Explore every episode of the podcast Aussie Wildlife Show

We loved visiting the Discover Deadly reptile education centre in WA’s Margaret River region to talk conservation, venomous snakes, and education with the amazing Becca and Kim. These two are doing huge things for wildlife awareness — tune in for an inspiring and reptile-filled episode!

This episode is sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative 

Rob Hemsworth is a zoologist and field ecologist and was the president of Project Numbat. We chat with Rob about these amazing creatures and learn about the awesome work that Project Numbat does for Numbat conservation. You can help support Project Numbat by checking out their awesome merchandise. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative 

We caught up with renowned wildlife biologist Dr David Peacock to discuss the fascinating and complex world of wildlife conservation and species reintroductions in Australia. David shares valuable insights into prey-predator dynamics and the challenges of managing feral threats. We also hear about David and his team's on-going efforts to return the Spotted-tailed Quoll to Kangaroo Island - an inspiring step toward restoring balance to the ecosystem. 

This episode is sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative

We caught up with Justin Biddle, the Rescue Center Manager at the Wildlife Welfare Organisation of South Australia. The WWO is one of the oldest wildlife care groups in South Australia and they do an amazing job protecting our wildlife, particularly along the Fleurieu Peninsula. We were also really impressed with their Wildlife Rescue Centre in Goolwa and appreciated the private tour.  

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Ryan Gradney visits us from the Jupiter Alligator & Wildlife Sanctuary, AKA 'JAWS in Florida', a not for profit organisation that strives to conserve wildlife through education, awareness and providing sanctuary for Crocodilians in need. Check out their YouTube channel, Primitive Predators to see their most amazing Crocodilian breeding facilities. 

This episode was sponsored by Reptile Creative and Animals Anonymous. 

We caught up with Professor Kingsley Dixon from the University of Western Australia to learn about his life's work as a botanist and restoration ecologist. We visit Underwood Avenue Bushland near Perth, a 32 hectare remnant reserve and part of a Global Biodiversity Hotspot. We then finish in the lab where critically endangered orchids are propagated for restoration work. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Zara Altmann and Joshua Hurley own and operate the Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters wildlife park located on the doorstep of the famous Great Ocean Road in Victoria. It was a joy meeting these guys and hearing their passion for helping to foster a respect and love for our Aussie wildlife. It's clear that their animals are their family and they do an awesome job raising awareness about protecting Australian ecosystems.  

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

We recently caught up with Dr John Wamsley, Australian conservation pioneer and species-saving legend. This episode addresses the recent devastating algal blooms impacting coastal South Australia. 

John has a deep passion for the environment as well as a PhD in mathematics which always provides a unique perspective. 

John has a recent publication, A Vanishing Kind, which is a fantastic read!

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

We recently met with jaguar researcher Guilherme Costa Alvarenga while we were doing some nocturnal wildlife spotting in the rainforests of Far North Queensland. This is only a short podcast but we really enjoyed learning about Guilherme's work, studying and protecting the jaguars of the Americas. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

We catch up with Dr Karen Coombes, the director and founder of the Tree Roo Rescue and Conservation Centre Ltd in Far North Queensland. Karen has a PhD in Biology and Ecology of Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroos. Karen and her husband Neil care for and rescue these remarkable animals, so please check out their website, the shop has some really cool and unique gifts!

https://www.treeroorescue.org.au/shop

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

We're joined by the guys from Section 40 Environmental to, well, basically solve all the world's problems. Please enjoy! 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

We caught up with David White from Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruises to explore and learn about the wildlife of the Daintree River. David has a passion for the River's wildlife and in particular the population of Saltwater Crocodiles he has been observing and filming for around 30 years.

Solar River Wildlife Cruises operate the only solar-powered electric boat on the river, equipped with an on-board 'Croc Cam' for a magnified view of the wildlife on the on-boards screen. 

This episode was released on World Crocodile Day, June 17th, a day to highlight the importance of protecting these ancient reptiles, addressing threats like habitat destruction, illegal hunting and human-wildlife conflict. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Join us on the latest episode as we chat with the always awesome Tracy and Fiona from Skylos Ecology! Discover how their amazing conservation scent detection dogs are revolutionising environmental monitoring and data collection.

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

We're back! This is our 100th episode, after a lengthy hiatus. Catch up with Steve and Adrian, for a prelude to the next 100 episodes of the Aussie Wildlife Show!

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Dr Natalie Warburton is Associate Professor of Anatomy at Murdoch University and Dr Aaron Camens Lectures in Palaeontology at Flinders University. We discuss marsupial evolution from marsupial moles to extinct tree dwelling kangaroos from the Nullarbor Plains. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Marsupial Mole. Image credit: Auscape International Pty Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo

We caught up with good friend Michael Smith to chat about some of the awesome Western Australian wildlife he has worked with during his career in conservation and education. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Mark Smith holds a senior position at Adelaide Zoo and is a world-renowned shark and ray expert and the co-author of Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual: Captive Care of Sharks, Rays, and their Relatives.

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

She has a background in conservation ecology, having completed a PhD on Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies in NSW, and spent six years working on declining mammals in northern Australia.

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Terry Reardon is a bat expert and researcher and works as a technical officer at the South Australian Museum. Terry has worked tirelessly with SA communities to raise awareness about bat ecology and conservation.​

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Joan Gibbs is a Grasslands and Fire Ecologist teaching out of the University of South Australia. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Photo by Trevar Skillicorn-Chilver on Unsplash

Helen and Ali work as wildlife ecologists for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. AWC is the largest private owner and manager of land for conservation in Australia, protecting endangered wildlife across more than 12.5 million hectares in iconic regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre and the Top End. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Matt Summerville and Kristy Jensen are the creators of the YouTube channel, The Natural Herp Keeper.

They created the Natural Herp Keeper to share their passion for reptile keeping, herping, DIY naturalistic enclosures and to  inspire others to change the way they keep reptiles by increasing the standard of husbandry and striving to create the best possible life for captive animals. 

Both Matt and Kristy are experienced zoo keepers with a passion for the natural world. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Collett's snake (Pseudechis colletti). Matt Summerville.

We catch up with conservation geneticist Dr Tahlia Perry to learn about all things echidnas. You can be involved in echidna conservation by downloading Tahlia's app 'Echidna CSI' to add echidna sightings, photos and observed behaviours. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Image by PCTRS by Pixabay

We caught up with Professor Chris Daniels the CEO of Koala Life to chat about Koala conservation. Chris has been a prolific scientist and author, having written or edited nine books and one DVD and contributed to more than 170 scientific publications. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

Jeremy Austin is an evolutionary biologist working in the fields of ancient DNA, molecular ecology, conservation genetics and forensic biology. 

Jeremy’s research uses ancient and modern DNA techniques to “travel through time” to understand the evolutionary history of living and extinct vertebrates; assess the impacts of past environmental change on animal populations; and provide valuable genetic data for conservation and management of threatened species.

Jeremy is the deputy director for the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide. 

This episode was sponsored by Animals Anonymous and Reptile Creative. 

In this episode we chat with conservationist Ross Oke about ways we can encourage native wildlife to live sustainably within the urban environment.

Ross Oke is the General Manager at the Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association.

Peter Mirtschin has published over 70 scientific papers on venom research, snake ecology, conservation and snake behaviour, as well as several books on Australian dangerous snakes. He is also the founder of Venom Supplies, which supplies both Australian and exotic snake venoms for research, antivenom and therapeutic applications.

Emma McKenzie has worked with many species of threatened marsupials such as Tiger Quolls, Eastern Quolls, Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies and Squirrel Gliders and has also been involved in ecotourism, education and habitat restoration. Emma is the wildlife manager at Wildlife Wonders in the beautiful Otway Ranges, just 5 minutes out of Apollo Bay.

Wildlife Wonders offer guided walks through lush tree fern gullies, Eucalypt woodlands and spectacular ocean vistas.

All the profits from Wildlife Wonders go directly to the Conservation Ecology Centre, working to conserve the unique Australian plants and animals across the Otways.

We were joined again by Dr John Read the Pragmatic Ecologist who tells us about one of the biggest threats to Australian biodiversity. Is it cats, rabbits, cane toads or something else? Have a listen to find out. We also asked john about the pushback ecologists receive regarding the culling of native animals.

Make sure you also check out our previous interview with John when he launched his book 'Among the Pigeons: Why Cats Belong Indoors'.

Photo Cathy Zwick

Kristen Messenger, owner of Bugs n Slugs, tells us why mangroves matter and gives a passionate plea for mangrove conservation.

Click here to sign the petition to save the St Kilda mangroves :)

 Image by Bishnu Sarangi from Pixabay 

John Gitsham is the Senior Park Ranger in charge of the Coorong National Park, the former president of Birds SA, and is a skilled and passionate wildlife photographer. We chat with John about one of his favourite groups of birds, the ducks.

The below image is of Australian Shovellers. Photo credit: John Gitsham.

We recently had a visit from Dr Cheryl Wilson to learn about the science behind the benefits of connecting with the natural world. Cheryl specialises in Lifestyle Medicine and has a life-long passion for wildlife and nature.

Follow Dr Wilson's Facebook page, Living Well with Dr. Wilson for more heath tips.

David Mclelland is a wildlife veterinarian at the Adelaide Zoo. We chat about some of David's experiences working with wildlife, from devils to dragons and everything in between.

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

ANiMOZ Creator, Joel Howland, is a student studying Animal Science at Flinders University in Adelaide.

He designed ANiMOZ - a trading card game - as a way to engage kids and people of all ages in Australia’s incredibly unique, but endangered native fauna.

Every card features a different native Australian animal, from the powerful Wedge-tailed Eagle to the critically endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum.

Click here to buy the ANiMOZ starter pack.

After 54 years of dedicated service to the veterinary care, wellbeing, conservation and research of wildlife, Dr David Schultz, former Zoos SA veterinarian, has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “significant service to veterinary medicine, to zoological societies, and to philanthropy.

We chat about rock-wallaby cross-fostering, wildlife reintroduction projects and we get David's advice on how to get involved in the conservation industry. 

Samantha Bywaters a lecturer in Conservation and Land Management, is an advocate for volunteering and is doing a PhD on conserving orchids in a changing climate. 

Researchers Dr Mike Swinbourne and Dr Alyce Swinbourne chat with us about wombat ecology, natural history and conservation. You can check out Mike's Facebook page, 'Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats - the Science', for more awesome wombat information, pics and videos.  

Michael Mills is the creative director at Heaps Good Productions. He connects all ages to the natural world through song, theatre and storytelling with characters such as Professor Flint and with his Facebook page Dinosaur University.  

John has a PhD in Ecosystem Management and has published over 100 peer reviewed journal articles in the fields of arid zone ecology, reptile and avian ecology, mining and grazing impact assessment, vertebrate pest management and threatened species recovery.

Click here to find our more about John's most recent book 'Among The Pigeons'.

Carl Charter is the co-founder of Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries, under water photographer and scuba diving instructor.

Check out some of Carl's footage of the giant cuttlefish here

Click here to ask about private tours with Carl for very small groups to see leafy-sea dragons and other unique sea creatures.

We recently had a ribbetting conversation, warts and all, with frog researcher Steven Walker :)

Spotted Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis). Photo by Steven J Walker.

Clive and Claire are field ecologists that have have been focusing on plant diversity as a guide to overall ecosystem health. 

Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major). Photo by Clive Chesson. 

In this episode Kristen Messenger from Bugs n Slugs reveals some of the bizarre ways that invertebrates reproduce, from beetles with chastity belts to snail love darts. This episode is recommended for mature audiences :) 

Photo by Egor Kamelev from Pexels

This is our first episode for 2020 and was recorded as fires ravished the country. Over 18 million acres have been burnt including thousands of homes and buildings and we saw the loss of over one billion animals. We talk about a range of subjects with Wayne ranging from climate science to wildlife conservation during this confronting and emotional time. 

Dianne Pearson is a zookeeper and animal rescuer specialising in native mammals. We caught up with Dianne after she returned from working with Tree Kangaroos at the Tree Roo Rescue and Conservation Centre in Far North Queensland. 

Dr Erinn Fagan-Jeffries is a researcher studying parasitoid wasps with a passion for communicating about biodiversity, insects and species discovery.

Rex Neindorf is the owner/director of the Alice Springs Reptile Centre which he opened in 2000. Rex chats with us about some of the awesome reptiles he gets to work with as well as sharing much of what he has learnt in growing his facility to become the successful business it is today.  

Dr Tim Jessop is an ecologist with Deakin University and is a scientific adviser for the Komodo Survival Program.

Click here to check out and to support the awesome work the Komodo Survival Program do :)

Scott Pullyblank is a knowledgeable and passionate science communicator, specialising in conservation and biology and is currently the Curator of Life Sciences at the Alice Springs Desert Park. 

Thorny Devil, photo courtesy of C.Margetts Photography

Richard Gibson is the Head of Life Sciences at Auckland Zoo and has managed zoo reptile departments all over the world. We caught up with Richard at the Large Varanid Workshop (October 2019) in Alice Springs where he gave two presentations, one on Komodo Dragon husbandry and the other on parthenogenesis, which he co-discovered in Komodo Dragons.