214: Bringing Back the Wild with Mike Arnold – A Hunter’s View of Global Conservation

A hunter in camouflage clothing and glasses kneels beside a harvested nyala antelope in a grassy field. The hunter holds a rifle and poses with the animal, which displays distinctive white vertical stripes on its dark brown coat and long spiral horns. Dense vegetation is visible in the background.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pc7FMa9DZhL5wKzFlcaQt?si=4UTk4PlfTQWE8wqSRAmq8A Can hunting truly support conservation? Does fortress conservation offer a sustainable solution for protecting wildlife in the long term? And how do we balance the needs of impoverished communities with the preservation of fragile ecosystems? Our guest today is Mike Arnold, a Distinguished Research Professor and Head of the Department of Genetics at the … Continue reading 214: Bringing Back the Wild with Mike Arnold – A Hunter’s View of Global Conservation →

203: TB in Deer: An Irish Hunter’s Guide to the Uncomfortable Reality

Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, the pathogen responsible for causing the disease tuberculosis (TB). A 3D computer-generated image. Photo by CDC on Unsplash.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cWJdowrsN2QuCqk9V1V3y Is TB in deer a growing concern for Irish hunters? What happens when you shoot a deer infected with TB, and what are the realities from a hunter's perspective? In this episode of the Conservation and Science podcast, we dive into the contentious topic of bovine tuberculosis in deer - an issue I've attempted … Continue reading 203: TB in Deer: An Irish Hunter’s Guide to the Uncomfortable Reality →

200: Deer Management in Ireland with Ashley Glover

The image shows large wooden numbers "200" placed in a lush green forest. The numbers appear to be carved from wood with a natural, rustic texture and are partially covered with moss or green vegetation growing on them. They're positioned on the forest floor, surrounded by pine trees and dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. The setting creates a striking contrast between the man-made numerals and the natural forest environment, suggesting a theme of nature and sustainability or perhaps marking a significant milestone or anniversary related to the number 200.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/11i349yokoK471SyDzdPMh Is Ireland ready to tackle its growing deer management challenges? How will the new national deer management programme impact hunters, landowners, and conservation efforts? What role do thermal imaging technologies play in modern wildlife management? In this milestone 200th episode of Conservation and Science, we welcome back Ashley Glover, a conservationist, master huntsman, and … Continue reading 200: Deer Management in Ireland with Ashley Glover →

195: Can Hunting Foster Environmental Stewardship? Conversation with Thorsten Gieser

A group of hunters standing in a line wearing yellow hunting jackets and dark trousers, with some wearing hunting hats. Behind them hangs a row of harvested rabbits or similar game animals on a wooden frame. The scene is set in a misty or foggy wooded area, creating a moody atmosphere. The hunters appear to be gathered for what might be an end-of-hunt gathering or inspection of their quarry.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ppiuvpQiPlitGsQdn1QZI What makes someone kill an animal and still claim to care deeply about nature? Can the act of hunting foster environmental stewardship? These somewhat provocative questions lie at the heart of my conversation with Thorsten Gieser, an anthropologist studying hunting practices and their deeper meaning in modern society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZEUi8k_GDk Our discussion explores the complex … Continue reading 195: Can Hunting Foster Environmental Stewardship? Conversation with Thorsten Gieser →

193: Human-Wildlife Conflict – Romanian Bears and African Elephants with Jens Ulrik Høgh

Bear on the side of the road at the Transfagarasan road in Arges county, Romania. Photo by Fermoar.ro on Unsplash

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OI5ygBsMnCQZUFjNAhnIe Can hunting be an effective way to manage human-wildlife conflict? What happens when well-intentioned wildlife protection measures backfire? I spoke with Jens Ulrik Høgh, a Scandinavian hunting journalist, to find answers to these questions through the lens of Romania's bear management crisis. When hunting was banned in 2016 under pressure from animal rights groups, … Continue reading 193: Human-Wildlife Conflict – Romanian Bears and African Elephants with Jens Ulrik Høgh →

Let’s Talk About Europe’s Wolf Protection Laws

A dramatic digital artwork depicting five snarling wolves with bared teeth, shown in close-up against a dark, moody background. The wolves have detailed fur rendered in golden-brown and white tones. They appear to be confronting each other aggressively, with their paws extended and bodies positioned on what appears to be gnarled tree branches. The lighting creates a theatrical, Renaissance-style atmosphere with golden highlights contrasting against shadowy areas.

As you may have heard, the Standing Committee of the Berne Convention (an international legal instrument for nature conservation) decided to lower the protection status of wolves. This opens the way to lower their protection status across the EU through the Habitats Directive. The move had been on the cards for over a year, and … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Europe’s Wolf Protection Laws →

182: Lead Ammunition and Health with Fredrik Widemo

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6T9ljtrCTS0BmVXBZ6E2vV Should we worry about consuming venison from an animal harvested with lead ammunition? Will cutting out and discarding meat around the impact area solve the problem? And what are the best practices to keep us safe? https://youtu.be/g5IbLZtIAm4 Most of us have heard about the negative effects of lead on health. Not only on our … Continue reading 182: Lead Ammunition and Health with Fredrik Widemo →

180: Hunters Just Are

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GunVbl2ODGJ5FlO5hRH4Q Not long ago I posted a tweet: “Hunters are not good or bad, they just are. Therefore, they must be managed just like, and as a part of, the wildlife they hunt.” It was an attempt to condense my thoughts about our relationship with wildlife and nature. I purposefully used the word “our” because … Continue reading 180: Hunters Just Are →

179: Sika Deer: Pest or Precious?

A young male Sika deer with antlers stands in a field of tall, brown and green grasses. The deer is looking to the left of the frame. The background is a blurry green field.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cWzbBrUaEnbe6yNFv2crZ Sika (cervus nippon) is a mid-sized deer that was introduced to Ireland in the 1860s to the Powerscourt Estate. Soon after that, it started spreading across Ireland. Today, the main concentrations of sika are in Kerry, Wicklow, Tyrone and Fermanagh. More recently, it has also been found in Waterford, Galway, Limerick, and Wexford. The … Continue reading 179: Sika Deer: Pest or Precious? →

175: SOTKA Wetlands with Veli-Matti Pekkarinen and Heikki Helle

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5HmxkYJTJHmC3Jj5bjWBrO Finnish SOTKA is a large-scale habitat restoration project and a part of a larger Helmi Habitats Programme aimed at restoring Finland’s biodiversity. It is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment. SOTKA’s objective is large-scale habitat restoration through wetlands rehabilitation, restoration of mires and catchments, non-native (i.e. … Continue reading 175: SOTKA Wetlands with Veli-Matti Pekkarinen and Heikki Helle →