically endangered Rhondo Dwarf Bush Baby. There are approximately 20 different species of Bush Baby in Africa, which are also called Galagos and resemble some of our earliest primate ancestors. The Rhondo Dwarf Bush baby is native to the coastal region of Tanzania living in the evergreen forests in the Tanzanian highlands. Due to deforestation and human encroachment, this species is at extinctions door step. Only two small populations of these animals exist today, separated by over 250 miles (400 km). While highlighting this species, we also talk about some generalities of all the species of Bush Babies and just what makes them so special. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nuklu Phom was recently awarded the prestigious Whitley Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature. Nuklu has been instrumental in leading efforts to preserve the Amur Falcon in Nagaland, India. The Amur Falcon is the world's longest migrating bird of prey and Nagaland is a critical stop along their long migration. Over a decade ago, Amur Falcons were being poached in the tens of thousands. However, Nuklu helped organize a grassroots effort to not only halt the poaching, but also preserve Nagaland's natural resources. His project that is being supported by the Whitley Fund for Nature is called "Establishing a biodiversity peace corridor in Nagaland." He is a true conservation hero and his story is one that needs to be told. You can learn more about Sammy Safari and the Whitley Nature Fund by going HERE Show notes HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Birds continue to fascinate us, and the Amur Falcon is no exception. This fascinating raptor migrates farther than any other bird of prey on Earth. They reside in the Amur region of north China, Mongolia, Russia for part of the year, and then go on an incredible journey all the way down to South Africa. In this week's podcast we cover just how these birds make such an incredible trek. We also highlight Nagaland in Eastern India. It is a critical stop for the Amur Falcon before a long trek over the Indian Ocean. For years the Amur Falcon was poached by the tens of thousands. But conservationists, to include this week's interview Nuklu Phom, another Whitely Fund for Nature award winner, stepped in and stopped it. This is an incredible story about an incredible bird and not one to miss. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Giraffe Day, June 21, we welcome Global Conservation Force Giraffe Project Coordinator Mike Bona. Giraffe are suffering what many are calling a "silent extinction." They have suffered a 40% reduction in their population in just the last 15 years. Mike is a long time hoof stock keeper at the LA Zoo and has been involved in many conservation projects with many endangered species. His focus has primarily been in Giraffe and has now joined Global Conservation Force to protect and preserve these majestic animals. You can learn more about Global Conservation Force by visiting their website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gerenuk like a giraffe is a long-necked herbivore. While not closely related to giraffes, the Gerenuk has evolved to grow long necks to reach foliage that many other herbivores cant. They are a very unique antelope species from Africa. In this week's podcast we talk about this species and all its interesting adaptations to survive in the Horn of Africa. The Gerenuk is also sliding towards extinction and we discuss what some conservation organizations are doing to help them. Yet, we do also bring some feel good conservation stories from Africa and just how you may participate as "remote rangers." We hope you enjoy this week's species. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sammy Safari was recently awarded the prestigious Whitley Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature. Sammy is leading an effort to help save sea turtles off the coast of Kenya. Sea turtles have been poached off Kenya for many years, with a dramatic increase seen with the Covid pandemic. The loss of tourism in Kenya has pushed locals out into the oceans to survive. Sadly, sea turtles have been targeted for poaching. Sammy and his team with Local Ocean Trust have been educating the masses on not only why sea turtles are important, but also working to preserve the Kenyan coastline and its mangrove forests. He is a true conservation hero doing his part to save these animals. Congratulations to Sammy and his team! You can learn more about Sammy Safari and the Whitley Nature Fund by going HERE Show notes HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Sea Turtle Week, we decided to return to sea turtles and specifically cover the largest of the group, the Leatherback. This sea turtle dwarfs their distant relatives and can reach over 6.5 feet (2 meters) and weigh nearly a ton (900 kg). They are enormous! Not to mention they are one of the deepest diving animals (outside of fish), among many other amazing facts. Sadly, sea turtle populations continue to decline and we discuss this more in depth in this episode. We also highlight conservation efforts to protect them around the globe. We learned quite a bit about these amazing animals and hope you do too. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Lucy Kemp was recently awarded the prestigious Whitley Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature. Dr. Kemp is leading a grassroots effort to help save and preserve the amazing Southern Ground-hornbill in Africa. Her story gives us so much hope for the future for not only the Southern Ground-hornbill, but all wildlife in Africa and beyond. Her project title is "A community-based approach to conserve the Southern Ground-hornbill." In our interview we discuss the issues that are driving this incredible bird towards extinction and what she and her team at the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project are doing to stop this from happening. Congratulations to Dr. Kemp and her team! You can learn more about Dr. Lucy Kemp and the Whitley Nature Fund by going HERE Show notes HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We head back to Africa to highlight one of the continents deadliest snakes, the Black Mamba. The Black Mamba is revered and also feared throughout the portions of southern and eastern Africa where it inhabits. Not only is it is one of the world's deadliest snakes, its also one of its largest. In fact, the Black Mamba is the world's second longest venomous snakes, right behind the King Cobra. Their cocktail of venom is very deadly to other animals and humans alike. However, they are not responsible for many of the deaths in Africa due to snake bites. Still the Black Mamba has a well-deserved deadly reputation and is not one to be messed with. Like almost any snake, they are very shy and look to avoid people. A beautiful reptile that deserves understanding and our respect. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome Martha Hunt Handler who is the current President of the Wolf Conservation Center, located in New York, USA. She also recently published her book Winter of the Wolf. During this episode we get an update on how not only grey wolves are doing in the Americas, but also the red wolves and Mexican grey wolves. We also spent a good amount of time discussing the passing of legislation in the state of Idaho, USA, allowing the slaughter of 90% of the states 1550 wolves. Martha has led an illustrious career working on environmental issues and is now passionate about protecting grey wolves. She raises many critical issues relating to wolves and other wildlife. You can learn more about Martha Hunt Handler HERE You can learn more about the Wolf Conservation Center HERE (check out their wolf cams!) You can order Martha's book HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As much as we enjoy learning about each species, this week we were pleasantly and extremely surprised by what we learned about the Coyote! This is not the first canid we have covered, but one that just left us speechless. The Coyote is a master of survival and adaptation. They are the first non-invasive species we know of whose range has actually substantially increased due to human activity. Because grey wolves have been persecuted to near extinction, Coyotes have filled part of their niche and expanded their territories. Coyotes live among many people throughout North and Central America, are a common site and persecuted as a pest. They are just a spectacular and very much misunderstood animal. Coyotes are well worth your time to learn more about. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome back our great friend Corbin Maxey from Animals to the Max podcast to discuss the latest Netflix documentary Seaspiracy. We all were moved in different ways by the documentary and were in agreement it brought the depletion of our world's oceans into focus. There is no doubt or argument that our oceanic wildlife are in serious decline. Seaspriracy raised numerous critical issues that needs to be brought to greater light. However, we do raise some concerns about some of the claims made in the documentary and also a perceived hidden agenda. Also, we discuss the horrific killing of dolphins in Taiji, Japan and the inhumane slaughter of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands. Both were graphic scenes in Seaspiracy and we do discuss why these barbaric practices need to end. Overall, we felt the documentary was well worth the time and a must see. Be sure to check out and subscribe to Corbin's podcast Animals to the Max Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pilot Whales are in fact not true "whales," but rather like Orcas are part of the Delphinidae (dolphin) family. Still, they are magnificent creatures that inhabit the world's oceans and lead complex, social lives. We decided to cover this species because of the recent Netflix documentary Seaspiracy. In it, a large family group (pod) of Pilot Whales are slaughtered by inhabitants of the Faroe Islands. For nothing more than "tradition." We wanted to learn more about these animals to understand the true nature of just how complex these animals are and why they are important to our world's oceans. These creatures and the many other whales and dolphin species are in decline. We need to learn more about them and more importantly, protect them! For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's podcast introduces an amazing bird from Asia, the Great Hornbill. These creatures are members of a large family of unique looking birds due to the large casques atop their heads. The Great Hornbill ranges from India to the Philippines and is on a trajectory towards extinction. What makes hornbills especially unique are their nesting behaviors, which are almost too radical to be believed. This week we also welcome a special guest who had the pleasure of working with hornbills and he gives us some insight into their behaviors. Due to the destruction of their habitat and for the fact they are often hunted for their casques and feathers, the Great Hornbill is in trouble. These are big and beautiful birds that need our help, and are well worth learning about. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's special All Creatures Kids podcast we introduce Archer. Archer is 10 and lives in Colorado. HIs dream is one day to work with wildlife as a zoologist. In this episode he tells us everything he knows about the Tamandua. If you have your own kid expert and wanting to be featured on our All Creatures Kids episodes please email Angie at [email protected] Thank you for sharing and you can also visit us at our website at www.allcreaturespod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We jump back to New Zealand to cover one of the most unique animals on our planet, the Tuatara. This is a true living fossil. They are the last of their kind, from an ancient order of reptiles, that has survived nearly 240 million years. Because they were isolated on New Zealand for nearly 85 million years, Tuataras survived mass extinctions and have changed little over that time. However, when humans first set foot on New Zealand nearly 700 years ago, the Tuatara was nearly driven to extinction1, albeit unintentionally. Pacific Rats hitched a ride with the early Polynesian settlers and drove many New Zealand species to extinction. Yet, while the Tuatara suffered due to the rats, they have survived and today are a species of focus by New Zealand, and are rebounding. A special podcast for a special species. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of the All Creatures Kids Podcast, we welcome Angie's own Xander and Zach. While 7-year old Xander is our residential dinosaur expert, he comes at us this week with facts about rattlesnakes. Meanwhile, his 4-year old brother Zach comes at us with many fascinating facts about crocodiles. We love bringing you these special episodes as this is the future generation that will inherit our planet and will be fighting for preserve nature. If you have your own kid expert and wanting to be featured on our All Creatures Kids episodes please email Angie at [email protected] Thank you for sharing and you can also visit us at our website at www.allcreaturespod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we talk about one of the world's oldest mammals, the Tapir. Specifically, we focus on the Malayan Tapir. The Tapirs are fascinating animals that have changed little over the past 30 million years. What makes them even more intriguing is, the Malayan Tapir lives in South East Asia, whereas the other species of Tapir live in Central and South America. While they have diverged nearly 20 million years ago, they differ little in their body composition or behaviors. We had so much fun chatting about these rather large herbivores. Sadly, all the species of Tapir are in serious decline and heading towards extinction. They are well worth learning about and fighting for. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's podcast we head back to Africa and cover an iconic but often forgotten species, the porcupine. These rodents are masters of the defense and predators often come out on the losing end when they mess with these. African Crested Porcupines are just one of numerous species of Old World porcupines. Many other species of the Old World Porcupines inhabit other parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. The New World Porcupines inhabit North, Central and South America and interestingly enough are not that closely related to the Old World Porcupines. This is just another fascinating species we cover and hope you enjoy this one. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome a highly rated journalist and author of Beloved Beasts: Fighting For Life in the Age of Extinction Michelle Nijhuis to the podcast. Michelle talks about her own journey from biologist to journalism, leading up to her newest book all about the modern conservation movement. Her book covers a wide range of conservation characters and how they helped shaped today's conservation efforts around the globe. This was a delightful and informative interview. If you have any aspirations to work in the area of conservation this is a must listen to, and Beloved Beasts is a must read. You can learn more about Michelle and her book by going HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome back Angie to this week's podcast covering the American Alligator. This species is near and dear to both of us as the "Gator" is the official mascot for the University of Florida. A tradition is any child born in Gainesville, Florida is known as a "Gator Baby." So this week, we dedicate this episode to our kids, who all are Gator babies! The Alligator is a massive apex predator native to North America. As a reptile, the Alligator has survived for tens of millions of years and was almost at risk of extinction in the mid 20th century. With focused conservation they have rebounded and are another conservation success story. Today there are over 5 million Alligators living in the United States alongside humans. They are a critical predator to our natural water ways and exhibit some incredible behaviors. We know you will enjoy learning about this special reptile. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Chris highlights the disturbing reports that have been circulating the last year on the massive loss of our biodiversity across the planet. In this week's podcast, he highlights some of the statistics that shows how our complex ecosystems across almost every biome are degrading quickly. From our oceans to our rainforests, to our very own fresh waterways, across the planet we are losing not only critical species across all taxa, but also the very environments that sustain life on Earth. It leads to the question that is now making mainstream news, are humans causing their own extinction? Now, while all the news is horrific, there is always hope! He highlights some of the conservation heroes that have dedicated their lives to saving our planet and the many species that inhabit it, but also tells you what you can do to help. As a side note, we will be back soon with our regular species podcasts. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome back our special guests Logan and Pax to the kid's edition of the All Creatures Podcast. Logan was excited to join Angie to discuss everything he learned about Tree Kangaroos! Whereas, Pax is back to educate us on the North American Porcupine. We hope you enjoy this special episode from our future conservationist. Angie is going wonderful with her newborn and we will be back soon with more species here very soon. In the meantime, we hope you are enjoying our special interviews and guests from both our adults and our young conservationists. Pax's YouTube Channel can be viewed HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's podcast we welcome professor and author Dr. Charles Bergman. Imagine being able to travel to some of the most remote regions on the planet to see some of your favorite animals. Well, Dr. Bergman has done that and more. He is a fascinating story teller and articulates his many travels to see every species of penguin on Earth. Dr. Bergman is a long time professor at Pacific Lutheran University in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He has authored many other books on conservation and has traveled extensively. It was a real treat to have Dr. Bergman on and we are sure you will enjoy this one. You can access Dr. Bergman's website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent report was released by WWF in collaboration of multiple agencies on our freshwater ecosystem biodiversity crisis. The report highlighted how our freshwater fishes are in steep decline. In fact, one in three freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction. In this week's podcast episode we welcome a founder and the Executive Director of Shoal, Mike Baltzer, to discuss this report and what his organization is doing to help our freshwater ecosystems. Mike is a conservation superhero who worked with WWF for 18 years before he helped found Shoal. This is an area of conservation that deserves all our attention and please share what you learn with all your friends and family. You can view the wonderful Shoal website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, big news for us is Angie gave birth to a healthy baby boy on March 1! He came in at a whopping 8 lbs. 11 ounces. Both Angie and baby are doing well!! With that, a couple weeks ago before Angie gave birth, we sat down with Jungle Jordan and had a fascinating chat about the role of zookeepers in education and conservation. We also had Jon (Angie's husband and now new Dad) also join in the chat. Jon is the Director of the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo program. We spent well over an hour talking about how zookeepers are now major faces in conservation. They all serve critical roles in helping to educate the public on today's biodiversity crisis. We first had Jungle Jordan on in Episode 131 and it was a pleasure to have him back. Jordan Veasley, also known as "Jungle Jordan," is a wildlife enthusiast and educator. He began his zoo keeping career when he was young and now has worked his way up to a number of roles for the Cougar Mountain Zoo in Washington State. In Episode 131 we spent a fascinating hour talking about his career, the challenges he has personally faced, and how he is reaching out to the masses through his YouTube channel and other social media channels. Jungle Jordan YouTube Jungle Jordan Facebook Jungle Jordan Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We return to the ocean to one of the most beloved marine mammals, the Sea Otter. Sea otters were almost hunted to extinction for their lustrous fur coats. By the early 20th century they numbered just a few thousand . Through international cooperation, Sea Otters were protected and now number over 100,000 animals in the wild. However, Sea Otters are still endangered and under incredible pressure. This species is also critical to a healthy coastal ecosystem around the northern Pacific rim. We hope you enjoy learning more in this week's podcast about Sea Otters and all their mustelid hijinks. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome Dr. Shermin de Silva, the founder and President of Trunks and Leaves. Dr. de Silva is an expert in Asian elephant conservation. We discuss many of the issues facing elephants in Asia. It is a fascinating look at how Asian elephant conservation differs from African elephant conservation. We also discuss many differences between African and Asian elephants and how that can influence their futures. You can visit the Trunks and Leaves website HERE Dr. de Silva also asked us to share this as she said: We have an emerging crisis in which one of the critical corridors linked to the national park is under threat. You can see more about it here on our blog. It's a developing situation and I am setting up a legal defense fund for the lawsuits being filed to protect the corridor. You can donate to the defense fund by the following link (Thank you!) https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2132558 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices