83. A Great Big Happy Recap of Conservation in 2023! [New Year Special]

Happy New Year! Today Jack looks back on all of the year’s best conservation stories. That means we get to talk about everything from Redwoods to Manta Rays, from Echidnas to Puffins!

Jack also discusses his personal highs and lows, makes some New Year’s Resolutions and reflects on what he wants to see in 2024! 

Thank you so much for an amazing 2023! ✨

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We discussed so many stories today, that they cannot all be added here. However, check out a selection below:

• Birds in Bangladesh: https://news.mongabay.com/2023/01/birds-in-bangladesh-find-a-new-lease-of-life-in-community-run-sanctuaries/
• Mantas: https://www.scubadiving.com/worlds-largest-known-manta-ray-population-found-off-ecuador
• Hairy Nosed Wombat: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-28/wombat-population-boom-nullarbor-roads-drought-break/101795134
• Western Monarch Butterflies: https://news.mongabay.com/2023/01/monarch-populations-rebound-but-its-still-a-long-journey-to-recovery/
• ZSL Dogs: https://biaza.org.uk/news/detail/british-dog-duo-ready-to-start-new-role-protecting-critically-endangered-pangolins-in-thailand-with-conservation-charity-zsl
• Mediterranean Monk Seal: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/mediterranean-monk-seal-making-comeback-180981811/
• Puffins: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65122131
• Platypus: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/platypus-returns-australian-national-park-first-time-half-century-rcna84390
• Eco-Tourism and Grey Whales: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/up-close-ecotourism-is-bringing-back-mexicos-gray-whales/
• Wildcats: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65913889
• Black Veined White Butterfly: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65804939.amp
• Mexico’s protected areas: https://news.mongabay.com/2023/08/mexico-announces-13-new-protected-areas-with-more-to-come/
• Ospreys: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Ospreys_breed_in_Ireland_for_first_time_for_more_than_200years.aspx?s_id=1053305723
• Takahe: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/29/prehistoric-bird-once-thought-extinct-returns-to-new-zealand-wild
• Snow Leopard: https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-11-09-23-18-09-23/
• Rhino Numbers Rebound: https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-25-09-23-02-10-23/
• Caribbean Island Sanctuary: https://www.rewild.org/press/rejuvenated-caribbean-moonscape-island-granted-protected-area-status
• Galapagos Giant Tortoise: https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-08-10-23-15-10-23/
• Salmon: https://riverdee.org.uk/news/river-dee-revived-after-one-of-scotlands-biggest-ever-dam-removals/
• New Forest Guardians - https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-6-11-23-12-11-23/
• Attenborough’s Long Beaked Echidna: https://www.biology.ox.ac.uk/article/found-at-last-critically-endangered-echidna-finally-rediscovered-after-60-years
• Shepard’s in Spain Learning: https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-12-11-23-19-11-23/
• California Redwoods: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/california-redwoods-wildfire-recovery-new-growth/

Music Credits: Monkoto by Kevin MacLeod, Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4072-monkoto License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ AngloZulu by Kevin MacLeod, Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3372-anglozulu License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Christmas Rap" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠ "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/