Conservationists Assemble – Details, episodes & analysis

Tune in to volume 33 of the Conservationists Assemble and part two of the conversation with Matt Ward about the Visayan Warty Pig and the conservation efforts of the Talarak foundation.

In part one Matt and I discussed all the epic things that define a Visayan Warty Pig and highlighted the threats to this massively intelligent species. Part two focuses on the conservation efforts of the Talarak foundation and Matt shares his origin story as well as what he hopes for in the future.

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Have your say:

Don't forget you can get involved and have you voice heard on the podcast by sharing your favourite animal photos or videos that you have captured or sharing you favourite memories of experiencing animals at a zoo or in the wild.

I would love to hear what species, organisations or specific guests you would love to see the podcast team up with on future volumes.

Get in touch on facebook, instagram or email conservationistsassemble@outlook.com

-Captain Conservation

Episode 32 is here!

In this episode I am joined by Matt Ward and we dive into the world of the visayan warty pig and by the end of the episode we will have discussed: 1. What we know about these critically endangered animals. 2. How they are changing the way of how we perceive intelligence in mammals. 3. The threats they are facing in the wild.

Tune in to part 1 of the visayan warty pig episode of the conservationists assemble podcast before part 2 next where we discuss the work of the Talarak foundation and the origin story of Matt.

Check out the work of Talarak foundation here: Home (talarak.org)

More from the Conservationists Assemble community:

Do you want to have your say on what species, guests, or organisations should be featured on the podcast.

OR

You just want to share your favourite pictures, videos or stories from your time around animals in zoos or in the wild. Email me, Captain Conservation, on conservationistsassemble@outlook.com

This weeks episode of the Conservationists Assemble welcomes Frantisek Pribrsky, vice-chair of the pygmy slow loris EEP and director of conservation at the Kukang rescue program. Tune in as Frantisek tells all about the pygmy slow loris and it's larger relatives with a particular focus on their demand in the illegal wildlife trade and the impact of navigating social media irresponsibly.  We also discuss the influence of celebrities in  the world of conservation. 

Tune in to this weeks episode of the Conservationists Assemble podcast as the spotlight is put on a recent example of the crucial roles of zoos in conserving species on the brink of extinction. This weeks guest is Dr. Tania Gilbert, manager of the international studbook (ISB) for the Scimitar Horned Oryx. Join us as Tania and I discuss the history of these awesome antelopes, once considered extinct in the wild and now existing in the wild directly as a result of a population managed in zoos. 

This episode provides a positive story on what was once looking like a bleak future for the Scimitar Horned Oryx.

Tune in to this episode of the Conservationists Assemble as we take you on a whistle-stop tour of the world the asian wild dog, the Dhole with special guest Chelsea Davis of the Dhole Conservation Fund.

Throughout the episode we unpack the varied lives of these social canids and their array of hunting abilities that gives them the capabilities of hunting a range pray much larger than themselves throughout their habitat. Chelsea describes to us the relationships and opinions of humans towards these incredible animals, and informs us of the threats and conservation actions needed to ensure their survival. The most important action being to raise their profile and to put their name in the conversation.

Chelsea then takes us on a journey through the history of the Dhole Conservation Fund, including their foundation, the individual Dhole that inspired the funds logo and the role of the organisation in inspiring people of all ages as to why we should be talking about the Dhole.

The episode sees a date for everyone to put in their calendars. May 28th is world Dhole day and provides a community for new and established Dhole fans to converse and contribute to their conversation. 

Chelsea closes out the episode with an emphatic message to our listeners who might be looking to make a change or contribute to conservation in the form of never underestimating your own voice. If you have an interest in animals or whatever your interests may be and no matter what life-stage you are in, be that in school, work or your own time. Come forward, make yourself known and if you truly believe you can have something of value to provide. You owe it to yourself to do so.

Tune in to this episode of the Conservationists Assemble as we charge into the world of a rhino species that is small in size and small in population size but larger than life, with our expert guest and rhino fanatic, Stacy Strother.

Throughout the episode we acknowledge how the incredible breeding work of the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio was pivotal to the work taking place at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary and how zoos today can still contribute to Sumatran rhino conservation despite no zoos globally housing this species. 

Stacy then takes us on a journey through the history of the International Rhino Foundation, including their creation as the International Black Rhino Foundation in 1991 in an effort to combat the large scale decimation of Zimbabwe's Black Rhino population through poaching. Just two years later, upon the realisation that the world's five rhino species were in crisis, the International Black Rhino Foundation became the International Rhino Foundation. Stacy closes out the episode with an emphatic message to our listeners, specifically to the amazing zookeeping community that both herself and the podcast recognise exist out there that they are in an incredible unique environment where they can make a difference, not just to rhinos but all the incredible species that zookeepers across the world have the opportunity to work with and educate about and even more so if they have endangered relatives who don't exist in zoos. All it takes is finding the right audience.  

Tune in to this episode of the Conservationists Assemble as we leap into the world of the Diana Monkey and discuss the progressive efforts of the West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) with expert guest, Andrea Dempsey. The episode kicks off with an insight into what is a Diana Monkey, named because of particular marking on their behind. We learn that you might hear them before you see them as they're a vocal species and about their social dynamics.

A discussion into how adaptable these endangered animals have needed to become to overcome pressures brought around by human presence and their role within their ecosystem.

Looking forward, Andrea advocates for the one plan approach to conservation whereby multiple contributors from different backgrounds have a role within conservation, be that in situ NGOs, good ex situ zoos and wildlife parks and governments. This leads to a thought-provoking conversation on the consideration of utilising the skills and expertise of the people that share their home with the Diana Monkey to take the helm of in situ conservation to ensure longevity.

An important message about impactful consumerism. Using sustainable palm oil as an example, we talk about how if we as consumers look or cheaper or less ethical products, then a knock on effect of that is the producers of that product receiving low income and look for alternatives of income and livelihood in the form of actions that have a negative impact on wildlife numbers. 

After acknowledging that the actions WAPCA are taking for conservation could provide a model for other conservation NGOs we take a look into Andrea's background. From starting out in the film and media industry, including a stint in managing comedians. A conversation with one particular comedian led to Andrea volunteering at ZSL London Zoo. Andrea acknowledges certain transferable skills from transitioning from working with comedians to primates and that gaining a paid job largely attributed to her discovery of WAPCA and provided that next stepping stone in her career. Andrea closes out the episode with an emphatic message to our listeners about the impact they can have on conversation by simply visiting their local good zoo.  

Come with us in a captivating episode of the Conservationists Assemble podcast, where we have returned to Madagascar and look into the world of nocturnal lemurs, specifically that of the Northern Giant Mouse Lemur. Present on the episode to share his knowledge and insight into this lesser-known lemur species is Dr. Daniel Hending.

Dan discusses the nuances and niche of this adaptable lemur species and informs us on their threats as well as his experiences in trying to find these awesome creatures in the dead of night.

The episode advances into discussing aspects of Dan's career including his first journey to the 'eight continent', how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the research of biologists in the field and his desire to observe all 100+ species of lemur in the wild, with a commendable tally of 50 already.

Tune in to this episode of the Conservationists Assemble podcast now!

Journey with us in a captivating episode of the Conservationists Assemble podcast, where we explore the role of good zoos within modern conservation as the podcast is joined by Douglas Richardson to share his insight and experience of a near half century working in and with zoos around the world.

The episode covers many aspects of the role of ex situ conservation and those involved in it. From the beginnings of how zoos as we know them came to exist through to what zoos of the future may look like. Doug shares his knowledge and thoughts on aspects and key figures within conservation shaped how ex situ organisations operate today. 

In acknowledging the fact that conservation work will never be done, listen as Doug and I chat about notions of transparency with visitors to zoos and the wider public to further educate on how zoos operate and how talking to visitors to zoos about lesser discussed elements of conservation methods could change perceptions and garner support.

This episode is must-listen for anyone who seeks to understand the realm of ex-situ conservation in greater detail and certainly opens up future conversations with Doug on the podcast.

Join us in a captivating episode of the Conservationists Assembled podcast, where we take flight into world of another Europe's reintroduction success stories, the Northern Bald Ibis.

With our guest experts, Juliane Pokorny and Christiane Bohm we journey back in time to discuss the events that caused them to become functionally extinct in the wild. Through hard work, Christiane details the success of the ex situ breeding programme, now managed by Juliane at the Alpenzoo in Innsbruck and the continued reintroduction of Ibis born in zoos back into the wild.

This episode concludes with an emphatic hope for the model of such conservation success to be able to provide similar foundations for reintroductions of other threatened species.