210: The Culling Conundrum with Ryan Davy

A wildlife researcher or veterinarian kneels beside a sedated rhinoceros in an African savanna setting. The rhino is lying on its side with white bandaging wrapped around its head area where its horns have been removed as part of anti-poaching conservation efforts. The person, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, dark shirt, and shorts, appears to be monitoring the animal during the dehorning procedure. The scene takes place during golden hour with expansive grasslands stretching to the horizon under a partly cloudy sky, creating a dramatic backdrop for this crucial wildlife conservation work aimed at protecting rhinos from poachers.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lQrHB9lkIWzArwCA6h2Qc Why are elephants dying slow deaths from starvation in African parks? Can contraceptives really solve wildlife overpopulation in fenced reserves? What happens when international animal rights organisations influence conservation decisions from thousands of miles away? These are the uncomfortable questions at the heart of one of conservation's most contentious debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BCi3d_eWH4 Ryan Davy spent … Continue reading 210: The Culling Conundrum with Ryan Davy →

206: The Real Yellowstone

A group of five ranch hands on horseback gathered near a wooden fence in a pastoral setting. The riders, wearing traditional cowboy hats and work clothing, are mounted on brown and chestnut horses in what appears to be a working ranch environment. The scene is set against a backdrop of golden, dried grassland with a rustic wooden post-and-rail fence visible in the foreground. The lighting suggests either early morning or late afternoon, creating a warm, atmospheric quality typical of ranch life in rural countryside.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PRw63zHrbry4RaVX0UGc1 Why is the farming community so opposed to the American Prairie Foundation's rewilding vision? Can ranchers and conservationists find common ground when grizzly bears are eating cattle and wolves are reducing elk herds? What happens when well-meaning conservation efforts clash with rural communities who've worked the land for generations? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MBo2Xrh1j4 To explore these contentious … Continue reading 206: The Real Yellowstone →

204: The Elephant Translocation Disaster with Jens Ulrik Høgh

A group photo of approximately 20 Black people from a rural African community, including adults and children, standing and sitting together in a lush agricultural field. The group appears to be a farming community, with people of various ages wearing casual clothing in bright colours including orange, blue, yellow, and traditional patterned fabrics. In the foreground and surrounding the group are green crops including what appears to be maize plants and other vegetables. The setting suggests a rural farming area with rich, fertile soil. On the right side of the group stands a white journalist with glasses wearing olive-green clothing. The sky overhead is partly cloudy, and there are trees visible in the background. The image captures what appears to be a community gathering or visit to showcase local agricultural work.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7M2rtUYPfW5shNdwOgzjTb How does a wealthy animal welfare organisation, funded by well-meaning donors from Europe and North America, end up relocating hundreds of elephants to an area where some of the world's poorest people live? What happens when two people are killed within 24 hours of the first four elephants arriving, yet the organisation presses on … Continue reading 204: The Elephant Translocation Disaster with Jens Ulrik Høgh →

197: Living with Lynx – Conversation with Jonny Hanson

This image shows a book cover titled "LIVING WITH LYNX" by Jonny Hanson. The cover features a close-up photograph of a lynx's face, showcasing its distinctive tufted ears, facial markings, and amber eyes. Below the main title is the subtitle "Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves and Bears". The background appears to be a blurred winter or snowy landscape, emphasising the natural habitat of these animals. The cover uses a clean, modern typography with the author's name at the top and the title prominently displayed in large black letters across the middle of the image.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5eSwvZrhlgfkjNX9bIm5Ds Is it possible for humans and large carnivores to share landscapes without conflict? What happens when predators like wolves, bears, and lynx return to areas where they've been absent for centuries? How do we balance the ecological benefits of apex predators with the real concerns of rural communities and farmers? We’re trying to answer … Continue reading 197: Living with Lynx – Conversation with Jonny Hanson →

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 →

The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status – A Five-Episode Exclusive

An exclusive series of podcast episodes dedicated to the European Commission’s proposal to reduce the conservation status of wolves is here. Late in 2023, I published an episode titled The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status where I discussed this proposal with five guests from different backgrounds. While making it, I recorded far more material … Continue reading The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status – A Five-Episode Exclusive →

163: The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TIXgTU3Rd1Lcn2moMsz0l The human-wildlife conflict with wolves has been brewing on the ground in the EU for some time. On the one hand, it has been fueled by a remarkable recovery of wolves across the continent, and on the other, by politicians trying to hijack it for their political gains. In September 2023 the European Commission … Continue reading 163: The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status →

Episode 124: African Wildlife Conservation with Lilian Mremi

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Ue73g4hvkMuS9177c5OPe?si=c70bc4b6bbeb4d28 Those of you who either read the excellent book “Cries of the Savanna” by Sue Tidwell or listened to the podcast episode with her are familiar with Lilian Mremi, a Game Scout and Tanzanian Wildlife Ranger. Shortly after the episode was published many of you expressed great interest in hearing directly from Lilian. I … Continue reading Episode 124: African Wildlife Conservation with Lilian Mremi →

Episode 121: Cries of the Savanna with Sue Tidwell

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5HxaFqNcltM1E2NAQOVD7G?si=f2686540950645c9 In this episode, once again, we’re going to take on the subject of hunting in Africa. Our guest is Sue Tidwell, the author of a wonderful book titled “Cries of the Savanna” that I reviewed in last week’s blog post. And since I really liked the book I was itching for the opportunity to … Continue reading Episode 121: Cries of the Savanna with Sue Tidwell →