The National Marine Mammal Foundation has been studying chronic effects from the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the largest oil spills in history. The NMMF's Director of Medicine, Dr. Forrest Gomez describes some of the findings from field research and wild population assessments on cetacean health and reproduction, particularly for bottlenose dolphins. The data shows dolphins are still experiencing toxic effects more than 10 years later with some populations not expect...
Apr 30, 2020•49 min•Season 3Ep. 107
San Antonio Zoo CEO Tim Morrow describes recent acquisitions, animal habitat improvements, and the William Smith Zoo School for preschool children at the historic zoo. In a story playing out at zoological facilities across the nation and world, Tim also describes the sudden financial and staffing challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented to this non-profit facility that is entirely dependent upon earned revenues and donations to fund its operations. No facility, regardless of tax and o...
Apr 23, 2020•36 min•Season 3Ep. 106
With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, wildlife conservationist Julie Scardina introduces us to the work of Wild Earth Allies and its executive director, Katie Frohardt. WEA has conservation interests around the globe with a keen interest in Central Africa and the preservation of gorillas. With the aid of scientists experienced at successfully studying and conserving mountain gorillas from the brink of extinction a few decades ago to well over 1000 individuals today, WEA is working to preserve ...
Apr 16, 2020•46 min•Season 3Ep. 105
As the oldest animal welfare organization in the US, American Humane and its CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert work to improve welfare across the companion, military, farm, entertainment, and zoological animal world. As the SARS-CoV-2 spread continues to affect the lives of animals and people around the globe, American Humane is stepping up to provide online materials and support to organizations and animals in need. Dr. Ganzert discusses how the current pandemic is more evidence of how humans have violated...
Apr 09, 2020•48 min•Season 2Ep. 104
University of Minnesota researcher and former VP of Science and Conservation for Lincoln Park Zoo, Dominic Travis , DVM specializes in wildlife epidemiology. His primary area of interest is understanding the interface between humans, domestic animals and wildlife species, and how that interface affects our health, food safety, and conservation. How has our polarized political environment in an election year contributed to the public's confusion over the scientific method, as it pertains to the v...
Apr 02, 2020•54 min•Season 2Ep. 103
Following a personal message of unity to zoo fans and professionals everywhere from Jungle Jack Hanna, the CEO of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums ( WAZA ) describes the impact of COVID-19 on its nearly 300 member facilities. As the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world, WAZA is coordinating its messaging and resources with the latest guidelines from the ...
Mar 26, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 102
As the rest of the country became aware of the virus spreading in hard hit Washington state, the Seattle Aquarium was one of the first zoological facilities in the U.S. to announce it was closing to the public. Fortunately for the aquarium, their new Director of Life Sciences, Grant Abel, is all too familiar with dealing with regional pandemics from his previous posts in Asia. Grant describes the difficult decision process, the evolving plans, and the fiscal and operational challenges to ensurin...
Mar 19, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 101
Director of Conservation for San Antonio zoo, Dr. Dante' Fenolio, says zoos are unique in their ability to take funds designated by families for entertainment and repurpose them for conservation research. This is especially important for overlooked species like the reticulated flatwoods salamander, which his team successfully hatched recently for the first time ever, because zoos are willing to invest time, money, and expertise to preserve unknown, uncharismatic, and endangered species like thes...
Mar 12, 2020•36 min•Season 2Ep. 100
As a species, the odds of survival are stacked against cheetahs. From habitat loss and fragmentation, high infant mortality rates, poaching for the pet trade, and conflicts with humans Cheetahs face a myriad of threats. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has been supporting cheetah conservation, reproductive research, and public education through its ambassador program for over 20 years. Recently they announced the first ever successful births of cubs conceived through in vitro fertilization and embr...
Mar 05, 2020•28 min•Season 2Ep. 99
Animal trainer Ken Ramirez has worked with dozens of species living in zoos and the wild. In part 2 of our conversation, Ken describes his years long effort to use behavioral science to teach a large herd of wild African elephants to avoid a centuries-old migratory route through a conflict zone. It's a hopeful example of the growing role for modern training methods in wildlife conservation and preservation. Plus, Ken has a new book unlike any he's written before entitled, The Eye of the Trainer:...
Feb 27, 2020•30 min•Season 2Ep. 98
For over 40 years, author, consultant, zoological manager, behaviorist, and teacher, Ken Ramirez has explored and observed the natural world with a keen eye for animal training. There are few wild and domestic species living in human care that haven't benefited from his work as a positive reinforcement-based animal trainer. His new book available at ClickerTraining is a series of essays entitled The Eye of the Trainer: Animal Training, Transformation, and Trust. His latest field work connects co...
Feb 20, 2020•28 min•Season 2Ep. 97
The Odysea Aquarium's annual and free Conservation Expo features many rescue, research, conservation and education focused organizations at work in the desert southwest and around the US. We talk with the director of the Scottsdale Community College's Center for Native and Urban Wildlife about its community outreach mission. Also, the Arizona Game and Fish Department operates several fish hatcheries to preserve endangered native species of fresh water fish and to support the sport fishing commun...
Feb 13, 2020•19 min•Season 2Ep. 96
February 24th marks the 10-year anniversary of the tragic passing of marine mammal trainer, Dawn Brancheau. Her loss was felt not only by family and friends, but throughout the zoological community and the general public. We celebrate the life of Dawn, the passion she had for animals and training, and the work of the foundation created in her honor with people that knew her well: a close friend, a mentor and manager, a colleague, and a sibling. Plus, we try to assess where the zoological communi...
Feb 06, 2020•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 95
We visited the Odysea Aquarium's third annual Conservation Expo featuring animal, research, higher education, and conservation related organizations working throughout the state of Arizona to preserve terrestrial and aquatic species and habitat at home and around the world. The free public event is part of the aquarium's education mission designed to increase awareness and support of nonprofit groups working in the community. Part 1 guests include Reid Park Zoo , Phoenix Zoo , and Arizona State ...
Jan 30, 2020•24 min•Season 2Ep. 94
Whether you are thrilled or terrified by them, people of all ages seem drawn to ectotherms like rattlesnakes. The Rattlesnake Conservancy works to change the public narrative about the value of these animals by educating communities, professionals, and first responders on how to safely handle and live alongside them. The conservancy also conducts and supports conservation research into various environmental and human caused threats to rattlesnake species survival. That Sounds Wild: Western Diamo...
Jan 23, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 93
The historic wildfires underway across Australia threaten the existence of some of the most iconic species on earth. The fires have already consumed thousands of homes over a total area nearly equal to the size of the state of Indiana. Scientist estimate over 1 billion animals may have perished to date, including tens of thousands of individual animals from already threatened and endangered species such as the koala. Giving a firsthand account of the areas, species and critical habitats affected...
Jan 16, 2020•45 min•Season 2Ep. 92
Conservation education has been a passion for Susan and David Kleven since they met on the campus of America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College. Upon graduation and with the help of family they launched Animal Edutainment based in Texas to help teach wildlife and conservation education to school children and the general public. After working side by side for several years, Sue accepted the role as director of the Frank Buck zoo and David launched Animal Care Software, while still overseeing a gr...
Jan 09, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 91
Historically, the availability of large zoo animal enrichment items that are safe and won't splinter, break teeth, or harm acrylic view panels has been limited to the creativity of zookeepers as they repurpose materials like tires, telephone poles, firehoses, and hard plastic barrels or gas tanks. Over the next few years, a new company spearheaded by a team led by the same creative mind that founded the KONG company, maker of companion animal toys and products using natural rubber, hopes to ensu...
Jan 02, 2020•36 min•Season 2Ep. 90
Medieval Times is an international family dinner theatre experience featuring trained Andalusian horses and falcons. To lean more about how the animals and performers are trained and learn to work together, we talked with two animal professionals from the newest Medieval Times castle located in Arizona. According to the company's website, the guest experience is based upon authentic Medieval history and is the true story of a noble family with documentation dating back to the 11th Century. Medie...
Dec 26, 2019•30 min•Season 2Ep. 89
For more than 30 years, Steve Martin has created complex and conservation minded free-flight bird shows for zoological facilities across the globe. He trains animals and zoo professionals with positive reinforcement and believes in preparing them for the chaos of the real world by not "training in a vacuum." Steve believes in making one's own luck by taking chances, being willing to try something new, and embracing the value of making mistakes and learning from them. He recently was asked by the...
Dec 19, 2019•44 min•Season 2Ep. 88
Zoo to You founder David Jackson describes being on the road with wild and endangered species and the process of reward-based desensitization training necessary to ensure great animal welfare for all their animal ambassadors. According to the Zoo to You website, their mission is "Giving a worldwide voice to wildlife by providing a permanent, loving home for displaced, abused, abandoned or permanently injured wild and exotic animals. Sharing these animal ambassadors through our Zoo to You outreac...
Dec 12, 2019•35 min•Season 2Ep. 87
SeaWorld's Dr. Hendrik Nollens discusses the company's recent funding announcements regarding efforts to save species like the endangered North Atlantic right whale from entanglements with fishing gear. With only about 400 of these animals left, SeaWorld is teaming up with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to help engineers deploy and test the efficacy of new underwater buoy designs that will enable fishermen to locate and retrieve their traps while reducing the likelihood of whale entang...
Dec 05, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 86
Specializing in organic and sustainable gardening and farming in the extreme climate conditions of the desert southwest over the past 30 years, Dave Owens, "The Garden Guy," is an author, television host, and entrepreneur. Originally from Kentucky, Dave recalls his earliest days as a young boy tending to his father's garden as his dad went off to serve three tours in Vietnam. He shares his journey from using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides to the organic methods his grandfather ...
Nov 28, 2019•23 min•Season 2Ep. 85
Last spring, a single male beluga whale showed up along the shores of Norway following boats and seeking attention and contact with humans. The international press dubbed him "spy whale," as he was clearly trained and likely had strayed from a secret naval program from nearby Russia. Serving as an information resource for authorities, experienced zoo professionals immediately volunteered their time and mobilized to assess and monitor the white whale nicknamed Hvaldimir. One of those volunteers i...
Nov 21, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 84
According to CITES.org , the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulates international trade in over 36,000 species of plants and animals, including their products and derivatives, to ensure their survival in the wild with benefits for the livelihoods of local people and the global environment. The CITES permit system seeks to ensure that international trade in listed species is sustainable, legal and traceable. With 183 Parties, CITES remains one of...
Nov 14, 2019•54 min•Season 2Ep. 83
In 2005, acclaimed nature journalist and author Richard Louv coined the expression, "Nature Deficit Disorder," in his best-selling book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder . The book sparked an international movement and greater awareness about the growing lack of human connection to the natural world. He discusses NDD and his new book, Our Wild Calling: How connecting with animals can transform our lives-- and save theirs released this week by Algonquin. A...
Nov 07, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 82
For more than 45 years, the Mystic Aquarium's Sea Research Foundation has worked to protect marine mammals. For example, full-time scientists conduct global research with beluga whales within a larger set of marine science research and educational programs. The need for ongoing basic research is urgent. A recent scientific report by the United Nations warns that more than one-third of all marine mammal species are now threatened with extinction. Belugas in some parts of the world, including Alas...
Oct 31, 2019•50 min•Season 2Ep. 81
Zoos and aquariums are not just concerned with preserving species and habitat in far away locations. Many are conserving threatened and endangered native species including amphibians, reptiles, insects, plants, small mammals, and birds in their own back yard through cooperative breeding and reintroduction programs. Dr. Samantha Russak shares the story of how Southwick's Zoo is working with officials to help return once endangered trumpeter swans to their original home range. Plus, That Sounds Wi...
Oct 24, 2019•26 min•Season 2Ep. 80
Where is the overlap between tourism and conservation? And what do well-intentioned travelers need to known and do to leave as light a footprint as possible wherever they may go to experience nature? Safari tour operator Chris Liebenberg founder of Piper and Heath Travel shares his unique perspective on conservation and tourism in Africa having been raised in Namibia. That Sounds Wild : Silvery Cheeked hornbill. www.ColumbusZoo.org PiperandHeath.com iReinforce.com animalcaresoftware.com peppermi...
Oct 17, 2019•20 min•Season 2Ep. 79
Recently, the Mission Wildlife organization ( www.mission-wildlife.com ) held a fundraiser for groups working to conserve species and habitat in Africa. One such organization is the Ewaso Lions Project ( www.Ewasolions.org ) based in Kenya's northern regions. According to their website, "Ewaso Lions takes its name from the mighty Ewaso Nyiro River (also called the Ewaso Ng’iro) which starts on the slopes of Mt Kenya and snakes its way through Laikipia and Samburu. The Ewaso (pronounced 'eh-wah-s...
Oct 10, 2019•22 min•Season 2Ep. 78
