All Things Wild

Black bears have a very strong public image as lone roaming, dangerous and mindless eating machines -  here's something that will completely change the way you look at them!Benjamin Kilham, author of In the Company of Bears: What Black Bears Have Taught Me about Intelligence and Intuition, has been studying and living with them for many years and has a connection and insight into their society that almost no one else has. Mother bears punishing cubs, sharing with family members, language, standing up to bears in the wild and so much more! Important Times:00:10 Intro02:50 Welcome Benjamin! What caused you to start studying bears?04:20 Your first bear encounter06:40 Rehabilitating black bears and keeping bear cubs10:15 Bear scent: how do they use their sense of smell?15:50 Sharing resources and being social: bears share with family members22:10 Your friend Squirty the bear25:40 Do the bears you raise see you as a parent? How she punishes bad behavior29:50 They can read people, highly cognitive animals34:55 Males vs female bears38:45 Bear hazing -  helping bears caught around people40:20 Communicating with the bears in the way they understand42:05 Alpha males45:10 What do you do if you run into a bear in the wild? Deescalate the situation50:10 Attacks on humans52:45 Backyard chickens are drawing the bears closer to humans54:50 Hunting black bears and population59:40 One thing you wish people understood about bears01:02:35 Male bears and cubs01:05:25 There's so much more to learn, thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Part 2 of our conversation with Robin Hanson about his Grabby Aliens theory! We dive into the details and explore the things that might have happened and possible explanations for UFO sightings and ultimately mankind's fate. We weigh up the different options to try understand what these things could be, if they are real after all!  A really interesting dive into the theoretical universe. What do you think? Do aliens have a rule against expanding? Would you break that rule? Do you lean towards the hoax or the aliens theory? Let us know!Important times:00:10 Welcome to All Things Wild!01:00 Lying can be a solution02:20 1 in 1000 chance for Grabby Aliens to be true: here's how.03:50 How likely is intelligent life?05:00 The big puzzle: they didn't expand, why?07:15 Weird things can end up being true11:30 Why do they stay officially hidden?13:10 Social animal hierarchy18:20 This is my best story to explain the alien theory20:00 Nuclear facilities and visitations21:50 The aliens needed a simple and robust strategy23:05 Are they reporting back to anyone?24:15 Are they biological or artificial life?25:25 What if they were biological?26:20 They seem cruel to not allow expansion28:25 What happens when they meet other aliens?30:25 Grabby humans31:40 Would you follow their rule?33:25 Ecosystem of the universe36:10 Leave this to the experts in each field38:10 Would we be in danger of breaking the rule yet?40:30 Problems with the hoax theories43:20 Grabby Aliens seems possible but makes a lot of assumptions, hoax takes less45:40 Thank you Robin! Hope to see you in the Pentagon one day!46:45 Outro

Today is something completely different... but actually really similar if you think about it. We are always talking with experts about how animals experience our world, today we are talking about how an animal from another planet would experience it's world! Robin Hanson tells us about his Grabby Aliens Hypothesis and we explore the possibility of life on other planets!This is a 2 part episode -  next week is part 2!Important Times:01:40 Welcome Robin! What made you interested in your field of research?03:00 What is your Grabby Aliens Hypothesis?07:10 Is the universe dead and empty?09:20 We should see evidence of civilizations in the stars10:30 The model is a 3 parameter model, linked to data14:10 Finding spheres in the universe16:30 What would prove your hypothesis wrong? Time, Panspermia19:30 The early solar system21:20 How sure are we of our solar system's history?24:20 What research is being done now about Panspermia?25:40 Grabby vs Non-Grabby Aliens28:40 They're either there or not 30:40 Congressional hearings on UFO's32:00 Old crazy theories can become fact, like meteorites and pink lightning34:50 Robin is evaluating how 'crazy' these theories are, which one's can be dismissed and which can't37:05 4 categories of UFO reports. 1: Mistakes/Errors37:50 Category 2: Hoaxes41:55 Many reports are category 142:55 Some reports fit well into category 243:40 Next 2 categories. 3: Built on earth. 4: Built outside of earth45:25 Evidence trumps chance, but I can make a reasonable theory for each category47:50 Category 2 vs 4: Lying and Hoaxes could be working49:00 What about the Nimitz Incident 50:20 Uncertainty can be used to your advantage54:05 OutroPart 2 coming soon!!

Port and Starboard, 2 affectionately named Orca's that have been visiting Cape Town's shores over the past few years seem to be responsible for the disappearance of the once common Great White Sharks! Are these 2 individuals really responsible for chasing them ALL away? Join Martin as he shares his thoughts about a recent study that found that these whales were linked with the disappearance of the Great Whites. Orca's are incredibly intelligent animals, come learn more about them!Important Times:00:10 Hello and welcome!01:20 Shark Shield02:40 Orca's and Great White Sharks04:15 Why are the sharks disappearing?07:00 Orca brains09:50 They are very culturally specific and don't mix with other groups and hunting styles12:45 The findings of the study done in South Africa15:35 What are Great White Sharks most scared of?17:20 An alternative theory

Yannis Papastamatiou definitely studies one of the coolest animals in the world: Reef Sharks! We talk about all things Reef Sharks, the many different types, new info on their body language, communication and what their society is like.Yannis tells us about his research and theories on these interesting animals! When you hear sharks, you don't think of social animals - this should change your mind!Follow him on Instagram @yannispapastamatiouImportant Times:00:10 Intro00:55 Welcome Yannis! What is your background with sharks?02:25 Are sharks ‘social animals'?04:25 What species of shark are we talking about?05:10 Tell us about Reef Sharks - are they one species or many different ones?06:25 Notorious body language07:05 Attacking scuba divers or is it spearfishing?09:20 Do sharks form schools? School vs Shoal10:00 Some sharks seem to become friends11:30 How many sharks did you tag and how did you study them?13:35 Night time activity17:50 What fish do they eat? Do they target weaker fish?20:05 Sharks behaving similar to sharks22:35 Why do they pick friends?24:35 The mystery of shark pups: where are they?!27:25 Thanks for your time!

Today's interview is with Douglas Chadwick, an American wildlife biologist, author, photographer and frequent National Geographic contributor. He has also written several books, most interestingly in this case he wrote a book called The Wolverine Way! You guessed it, it's all about wolverines! Listen as Douglas tells us the unbelievable stories he's experienced with Wolverines, why they are in so much danger and how he is pushing to save the natural world with a slightly different approach to most people. Buy The Wolverine Way & Four Fifths a Grizzly: A New Perspective on Nature That Just Might Save Us All from Patagonia!Important Times:00:10 Intro02:05 Welcome Douglas!02:40 Glacier National Park is still one of the wildest places04:25 The original food chain05:50 Public lands are important06:35 Wolverines in Glacier, how did they get there?07:20 I just finished reading The Wolverine Way! How did you start studying them?13:00 Trapping and tagging19:30 They can take down much larger animals20:45 They are mostly scavengers24:50 Handling the Wolverines27:20 Attacking humans32:20 Mountain climbers, why do they climb mountains?35:40 We didn't expect they were climbing over mountains36:50 They are extremely territorial and one animal can cover huge areas of land38:25 The problem with National Parks -  they don't solve the conservation problem!41:15 They have very unexpected family dynamics49:45 We need to connect conservation lands to eachother45:15 Are Wolverines on the endangered species list?57:35 Meeting captive Wolverines01:01:00 They can be breakout artists01:03:35 Reading a passage of The Wolverine Way01:07:20 Four Fifths a Grizzly: A New Perspective on Nature That Just Might Save Us All01:16:35 Outro

In 2009 Bob Pitman, his team and a BBC film crew were in Antarctica filming Killer Whales wave washing seals off of the ice as it had never been filmed before. What they witnessed next would blow them away! They captured evidence of Humpback whales actively protecting seals from Killer whales! Hear the story of this discovery and some interesting conversation about the new questions that this discovery made us ask. Please check out our YouTube channel The All Things Wild Podcast!Important Times:00:10 Intro01:20 Welcome Bob Pitman!02:05 Altruism in Humpback whales, what lead you to this point?08:15 Mobbing behaviour13:55 Natural instinct to react to predators17:00 Two main types of Killer whales in this area: fish eaters and mammal eaters19:15 Why isn't this mobbing behaviour?21:28 Humpback calves don't go to Antarctica 24:45 Do you think they know they are protecting a different species?26:22 Killer whales hunting in Western Australia28:10 Do you think the seal knew what was going on? Animals escaping predators by climbing onto your boat!31:00 Types of Killer whales in Antarctica: 5 types32:35 Where did this experience rank in your career?35:00 Dolphins helping people38:35 Altruism in humans40:05 Why haven't Killer whales attacked humans?42:55 Killer whale intelligence44:00 Do they speak a language?44:40 Do they compare to human intelligence?45:20 Outro

Hello everyone and welcome to the show! Today's episode is a little different to usual, it's just me talking! Learn about the history of this podcast, what inspired it to begin with, what motivates me to keep it going and what lies in the future for the show. I have also recently found some really interesting information on wolves and how they hunt and perceive the world, including picking up on things that we are only now discovering, like the Grandmother Effect! We hope you enjoy today's episode, we'll be back next time with more interviews with experts from around the world!00:10 Welcome to the show! Let me introduce myself and tell you the history of this podcast!06:20 The future of the All Things Wild Podcast09:20 Interesting new information about wolves referencing the book: Wolves on the Hunt: The Behavior of Wolves Hunting Wild Prey by Daniel R. MacNulty, Douglas W. Smith, and L. David Mech10:45 The Grandmother Effect13:10 Closing thoughtsCheck out our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_MH_H-LW9ZUBR-layMc6w

Welcome back to the show! Today we have Cassie Volker of the Wild Dolphin Project and she studies aggression in dolphins! Did you know that dolphins can form small gangs which then go and beat up rival pods? Neither did we! Lot's of super interesting info on today's show, thank you so much Cassie for making time for this interview!Be sure to visit their website: https://www.wilddolphinproject.org/ and follow them @WildDolphinProject00:11 Hello and welcome back!02:10 Hello Cassie, welcome to the show!03:50 How long have you been doing this for?06:30 So you're interested in dolphin aggression?07:55 How did you figure out what they were doing?09:50 Do they get injured?11:45 Orca attack16:15 Males or females?18:05 Youtube Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nce9LVlApzI)19:35 Coalitions and alliances in dolphin communities21:10 Do they practice their fight moves?22:30 Do these groups stay together?24:05 Separating from their mother's25:45 Lamda the dolphin31:20 They seem to recognize individual people32:20 Bottlenose vs spotted dolphins36:20 How do the fights start?38:00 Worst injuries and have they hurt humans before?43:00 Reading their behaviour45:20 Dolphin vs chimp violence47:45 Communication in dolphins52:45 Dolphin language57:20 Your favorite moment in the water58:40 What do you think of their intelligence?01:01:20 Thank you Cassie!01:01:30 Outro

Jim Williams, author of Path Of The Puma, is on the show this week! Find out all about mountain lions, where they live, how they hunt and a bunch of interesting facts about them! They are very interesting creatures that are spread over a large area, come and learn about the similarities and differences between them and other big cats and how their relationship to humans is changing. You can find out more about his book here: www.pathofthepuma.comCheck out All Things Wild YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5_MH_H-LW9ZUBR-layMc6w01:10 Hello and welcome to the show!02:55 Welcome Jim Williams03:30 You wrote a book, The Path Of The Puma04:40 It is an audio book too, how long did it take to make?06:15 You started out in marine biology?10:00 Decline in kelp forests and Great White sharks12:25 From working with dolphins to studying mountain lions?!18:25 What was it like working with dolphins? Do you think that zoos and aquariums are still necessary?25:40 Tell us about the Mountain Lion habitat30:00 Most of the time we don't know they are around32:40 Great tracking story34:30 How do they compare to leopards?36:40 Jaguars37:55 Regional differences between the same species40:45 Mountain lion conservation should be an easier thing to get right42:30 People and mountain lions46:05 The hunters are leading the conservation for these cats50:55 Predator vs prey ratio55:25 Predators keep the food chain stable59:40 Glacier National Park01:02:30 Thank you for being on the show! Your last thoughts

Today's interview is with Dr Eduardo Mercado, a professor of psychology at the University of Buffalo in New York. He is interested in how humans and animal brains change when they learn new things, and more specifically to study animal cognition and in particular dolphin cognition. He has come across some startling new evidence that could rewrite a lot of what we know about Humpback whales and large cetaceans alike. Listen in on our interview as we find out Dr Mercado's answer to “why do Humpback whales sing?”.Find his research here!Check out All Things Wild YouTube here:https://youtube.com/channel/UC5_MH_H-LW9ZUBR-layMc6wImportant Times:00:10 Intro01:15 Welcome Dr Mercado! Please tell us about yourself and what you study02:00 How did you end up studying dolphins and whales?04:35 So why do Humpback whales sing?06:05 Are these like bird songs?07:55 Other whales sing predictable and similar songs09:20 Regional differences11:55 What are the problems with the current accepted theories?16:50 Humpback mating has never been observed before18:15 Mating season22:45 So what do you think they are doing?27:00 Mapping the ocean's whales30:55 What are the sounds they use? Tell us about the songs themselves32:30 What do you want to happen next with this research?34:50 Great experiment idea36:30 Convincing people and standing up to pushback from the scientific community39:30 Whale ears42:00 Echolocation controversy45:55 What are your next steps?47:40 How can people follow your research?49:25 Outro

Today's episode is with Erik Frank from the University of Wuerzburg in the department of animal ecology and tropical biology! He has made some groundbreaking discoveries about ants, they have paramedics! The ants he studies, the Matabele ant, is constantly at war with termites, attacking multiple colonies per day to take them as food. These battles often leave ants injured. Erik has discovered that these injured ants are taken from the battlefield and nursed back to health by these paramedic ants!Get ready to have your mind blown and be faced with questions about consciousness, human society and life itself! Thank you Erik for being on the show!You can find him on Twitter @ETF1989Check out All Things Wild YouTube here: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5_MH_H-LW9ZUBR-layMc6wImportant Times:00:10 Intro01:30 Welcome Erik! How and why did you start studying ants?03:45 The Matabele ants04:55 The role and jobs of ants06:20 How are termites divided up? Workers and soldiers06:50 How do the ants kill the termites?08:05 Tell us about your big discovery: ant paramedics!12:45 Which ants do they help?14:00 The individual vs society17:45 Ants could be ahead of us in evolution19:25 How are they treating the injured ants?21:00 Ant anatomy: tongues22:00 How they treat wounds24:10 How long does the treatment and rehabilitation take?25:05 Could you describe the battle between the ants and the termites28:05 Termite foraging29:15 How far away do the ants and termites live from each other?30:30 What predators do these ants have?32:30 What decisions does an ant as an individual make? 33:25 Consciousness vs instinct34:30 What do you think? What's your opinion on any consciousness?35:05 Brain size335:40 Do you think they are aware that they are alive?37:35 What is next for you? How can people find and follow your work?38:40 Outro

Today's episode is with Lauren McGough, a social anthropologist passionate about flyingand hunting with eagles! She is one of the few people in the United States that actively fliesand hunts with eagles. When she was young she convinced her dad to take her to Mongolia,where they still hunt with eagles, to learn from the generations of eagle falconers there. Shehas a Golden and a Black Eagle that she hunts with! Listen in on the interview and learnsome really interesting things about birds of prey and hunting using eagles!Visit her website laurenmcgough.comFind her on Instagram: @eaglefalconerCheck out All Things Wild YouTube here: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5_MH_H-LW9ZUBR-layMc6wImportant Times:● 00:11 Intro● 01:20 Hello Lauren! You fly eagles, tell us about that!● 01:50 What is a Black Eagle?● 02:55 Can any Raptor species be taught to hunt with humans?● 05:38 Origins of Falconry● 06:40 How did you go to Mongolia and learn to fly eagles?● 12:05 Tell us about Mongolia!● 17:30 How long ago have eagles been used for hunting?● 20:40 Regional prey● 22:20 What's the biggest prey that a Golden Eagle can take?● 31:40 What speed do they go?● 33:20 Eagle intelligence● 36:17 Caring for eagles● 42:10 Training eagles vs other birds● 46:35 Raising birds and rehabilitation● 52:44 Birds getting lead poisoning from hunter's bullets● 55:45 Hunting environment● 01:00:05 Do eagles hunt Coyotes?● 01:01:10 Quick questions: Favourite memory from Mongolia● 01:03:55 Favourite eagle you've ever flown● 01:09:20 How happy are people in Mongolia?● 01:12:56 Thank you for your time! How can people contact you?

With all the crazy stress and noise that daily life has been throwing at us lately, we all need to get outside into nature to relax and unwind. A great way to do that from the comfort of your own home is to get into Birding, get an identification guide and try find out what types of birds visit your garden or that you see in daily life. One type that you will definitely find is the House Sparrow and despite being the most common bird around, their numbers are declining massively! Today's episode is with Harry Munt, a passionate birder and a student of wildlife management, who has set up a group that aims to stop the decline of House Sparrows in modern and urban environments. There are well over a billion individual birds that cover the earth and are the most common bird most people see, yet their numbers are dropping fast! They have a hidden link with humans, some of the first human remains being found with Sparrow bones shows a species long connection with humankind. They also play a big part in controlling pests and diseases, the Great Chinese Famine of 1959-1961 is the perfect example of the importance these birds play and why it is so important that they are able to survive and continue into the future. You can find out more about Harry's work on SaveTheHouseSparrow.com or on Instagram or Twitter with the handle @save_the_house_sparrows. Enjoy the episode and let us know what you think of it! Do you see many House Sparrows where you live? Also, here is the link if you are interested in Shrek's 99 Spero Recipes Cookbook https://www.noobspearo.com/Check out All Things Wild YouTube here: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5_MH_H-LW9ZUBR-layMc6w00:11 Intro 03:00 Welcome to the show! Tell us about House Sparrows and your organization 05:39 House Sparrows in North America and how they spread 08:16 They are very social but get aggressive 10:25 Social structure 14:12 Hierarchy 17:33 Intelligence 21:08 Diet 22:25 Do they mate for life? 24:07 They use beneficial plants 25:50 The origins of House Sparrows and how they spread all over the world 29:44 Pest control and the Great Chinese Famine of 1959-1961 36:17 European House Sparrows 39:30 Why they are in decline 40:47 Mining with birds 42:58 Bugs don't hit your windshield anymore 46:06 Urban and modern issues 48:13 Hedges are great for House Sparrows 49:49 Sparrow Hawks 53:40 Cats 55:48 Predators keep the population healthy 57:15 How you can stop your cats killing birds 59:10 What do Sparrows talk about when they sing and shout? 01:03:12 What things is your organization doing? 01:08:55 What law changes would you like to see? 01:11:00 What can we as the public do?01:12:40 How to put up birdboxes 01:17:50 How can people reach you? 01:21:44 Thanks Harry!

Liah McPherson is the next guest on the show! She is a Masters student with theMarine Mammal Research program through the University of Hawaii and a field assistant with the Wild Dolphin Project in the Bahamas. I was able to join her and the Wild Dolphin Project on their boat in the Bahamas doing research on Spotted dolphins!Important Times:● 00:11 Intro● 02:23 Hello again Liah! You have a really interesting lifestyle, introduce yourself!● 03:28 Why did you choose to study dolphins?● 05:08 Spinner dolphins and the species you study● 05:57 Using drones● 07:00 What research are you doing in Hawaii?● 09:48 Tell us about these Spinner dolphins!● 11:45 Why do they spin?● 13:00 How do they rest and sleep?● 14:45 Do they travel as a group?● 18:42 Conflict with humans● 21:28 Federal offense if you get too close to them● 24:56 Spinner vs Bottlenose dolphins● 27:38 What research are you doing in the Bahamas?● 32:44 Favorite memory with the dolphins● 33:22 Taking samples● 36:46 Seaweed game they play with humans● 40:09 What is the coolest part of your job?● 41:02 Martin's experience with a baby Dolphin named Basmati● 42:16 Do you feel like you're swimming with an intelligent animal?● 43:10 Language and communication● 45:45 How do they navigate?● 47:26 Humans using echolocation● 48:00 Sound underwater● 48:32 Triangulating individual dolphins from their sound● 51:25 Thank you for being on the show! Any last thoughts?Liah's Instagram: @mcfearsomeWild Dolphin Project: @wilddolphinprojectMarine Mammal Research Project: @mmrp_uh

Lindsay Lyon is the CEO  of Ocean Guardian, a company that manufactures sharkdeterrents! Can you really put a device on your surfboard or attached to your leg that willstop a 15 foot Great White Shark from attacking you? Ocean Guardian claims to do just thatand have the evidence to prove it works! He has a small company down in Western Australiawhere they manufacture a whole range of shark deterrent devices: for surfboards,spearfishing and diving, boating and angling. In 2018 they changed their name in OceanGuardian to make a name that would stand out and prove itself to be trustworthy. There is aton of great footage HERE of the Ocean Guardian in action! They also have plans to makethe world's first electric shark barrier to make sharky beaches safer to swim in, protectinghumans and sharks! Ocean Guardian products are designed to reduce the risk of sharkattacks, letting you enjoy the ocean without fear.Check out All Things Wild YouTube here: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5_MH_H-LW9ZUBR-layMc6wCheck out Ocean Guardians website here: https://ocean-guardian.com/● 00:11 Intro● 02:06 Hello Lindsay! Have you always been surfing? What is it like in WesternAustralia?● 04:38 What is the technology you use and where did it come from?● 05:50 We developed an entire range of shark deterrents, the marketing is just reallydifficult● 07:00 There are a lot of myths about these “shark shields”, why do people have sucha sceptical view on them?● 08:57 Where did the name come from?● 10:05 How does Shark Shield Technology work?● 12:04 Ampullae of Lorenzini, small gel sacks on shark's noses that detect electricalfields● 13:22 We create an electrical field with two stainless steel electrodes● 15:17 It does NOT attract sharks● 15:50 Peer research● 18:52 It can be very helpful for spearfishing● 21:58 These are safety devices, designed to reduce risk of attack● 22:50 Shark attacks are extremely rare● 24:25 We made these products so that you can enjoy the ocean without fear, thepsychology of fear of sharks● 26:14 Sharks learn that the sound of a speargun being fired means free food● 27:57 The danger depends on where you are, what is the most dangerous oceanactivity?● 29:09 Fatalities in Western Australia, the government gives you money to purchasean Ocean Guardian device!● 31:41 Are surfing attacks a case of mistaken identity?● 32:30 Testing footage● 35:30 Big sharks are smarter, most attacks are from younger sharks● 36:26 Great White, Bull Shark and Tiger Sharks are responsible for around 97% ofhuman attacks. The technology works better the bigger the shark● 38:03 Shark attacks and population growth● 39:26 We have a program to help survivors get back into the water● 42:12 Shark Barrier: an electric alternative to shark nets● 43:22 We have products for surfing, diving, boating, ocean fishing and now sharkbarriers● 48:55 Sharks are treated very unfairly by society● 49:47 Great White Shark diving in South Africa: the sharks have all disappeared!Could Killer Whales be to blame?● 52:05 Toe nibbling Killer Whales● 53:00 Great Whites in Australia● 53:54 Outro

Today we have Dr. Lynn Sneddon of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, she is aleading researcher of animal welfare and is particularly interested in aquatic animals. Sheasks questions like “do fish experience pain?”, how can we minimise the suffering of fishwhen we catch them and overall promote a better and more humane fishing industry. Wechat about recreational fishing, spearfishing and commercial fishing and how they compare.She also gives us some tips and advice on caring for your catch, the best way to dispatchand store your fresh catch and how catch and release fishing can better look after the fish.The best way for you to care for your catch is using barbless hooks, knotless nets and if youare going to eat them, kill them quickly and efficiently. Do NOT let them suffocate, it is badfor the fish and it spoils the meat. Is harvesting your own meat or buying it from the storemore ethical? Send us your thoughts on this topic, we'd love to hear from you! Let us knowwhat you think of this episode!● 00:11 Intro● 01:09 Dr. Lynn thanks for being on the show! Tell us about your background and thesubject you study● 03:15 Testing if animals have the same brain structure for pain● 06:20 The effects of pain● 07:28 The difference between pain and the desire to not be eaten● 08:08 Where did the idea of “fish can't feel pain” come from?● 12:10 What does pain and consciousness have to do with each other?● 16:35 Emotional vs sensory pain● 18:43 Reflex response vs actual pain, does the animal's behaviour changepermanently or is it just a reflex?● 21:11 Crabs and lobsters● 22:13 Speciesism: what is an animal's life worth?● 27:27 Where do you draw the line?● 30:41 We are not in a position to judge and rank an animal's pain as more or lessimportant● 31:14 Basic fish physiology: how do they experience their world?● 32:30 They live in a visual and chemical world that can detect movement well. Somefish even use electricity!● 33:49 Rainbow trout's lateral line detection● 34:25 How do rainbow trout see at night?● 35:22 Fly Fishing at night● 36:00 Recreational fishing, how do you feel about it?● 38:11 Improving fish welfare: using barbless hooks, knotless nets, killing quick andefficiently and not letting them suffocate. Do not let them suffocate!● 40:09 The best way to dispatch a fish● 40:19 What do you recommend for catch and release fishing?● 41:09 Catch and release mortality rates● 42:23 Would it be more humane to kill an injured fish than to let it die out in the wild?Common myths and misconceptions● 43:28 Scaling care up to commercial fishing● 44:26 Bringing up the catch slowly, get better at avoiding by catch, cameras on thebait and some boats stun the fish with electricity● 45:13 The public drive the push for animal welfare● 46:07 Harvesting your own meat vs from the shop: which is more ethical?● 48:45 Better welfare products are more expensive, the public pushes the prices downwhen they demand it● 50:04 Do you have a book or any way that people can support your work?Follow Dr Lynn Sneddon on Twitter! @LynneUSneddon

Simone Cook is a long time falconer, has served as director and coordinator for manyfalconry associations across North America. She holds a degree in biology and is anexpert at raising, caring for, training and hunting with birds of prey! Join us as welearn all about hunting with birds of prey, what it takes to care for and keep them andhow you can get involved and become a falconer yourself!● 00:12 Introduction● 02:00 Hello Simone!● 03:05 What is Falconry and how did you get into it?● 04:38 Does your bird bring its prey back to you or do you go to it?● 05:28 We went on our first trip when I was 8.● 06:36 Don't become a falconer, it'll take over your life.● 07:36 You need a permit, there are 3 levels: apprenticeship for 2 years - graduate togeneral class for 5 years - graduate to master falconer.● 09:20 Why do you use ferrets?● 10:34 Confusing species.● 11:40 Your first hunting trip!● 12:57 Misconceptions● 14:45 Males are smaller than females, they are very vocal when they fight.● 17:24 Modern problems for raptors.● 18:19 Do you hunt for food?● 20:33 People have been using falcons for hunting for 1000's of years.● 21:43 The origins of falconry● 22:23 Hooding the bird.● 23:53 Where do you get the birds from? Do you grow them from eggs or just userescues?● 25:15 General and Master falconers are allowed to take a bird from a nest in the wild.When raised from so young they imprint and form a bond with the falconer.● 25:53 Tell us about the species you use.● 28:42 How many different species have you worked with?● 29:02 Bird abatement - keeping pest birds away from agriculture● 31:07 Are these birds all native?● 31:43 Are eagles used?● 34:25 We have great respect for the quarry (prey).● 35:09 Do you ever feel bad when your bird kills its prey?● 39:19 Are they territorial?● 40:46 My Red Tail reacting to another Bald Eagle● 43:03 Do people use birds for fishing?● 44:43 When starting, are there easier to work with species or are individuals unique?● 45:49 You NEED a permit to do this. You need to pass an exam as well as a sightinspection - this is highly regulated.● 47:03 Most people start with Red Tails but tend to let them go after a while● 48:05 They have personalities and are highly unique!● 48:58 The results really depend on being able to read your bird.● 49:53 Tell us about the facilities for keeping falcons.● 50:38 How do you look after the birds and how do you train them? 2 main seasons:hunting season in fall and winter and off season in summer.● 51:50 They malt over the summer.● 54:54 You don't need to make your birds hungry - their hunting instinct is enough.● 56:53 Why doesn't the bird just fly away?● 58:10 What do you do to train them?● 59:39 Using lures● 01:01:53 How do you develop your relationship with the bird?● 01:02:41 They start as wild animals.● 01:03:35 Strobe lights?!● 01:05:56 Training trust.● 01:09:30 Do some birds just fly away?● 01:11:13 I've even lost my bird, we use telemetry (a transmitter) to keep track of themif they get lost.● 01:14:14 They revert to a wild state very easily.● 01:17:43 Is the training process dangerous to humans?● 01:19:56 Have you been bitten before?● 01:22:48 Tell us about the talons.● 01:24:57 Take us through a Red Tail hunt for Cottontails and Snowshoe Hares.● 01:31:27 How fast do Red Tail Hawks fly? Peregrine falcons go over 200MPH!● 01:33:48 Veterinary treatment: Acupuncture?● 01:37:31 Which species of bird gives the most impressive hunt?● 01:38:08 Do they impact and knock out their prey?● 01:42:08 How can people get started and involved in falconry? Join a club andcontact your authorities. There is the North American Falconers Association(

Contact Me.       Support APOPO Today's episode is with Dr Cindy Fast. She works with the non profit APOPO intraining their HeroRATS: rats that are able to detect hidden landmines from old warsas well as to smell and detect Tuberculosis! She and APOPO are based in Tanzaniabut send out their highly trained rats to countries with many lost and unexplodedmines like Cambodia and Angola. They also assist Ethiopia and Tanzania to fightTuberculosis by detecting positive cases quicker and more reliably than technologycan. Join us as we get a peek into the world of rats and see the ways they can helpmake the world better! Has this episode changed your opinion about rats? You caneven adopt one of the HeroRATS! Check out Apopo.org for more!● 00:10 Intro and message from Old Man Blue● 02:20 Hello and welcome! What's your background and how did you get involved withthis type of work?● 05:00 What first sparked your interest in rats?● 06:08 I was nervous about doing research with animals but I was surprised at howwell they treated the rats● 07:06 What's it like having a rat as a pet? Are they tame or domesticated?● 08:00 How would you compare their intelligence to a dog or a cat?● 10:05 Rats are extremely intelligent. All they want to do is find food. They also laughwhen tickled● 11:53 How social are rats? We work with the African Giant Pouched Rats● 12:30 Are they territorial?● 13:38 Do the parents stay together?● 15:13 Where in the world are you based and why did you choose this species of rat?We are Apopo and we are based in Tanzania● 15:55 Apopo had the idea of training rats to detect landmines● 17:54 Rats are too light to set off the mines● 18:49 Are people afraid of rats over there like we are here in the US?● 20:37 Which other countries do you work in? We train the rats in Tanzania and sendthem to Angola and Cambodia, and to detect TB in Tanzania and Ethiopia● 22:15 Are things getting better in Cambodia?● 23:52 And in Angola and Tanzania?● 25:20 How do you train the rats to detect mines and TB?● 26:06 Give them a food reward for identifying a target scent● 28:50 Would rats be helpful to labs here in the US?● 30:15 How do you train them to smell TB?● 30:53 We teach them to react to a click sound● 34:45 How do the rats signal a positive result?● 35:40 Do they try to trick you into giving them food?● 36:58 How long does the training take and how young do you start to train them?● 39:43 Is the process the same for the land mine detecting rats?● 42:03 How do they navigate a search grid? By using rope!● 43:43 How many landmines have your rats found?● 46:24 Where are you detecting TB? 2 labs in Tanzania and 1 in Ethiopia● 46:55 Is there a vaccine for TB? By don't other countries have more problems with it?Is there a goal to eliminate TB in those countries?● 51:42 How effective have the rats been in the war against TB?● 52:50 Rats don't need power where machines do● 53:45 How can people support your work? Apopo.org - Adopt a rat! Get some coolrat merch!● 55:18 Rats have so much potential to help us against poaching and trafficking,search and rescue and so much more● 57:24 Thank you for being on the show!

OctoNation is the world's largest octopus fan club, started in 2015 by Warren Carlyle. As akid growing up, there were very few resources and little information available about theoctopus, he set out to change that and started what has become the world's largest octopusfanclub! Join us for this episode and get a small taste of the truly amazing world of theoctopus!● 00:11 Intro● 02:07 Thanks for being here Warren, you have THE coolest Instagram page● 03:48 How did OctoNation start? I liked aliens● 05:45 In 2015 I read Soul Of The Octopus by Sy Montgomery, started an Instagramaccount● 07:57 We hired influencers, this was the dawn of the influencer age● 09:00 Reverse engineer people who are interested in the octopus● 10:40 “Are they even endangered?!”● 11:23 You collaborate with scientists?● 13:39 We eventually started a non-profit organization● 16:00 Children love the octopus● 17:50 They can edit their RNA?● 19:30 They have blue blood● 20:06 New deep ocean species are being discovered● 21:10 Warty octopus sits on her eggs for 4 years● 22:39 They have a decentralized nervous system, how do they control their arms?● 24:17 They have chromatophores, iridophores, photophores.● 26:10 Octopus eyes● 26:56 Octopuses are real Pokemon, their were so few resources● 28:16 Bats and dolphins gave us echolocation, imagine what technology an octopuscan give us● 29:47 Does it control its legs consciously?● 31:21 Farming octopus and raising them in captivity● 32:56 We plan to fund research● 33:24 Hairy octopus● 34:44 Sy Montgomery, The Soul Of The Octopus● 36:00 People will protect what they love● 37:33 Even crows are interesting● 41:25 Mimic octopus● 43:40 Octopus self defense is to cling and stay away from your mouth● 45:05 They are den animals, very calculated and efficient● 46:16 Algae octopus● 47:57 Octopuses are extremely strong● 50:28 Do they bite humans?● 52:29 OctoNation merch● 53:30 Outro

Today we are joined by Isaac “Shrek” Daly of the Noob Spearo Podcast and we talkabout spearfishing, wild animals, dealing with sharks and how spearos play animportant role in conservation. Check out his podcast at Noob Spero Podcast and InstagramEmail me: allthingswildpodcast@gmail.comFind me: All Things Wild Podcast Instagram and Facebook ● 00:10 Intro● 01:31 Welcome Shrek!● 03:25 Where did the name come from?● 04:35 When did you start spearfishing?● 05:28 How popular is spearfishing in your part of the world?● 07:41 What role do wild animals play in Australia?● 10:35 What's a typical dive day for you?● 11:50 What work do you do?● 14:42 What's it like going from prison to the ocean?● 19:10 Hunting techniques and body language, mimicking other animals● 20:08 New York has tons of stingrays● 22:24 Relaxed and meditated state is the goal, a good workout comes with it.● 23:57 Are you diving off a boat or the shore?● 25:40 Coral bleaching in your area?● 26:10 Video from Shrek● 27:54 How many target species do you have?● 28:35 What's your favourite fish to eat and how do you prepare and care for yourcatch?● 29:35 Cleaning and bleeding the fish in the water with sharks?● 32:03 Ikejime method of dispatching fish● 32:49 Stringers● 36:07 The great sauce controversy● 36:51 99 Spearo Recipes● 38:48 Sustainable and getting your food yourself● 40:45 What are the craziest stories you've heard on the Noob Spearo Podcast?● 42:46 What dangers are there in spearfishing?● 50:40 Are there just good practices to follow to keep safe?● 53:46 Hyperventilating● 57:26 How deep are you diving and for how long?● 01:02:38 Your gear isn't worth your life● 01:03:33 Dealing with sharks● 01:07:59 Diving with tiger sharks● 01:08:59 Conservation issues in your world● 01:10:22 Seaspiracy● 01:16:51 Thank you Shrek!● 01:17:22 Outro

With the intention of talking about honey badgers, I reached out to Brian Jones who is the founder of the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in South Africa. His wildlife center is home to the viral sensation Stoffel the honey badger, who gain notoriety for his tenacity and cleverness in multiple documentaries that have been widely disrupted on the internet. However, we quickly began to talk about the intense corruption and lack of will to protect the wildlife and the habitats to support them in South Africa. We also discuss the rarely covered phenomena of vulture poaching that is destroying the natural balance of life in South Africa. Through all of the coverage of Stoffel and the Moholoholo Center, they have received no financial support from the numerous networks who have used them to make a profit. Below is a link to donate to the Moholoholo Center who desperately need the funding. Please also email the center to let them know that you have heard the podcast and that you support their work. Links for Episode:Donate to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation CenterContact Moholoholo StoffelVulture PoachingAll Things Wild Podcast websiteAll Things Wild InstagramAll Things Wild FacebookContact:Allthingswildpodcast@gmail.com

Aurore Maureaud is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University. She is currently studying marine life and the complexity of ecosystems, before this she studied fisheries management in France and completed her Ph.D. in Denmark at the Centre for Ocean Life, DTU Aqua (National Institute for Aquatic Resources). Her research has focused on ecosystem functioning, and particularly on how species diversity and the environment influence ecosystem processes in fish communities. Today we talk about the documentary Seaspiracy and examine its claims about sustainable fishing. We talk about shark population decline, bottom trawling, statistical data on fish, and regulating the commercial fishing industry. Links for Episode:Aurore Maureaud Could veganism protect the oceans? Sustainable Fishing Bottom trawling  

Captain David Hochman is a competitive freediver and has competed in spearfishing competitions since 1996. In 2003, he and his Three-Man team won the United States National Spear Fishing Championship beating 130 of the top competitors in the US. He has captained boats in the Block Island sound for 26 years and has 31 years of boat handling and spearfishing experience. Through his company Spear-it Charters, he runs premiere spearfishing charters to Block Island, RI. Block Island is the best location in the country for fishing striped bass and hosts a wide array of species. We cover TONS of topics from spearfishing with sharks, preventing shallow water black out, the ethics of spearfishing, issues with commercial fishing, and what is known about striped bass (to list a few). There are a lot of cool stories contained in this episode. Enjoy! Links from episode: Spear-it ChartersCheck out All Things Wild YouTube here: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5_MH_H-LW9ZUBR-layMc6w

Henry Bandure is a world renown professional wildlife guide who operates canoe and walking safaris in Mana Pools Nation Park in Zimbabwe. He was David Attenborough's personal guide for the shooting of the Dynasty series episode on painted wolves (also known as African wild dogs). In today's episode we talk about the filming of this episode, his approach to close encounters with the large animals of the National Parks in Zimbabwe, how he “babysat” a wild elephant calf who still remembers him to this day, the incredible bravery of the African honey badger, and much more. Below is Henry's website, email, and Instagram where you can reach him to learn more about experiencing the amazing wildlife of Africa.  Links from episode:  Email: Gwataz01@gmail.com Henry_Bandure Jekwe Tours & Safaris  Allthingswildpodcast Instagram  

Tom is a writer whose work has been featured in Scientific American, Sierra Club, The Awl, Gothamist, Business Insider, Atlas Obscura,  and Untapped New York. His book Wild City is an illustrated guide to 40 of the most well-known, surprising, notorious, mythical, and sublime non-human citizens of New York City, and love letter to its surprising ecological diversity. Wild City tells the funny,  quirky, and memorable stories of forty of New York City's most surprising nonhuman citizens. In today's episode we talk about a few of the interesting stories about wild life and New York featured in the book. One a more personal note, I truly enjoyed this book and if you are interested in New York City or wild life you will not be disappointed. Grab your copy! Link below.Wild City Thomas Hynes Falcon Fuck Hats 

Part 2 of my conversation with Geri Vistein. We speak more about the persecution of Coyote's and the efforts in Maine to provide a legislative response. Geri Vistein is a Conservation Biologist whose focus is on carnivores and their vital role in maintaining the biodiversity of our planet. Her work centers on educating her community in Maine about carnivores, their ecology, complex cultures and history, and how we can coexist with them. She is the Founder of Coyote Center for Carnivore Ecology and Coexistence whose mission is to share with community members the science of our returning carnivores and the skills to live well with them. In today's episode we talk about the natural history of the coyote as a native North American canid, shifts in coyotes range distribution throughout its ancient history, as well as in response to the arrival of Europeans, the unique biology of coyotes that has allowed them to survive and expand their territories during efforts to eradicate predators by early European Americans through efforts to “control” coyote populations today. We also discuss the new role coyotes are playing in ecosystems that have been disrupted by the extinction of apex predators, how humans and coyotes can coexist, and new legislation her organization is presenting to the Maine legislature to restrict using dogs to hunt coyotes and other cruel measures that are currently practiced in parts of the state.  Links from Episode:Geri Vistein's educational websites: www.CoyoteLivesinMaine.org and www.FarmingwithCarnivoresNetwork.com Geri Vistein L.L. Bean Speaker Series Coyote's howling The following videos are graphic and may be disturbing. This is real footage of recreation that occurs legally in many parts of the United States.  Hunting Coyote's with hounds Predator Killing Contests 

Geri Vistein is a Conservation Biologist whose focus is on carnivores and their vital role in maintaining the biodiversity of our planet. Her work centers on educating her community in Maine about carnivores, their ecology, complex cultures and history, and how we can coexist with them. She is the Founder of Coyote Center for Carnivore Ecology and Coexistence whose mission is to share with community members the science of our returning carnivores and the skills to live well with them. In today's episode we talk about the natural history of the coyote as a native North American canid, shifts in coyotes range distribution throughout its ancient history, as well as in response to the arrival of Europeans, the unique biology of coyotes that has allowed them to survive and expand their territories during efforts to eradicate predators by early European Americans through efforts to “control” coyote populations today. We also discuss the new role coyotes are playing in ecosystems that have been disrupted by the extinction of apex predators, how humans and coyotes can coexist, and new legislation her organization is presenting to the Maine legislature to restrict using dogs to hunt coyotes and other cruel measures that are currently practiced in parts of the state.  Links from Episode:Geri Vistein's educational websites: www.CoyoteLivesinMaine.org and www.FarmingwithCarnivoresNetwork.com Geri Vistein L.L. Bean Speaker Series Coyote's howling The following videos are graphic and may be disturbing. This is real footage of recreation that occurs legally in many parts of the United States.  Hunting Coyote's with hounds Predator Killing Contests 

Alex Schnell is the researcher behind the experiment that proved cuttlefish can “pass” the marshmallow test (a test originally designed to test delayed gratification in humans), that has been circulating the internet in recent weeks. Alex is a comparative psychologist and a behavioral ecologist with a background in marine biology. Her research interests center on complex learning and memory mechanisms in animals and how these abilities have evolved across diverse taxa. Her primary model species include cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish, and squid) and corvids (members of the crow family).  Links from episode: Alex Schnell The Marshmallow Test Cuttlefish Can Count to Five Diver Plays with Octopus  Befriending a Wild Octopus  

Professor Phyllis Lee is the director of science for the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, which was started in 1972 by Cynthia Moss and is the longest running study of wild elephants anywhere in the world. Phyllis has been carrying out field research on animal behavior since 1975 and has been studying the elephants of Amboseli since1982. She has collaborated with a number of researchers working on forest and Asian elephants as well as primates from around the world and she is the author of over 80 journal publications. In this episode we speak about what has been learned through this long-term study of individual wild elephants and what is still unknown. We speak extensively about the wide range of behaviors elephants engage in that highlights the unique personalities of each individual animal. We also speak about the different modalities of elephant communication, the dynamics of elephant social structure, the phenomena of “Musth” in bull elephants, and the challenges mother elephants face raising their young in the wilderness of Kenya.  Links for Episode Amboseli Elephant Trust Professor Phyllis Lee  Collaring Wild Elephants  Wildlife Warriors Episode (Amboseli Elephants) Rescuing Baby Elephant Stuck in Mud

Kevin Schneider is the Executive Director of the Nonhuman Rights Project. The NhRP was featured in the documentary Unlocking the Cage and works to secure fundamental rights for nonhuman animals through litigation, legislation, and education. Specifically, the NhRP is involved in ongoing litigation to change the common law status of great apes, elephants, dolphins, and whales from mere “things” to “legal persons” that possess such fundamental rights as bodily liberty and bodily integrity. Kevin earned his law degree from Florida State University in 2013 with a specialization in environmental and land use law. He graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in 2009. We discuss the differences between animal welfare laws and rights, the history of habeas corpus, the legal definition and application of personhood, the clients of the NhRP, and the common counter arguments of opponents to legal rights for nonhuman animals. Links from episode Nonhuman Rights Project Nonhuman Rights Project Progress Happy the Elephant Elephant Mirror Test Dolphin Mirror Test Chimpanzee Memory Test Unlocking the Cage Sandra's personhood status in Argentina 

Kristi Ashley Collom is a Senior Research Associate and Dolphin Catalog Manager for Gotham Whale and an acoustic analyst for Wildlife Conservation Society's New York passive acoustic monitoring research. Prior to these positions, Kristi completed her graduate degree in Animal Behavior and Conservation with Dr. Diana Reiss at Hunter College. Kristi grew up in New York City, and began her wildlife career as a polar zookeeper at the Central Park Zoo, where she worked with seals, sea lions and penguins. Kristi traveled to Belize with Oceanic Society to study bottlenose dolphins, and ultimately ended up back in New York City working in marine conservation. In today's conversation we discuss what is known about the dolphins and whales that are seen in New York City waters, with an emphasis on the bottlenose dolphin and humpback whale populations. We discuss the history of these animals in New York, what is known about their social lives and migration patterns, and many of the questions that continue to be a mystery in the lives of these animals.  Gotham WhaleKristi Collom Common Dolphins in the East RiverThe America PrincessArtificial Reefs 

Alexa Fredston is a quantitative ecologist who gained her BA from Princeton University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and her PhD from University of California, Santa Barbara. She is currently a postdoc at Rutgers University where she studies how human activities alter biogeographic patterns and ecological processes. Her research has specifically investigated how fast species are shifting their spatial distributions in response to climate change, and the consequences this has for nature and for people. We talk about species distribution ranges in the ocean in response to climate change, the affects this has on marine ecosystems, the challenge of managing human impacts on the ocean in international waters, sustainable fisheries, and what the labels at Whole Foods mean. Unintentionally, this episode addresses and exposes much of the misinformation that is contained in the popular Netflix documentary Seaspiracy. If you have seen the film, the contradictions will be clear.  Links from episode Alexa Fredston The great apes range distribution Bottlenose dolphin range distribution  Importance of fish in developing countries   Decline of shark and ray populations Challenges of managing fisheries in international waters Whole Foods sustainable fish Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch

Dr. Margaret Wild is the former chief wildlife veterinarian for the National Park Service. She is currently a professor at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and has been chosen to lead research efforts into elk hoof disease through the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology. She is well-known among wildlife biologists and researchers nationwide for her expertise in Chronic Wasting Disease and has authored or co-authored over 50 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals. In this episode we speak about the concept of One Health, disease variants, the history of CWD, its impact on wild populations, and the possibility of CWD jumping the species barrier to humans.  Links related to episode:  Dr. Margaret Wild  CWD Map  Threat to Deer Populations Transmission to Humans Selective Hunting by Wolves Dr. Wild's Modeling of Wolves Impact on CWD  “The Grandmother Effect” – Martin Kitto

Dr. Craig Stanford is an expert on animal behavior and human origins. He is a Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at the University of Southern California and Director of USC's Jane Goodall Research Center.  He extensively studied chimpanzees in Tanzania, in collaboration with Dr. Goodall. He has also studied chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in Uganda as well as researching primates and other animals for more than 20 years in Africa, Asia and Latin America.   Stanford is the author of 16 books and 130 scholarly articles on animal behavior and human evolution.  In our conversation, we discuss the evolutionary ancestry of humans and chimpanzees and what this tells us about the relationship between our species today. Craig recounts how a letter led him to work alongside Jane Goodall as well as his experiences studying chimpanzees in Tanzania with her. We talk in depth about the structure of chimpanzee society and the diversity of personalities within the species, the relationship between wildlife and disease, the practice of eating primates in regions of Africa, and the future of the great apes.  Links relative to our conversation are below.   Craig Stanford Profile Craig Stanford Discovery Lecture Series  Jane Goodall Revisits Gombe  DNA Links Between Chimps and Humans Human Origins  Infant Human vs Infant Chimpanzee Chimpanzee Communication Chimpanzee Murder  Why Are Chimps Stronger Than Humans International Trade of Primate Meat  

Patrick Mather is a former United States Army Special Forces operative with the Green Berets and a West Point graduate. He is currently a special agent in the United States Diplomatic Security Service. After serving in the military, Patrick has taken multiple extended trips into some of the most remote areas in the U.S. by himself. We talk about the survival skills he acquired in his special forces training and during his tours of duty in Columbia and Afghanistan. We also talk extensively about his experiences living in the wilderness alone, the affects this has on the psyche, and the lessons learned from extended time away from the trappings of modern civilization. At the end of every episode I usually ask the guest where people can find them and support their work, Patrick recommended the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a non-profit that provides free education and support for the children of Special Forces members who were killed or severely wounded during their military service. If you are able to, please support their work.  Links discussed in episode Army Survival Training Animal found Afghanistan  Outward Bound Minnesota Bob Marshall Wilderness Continental Divide Trail  

Robert Mendez is the producer and director of the Keiko Project, a documentary film currently in production that tells the full story of the real killer whale (Keiko) who starred in the block buster hit movie Free Willy. We discuss Keiko's capture in Iceland, his years of suffering in the deplorable conditions of a marine park in Mexico, and his eventual return to the wild. We also touch on the controversy surrounding Keiko's return to Iceland, including skepticism from the scientific community and opposition from the billion-dollar captive dolphin industry. Robert has interviewed many of the trainers who rehabilitated Keiko from a sick and abused circus performer, to a healthy adult male Orca capable of traveling a hundred kilometers a day in the open ocean. We also discuss the rushed return to the wild because of a demolition project near Keiko's sanctuary in Iceland, and how Keiko's death from pneumonia in Norway is often taken advantage of and misrepresented as evidence for the continued captivity of Orcas in marine parks.  The implications of Keiko's story are incredibly relevant today, as the public has become aware of the massive suffering these intelligent and sentient animals experience in concrete tanks, and the fight to transfer the remaining captive Orcas in the United States to seaside sanctuaries is under way. Follow the Keiko project through their website and social media to support and stay up to date on the film.  https://thekeikoproject.com/about-the-film https://www.instagram.com/thekeikoproject/ https://www.facebook.com/TheKeikoProject https://twitter.com/KeikoProjectDoc Links to topics discussed in episode:  Footage from the movie Free Willy of the actual tank Keiko spent most of his life in Keiko in Oregon Keiko in Iceland Keiko in the wild  Keiko's death  Why Orcas suffer in captivity How you can help 

Today's guest is Pierre Robert de Latour. He is the founder and president of the Under Water Soft Encounter Alliance (USEA), the president of Orques Sans Frontières, and author of the best seller "Frère des orques" (Glénat Edition). Pierre Robert De Latour is internationally known as "The Orca Whisperer" and has more than 6,200 dives with orcas! USEA also participates in scientific research through partnerships with marine biologists and other scientists. This work has been published in prominent scientific journals such as Nature. We discuss his unique introduction into underwater encounters with Orcas, what he has learned about Orca behavior, and some big questions about what it means to inhabit a planet with another intelligence equal (perhaps superior) to our own. He also shares some incredible stories of his time underwater with the Orcas of Norway. I highly recommend his YouTube channel and links to this, as well as his organization and social media platforms are provided below. To explore some of the questions brought up in the episode in further detail please visit the episode page on allthingwildpodcast.com here: https://allthingswildpodcast.com/the-orca-whisperer/ Pierre's YouTube channel USEA systematic approach to wild Orca encounters  USEA homepage Pierre's Instagram Pierre's Facebook 

This is the first episode of a new segment for the All Things Wild podcast that will feature cool and interesting encounters people have had with wildlife. Anyone is welcome to participate, reach out to me on the contact us form at allthingswildpodcast.com or Instagram and Facebook (links below). There is no better way to start out this series than with a wild dolphin encounter. Shout out to Michael DK who provided us with the amazing story and footage! To see incredible photos of rough toothed dolphins swimming with models, with a shipwreck in the background visit the episode page here: https://allthingswildpodcast.com/wild-stories For more of Michaels awesome underwater photography, check out his Instagram page:https://www.instagram.com/suahuatica/ 

Show NotesOpen ocean species of dolphins and whales are some of the most poorly known mammals on our planet. The vastness of the ocean prevents much research from occurring. In Hawai'i, however, due to unique environmental factors, a team of scientists from the Cascadia Research Collective have accumulated the most knowledge of many of these species anywhere. Led by Robin Baird, this team has learned more about a group of Dolphins referred to as the “Blackfish'', then anywhere else in the world. The Blackfish includes short-finned pilot whales, melon-headed whales, pygmy killer whales, and false killer whales. In today's episode we discuss what Robin's research has discovered,  specifically we focus on the endangered group of false killer whales that are resident on the main Hawai'ian islands. As you will hear, false killer whales are incredibly charismatic and show a keen interest in humans. Stories of their unique behavior, as well as threats to this endangered population, are discussed in depth. If you happen to live or spend time in Hawai'ian waters, please listen to the final minutes of this episode, and forward any footage captured of these animals to Robin's team at Cascadia Research Collective. The more information Robin can obtain on these amazing animals, the better we can protect them.Episode Specific Links Cascadia Research Collective youtube channelPygmy killer whales Melon-headed whalesShort finned pilot whales Pilot whale dive depth in perspective False killer whale, mahi mahi, and oceanic white-tip shark False killer whale meal sharing False killer whale interacting with diversEndangered resident false killer whalesNotable Quote“False killer whales see something in themselves in humans” - Robin Baird - Cascadia Research CollectiveLearn moreCascadia Research Collectivehttps://www.instagram.com/cascadiaresearch/https://www.youtube.com/user/CascadiaResearchhttps://www.facebook.com/CascadiaResearchFind Mehttps://www.instagram.com/allthingswildpodcast/https://www.facebook.com/Allthingswildpodcasthttps://twitter.com/Allthingswildpc

Episode 5: Show Notes.The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the few intact ecosystems that still has its entire cohort of wildlife, but many of these species are under threat due to practices like trophy hunting. Wolves and grizzly bears are just a few of the animals under threat, but the Wyoming Wildlife Advocates are helping to protect them by shaping legislation and changing perceptions about the perceived threats these creatures pose to humans. Today we are joined by Wyoming Wildlife Advocates Executive Director, Kristin Combs, and we spend this episode discussing the role of bears and wolves in the The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the threats posed to them, and the interventions she is making to help protect them. We discuss the tenuous status of bears as endangered and the recent delisting of wolves from the Endangered Species Act. This ongoing battle to keep bears and wolves listed as ‘recovered' is partly a matter of state pressure being applied on the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, and we explore why lawmakers want the hunting of bears and wolves to continue, highlighting cultural prejudice, the ranching industry, and more. Digging more deeply, we critically assess the lack of connection between trophy hunting and livestock safety, while also highlighting some alternative methods of keeping cattle safe that have been proven to work. On the subject of the role that bears and wolves play in the natural landscape, we talk about how preserving bears helps preserve the land itself, and how protecting wolves actually strengthens herds of their prey – herds that are currently suffering from an upsurge in chronic waste disease which could get passed onto humans if the spread continues. Tune in for an informative and urgent conversation about the need to bridge the gap between wildlife management legislation and new understandings of the role of keystone species in the preservation of ecosystems.Key Points From This Episode:Kristin's love of animals and how she made environmental education and advocacy into a career.The biodiversity of the Yellowstone ecosystem and some of the environmental issues it faces.Spotting bears while hiking: How they behave, what they eat, how awe-inspiring they are.The negative effects of wolf and bear hunting in Wyoming; why Kristin started Wyoming Wildlife Advocates.What the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is; politics around naming a species ‘endangered' or ‘recovered'.Why hunting seasons on animals begin immediately after they get delisted as endangered.The persistence of state-supported trophy hunting and the role of cultural values in this.Why some groups of humans hate wolves; anti-predator rhetoric informed by myths.Disjunctures between new conservation knowledge and wildlife management agency policy.Threats posed by the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in animals like deer and elk.How hard it is to contain CWD and the possibility of it being transferred to humans.Arguments for and against elk ‘feeding grounds', which stop one disease but spread CWD.Understanding the concept of ‘predator cleansing' and how it can keep herds healthier.The massive perceptive abilities wolves have to spot weaker animals in a herd.Key benefits of protecting grizzly bears: Protecting the large areas they live in too.The eating habits of grizzly bears and how these cultivate the land and regulate the ecosystem.Pressure the ranching industry put on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist grizzly bears from the ESA.Alternative techniques to hunting that reduce conflict between bears and cattle.The lack of correlation between defending livest

Episode 4: Show Notes.With the majority of attention given to chimps, orangutans, and gorillas, it is a mystery why the beautiful and intelligent gibbon is not as well documented and cared for. One of the reasons for this may be the lifestyle and residence of the gibbon, naturally spending most of its life high off the ground, above the canopy of trees. Here to share his thoughts and talk about his work with rescuing and rehabilitating gibbons is Thanaphat Payakkaporn, who is the Secretary-General of the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand. Thanaphat also works with The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, an NPO dedicated to repopulating natural spaces with these wonderful animals. Today, we have an informative and funny conversation about the personalities and habits of gibbons, with our guest sharing his expertise on breeding, feeding, and much more! There is also a darker side to this discussion, with Thanaphat explaining the horrible ways in which gibbons have been treated in order to capture and exploit them for money. Near the end of the episode, Thanaphat gives some details on how you can support his project and lend a hand in this struggle for a healthier situation, and we hope you will consider donating! Listeners can expect to come away with an enhanced perspective on the life of gibbons, their status in Thailand currently, and what needs to be done in order to ensure a better future for them. Key Points From This Episode:Thanaphat's upbringing and background, and how he got involved in conservation work. A little bit about the non-profit that Thanaphat works for, The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.Understanding the place of the gibbon and its relation to humankind. The characteristics of gibbons and the immediate similarities to people. A life above the canopy; difficulties of spotting a gibbon in the wild.The drop in gibbon numbers in Thailand over the last few decades. The need for initiatives such as The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project and the important work that they do. Poaching practices in Phuket and the cruel way that baby gibbons are captured.The sites in Thailand that the project services and is trying to repopulate. The process that is undertaken when a gibbon is rescued; health, bonding, and acclimatization.  Government sanctuaries for gibbons that cannot be released back into the wild.Quarantines for new gibbons brought in for rehabilitation; the vital steps in this process.The gibbon diet; picky eating, unique habits, and preferred flavors. How order and hierarchy are maintained in the sanctuary — communicating superiority to a gibbon. Relationships between staff and gibbons and the number ratios for this.Mate-selection and baby-raising among gibbons.  The biggest threats to gibbon apes in Thailand and the rest of Asia. Areas for gibbon repopulation across Thailand — inhabitable forests and natural habitats.The move towards greener practices and the value attached to the survival of the gibbon. How to help Thanaphat and his project and some information about the donations that they rely on!Thanaphat's thoughts on policy and high-level changes that can aid gibbons.Tweetables:“The main goal of the project is to rescue and return them back to the wild. That's basically what we do.” — Thanaphat Payakkaporn [0:14:20]“They tend to be nice with you, to get your attention and if you get tricked with this, they just grab you and bite you!” — Thanaphat Payakkaporn [0:34:19

Episode 01: Show Notes.Welcome to the All Things Wild Podcast, where we talk about wildlife across our beautiful planet through conversations with experts and nature lovers alike! Today we are joined by one of the world's leading authorities on the brains of dolphins and whales, Dr. Lori Marino. Lori is the founder and president of The Whale Sanctuary Project, has a long history in the field of neuroscience, and was featured in the landmark film, Blackfish. She joins us on the show to talk about intelligence in dolphins and whales, explaining the limitations of our understanding and how the field of research in this area has progressed over the last few decades. We also talk about Lori's own journey and research, and some of the amazing studies she has been a part of. We spend some time thinking about the complexity of intelligence, and how outdated and oversimplified perspectives of humans as the sole most intelligent life form on earth have been so clearly disproved. The conversation also covers the topics of captivity, emotional intelligence, and what we can and cannot learn from brain size and the encephalization quotient. Dr. Lori shares a wealth of insight and knowledge and her considered and open-minded approach is truly inspiring, join us to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:How Dr. Lori became interested in studying the brains of cetaceans. Dr. Lori's early work with bottle-nosed dolphins in captivity and the study on mirror recognition. Studies on metacognition in dolphins and how this relates to self-awareness. Considering the different scientific definitions of intelligence and Lori's personal perspective. Dolphin interpretations of human intelligence!The impact of captivity on displays of skills and intelligence. Syntax and understanding of sentences in dolphins, and studies in this area.The massive similarities that exist in nature and the lack of actual divides between many species.Developments in brain size and how this occurs in the evolutionary process. The activities that utilize the more impressive parts of the dolphin mind.Unpacking the encephalization quotient and what it illuminates.The primary areas to look at in the brain when studying intelligence levels.Comparing the neocortex in dolphins and whales with that in primates. Cultural conservatism in orcas and the studies on their restricted diet.Weighing the emotional landscape of dolphins and the clear differences from human EQ.Some information on The Whale Sanctuary Project and what Dr. Lori and her team are aiming for.Tweetables:“They process information pretty quickly and they are pretty impatient, and you are always trying to catch up with them.” — @Whale_Sanctuary [0:06:01]“It really speaks to how bright they are because even under the circumstances of living in a concrete tank that is really sparse and limiting, they are still able to be engaged in very complex tasks.” — @Whale_Sanctuary [0:15:21]“It is pretty amazing that they are able to work with a human-based system, a human-based language, and they are able to do that successfully.” — @Whale_Sanctuary [0:17:51]“There is no bright line in nature that divides humans and non-humans.” — @Whale_Sanctuary

Episode 2: Show Notes.Today's episode sees us welcome researcher Avery Shawler to talk about her work studying wolves and livestock, the interesting area of the conflict between these two groups, and what her investigations are showing about this relationship. Avery is a Ph.D. student at the University of Berkley California, and she conducts her fieldwork in Wyoming, taking multiple trips a year into the wilderness! The exact focus of her study is the elk migrations in the area, and how the wolf-livestock conflict affects these routes. We have a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, covering wolf ecology, chronic wasting disease, conservation of habitats, and the interesting ins and outs of working in Grizzly country! Near the end of the episode, we also get into Avery's amazing and scary story of survival in Idaho, when she was injured, stranded and alone, and very nearly didn't make it back alive. Listeners can expect to get a great background on what a path into this field of conservation biology can look like, and Avery's passion and excitement about her work are certainly contagious! Avery gives us some great insight into the dynamics present on ranches in relation to wolves, the danger they present, and how ranchers are trying to deal with that. Vastly knowledgeable as well as considered and balanced, Avery shares her perspective on the different interests involved, offering some observations around rancher culture that may surprise listeners. We also talk about bears, survival skills, cutting edge technology, and more, so make sure to join us to catch it all!Key Points From This Episode:Avery's background, moving around as a child, and how she became interested in conservation biology.Some of the jobs that Avery has had in the field of ecology and conservation.Understanding chronic wasting disease and how it spreads through deer and elk populations. Wolf predatory habits and patterns and how important it is to understand these in relation to studies of elk.Methods used for elk capture and monitoring and developments in the field.Elk migrations and charting the average timespans and routes. Getting to grips with the wolf-livestock conflict and historic attitudes towards wolves.The economic problems that wolves cause for ranches — cycles of the ongoing battle. Methods that are used to deter wolves and the constant updates needed.  Different breeds of cattle and how ranchers are trying to make cows more resilient against predators.Lethal control against wolves and why Avery believes it has a place on ranches.Avery's research into how wolves set up den sites and their travel patterns. Short and long-term strategies for Avery; the questions at the top of the list.The array of work that is keeping Avery busy at present — research, teaching, and more!  Learning about wolf predatory patterns by tracking and monitoring through GIS.Avery's experiences with grizzly bears and how bears generally react to human presence.The legal status of killing bears and the litigation involved, even in self-defense cases.Avery's amazing story of survival alone in Idaho!The mountaineering and wildness skills that Avery acquired that came in handy during her crisis.Avery's thoughts on going out into the wildness now, after her near-death experience. Closing thoughts from Avery on conservation and how to connect and support her work! Tweetables:“It is really important that we keep these working lands and ranches intact because they are the places that wildlife c

Episode 3: Show Notes.Dolphins are hyper-intelligent animals. They are highly adaptable, can use tools, understand language, pass down traditions from one generation to the next, and are capable of self-recognition. These are just a few of the traits of the fascinating creatures that today's guest, Maddalena Bearzi, has dedicated her life to studying and protecting. Maddalena has a Ph.D. in biology, where her research focused on the behavioral ecology of marine mammals in Santa Monica Bay. She is also Co-Founder and President of the Ocean Conservation Society, an author, and a photojournalist. In this episode, Maddalena talks about her journey as a marine biologist and how she came to study dolphins. As someone who has always been drawn to animals, the complex societies of dolphins captivated Maddalena. We discuss the process of finding and tracking these animals, the specific challenges that come with studying them, and why our current knowledge is only scratching the surface. Although Maddalena is a trained scientist, she has dedicated much of her time to conservation, and we hear about her choice to do so. There are so many interconnected threats to our oceans and all the creatures that live in them that we need more decisive, swift action if we are to save this ecosystem. Maddalena is paving the way for change, and we are sure she will inspire you to do to the same.Key Points From This Episode:Hear about Maddalena's professional journey and how she ended up studying dolphins.The impetus for founding Ocean Conservation Society and the organization's mission.What sparked Maddalena's interest in dolphins and how her brother's work inspired her.Why you are more likely to find dolphins in contaminated water.Dolphin's dorsal fins work the same way as human fingerprints and can be used to track migration patterns.How to find dolphins and the work it takes to understand why they have chosen to be in a certain area.Great apes versus dolphins: challenges that come with studying these sea creatures.Misconceptions about being a marine biologist; it's all work at the end of the day.Each dolphin society is so distinct and uses its environment so differently.Maddalena shares some examples of dolphins displaying their intelligence.What motivated Maddalena to work more on the conservation side of things.The incredible story where Maddalena saw dolphins saving a suicidal woman's life.Evidence to show that dolphins are good at recognizing boats.The biggest risks that dolphins and ocean creatures face and why they are so hard to solve.Why we need better education and more people involved in protecting the oceans.Maddalena's creative projects and why she encourages people not to visit aquariums.Tweetables:“Dolphins are extremely fascinating animals. The more you learn about them, the more you discover how similar they are to us.” — Maddalena Bearzi [0:04:26]“I've studied dolphins of California for over 20 years and I'm just starting to scratch the surface of what I know.” — Maddalena Bearzi [0:11:27]“They use their intelligence to resolve problems, and the problems they need to resolve in water are very different to the problems we need to solve on land.” — Maddalena Bearzi [0:25:12]“We need to act now to protect the ocean and these magnificent creatures or they won't be around much longer.” — Maddalena Bearzi [0:33:22]“All of us need to take responsibility and do something more to protect the only planet we have.” — Maddalena Bearzi [0:52:35]