216: EU Wolves and the Conservation Success Conundrum with Hanna Pettersson

Winter landscape showing a snow-covered alpine valley with traditional wooden chalets scattered across rolling hills. Dramatic snow-capped mountain peaks rise in the background beneath a cloudy sky with soft golden light. Bare trees dot the foreground of the pristine white valley.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oeCe6ki4rstiNJjSAveCH?si=6ZBMYXCvQByzGbOMvo-oNg Can we find a middle ground between those who see the EU's wolf downlisting as a catastrophe and those who celebrate it as good news? The debate around wolf conservation in the EU has become frustratingly polarised, with both sides 'crying wolf' about the consequences of changing protection status. It's time to step back … Continue reading 216: EU Wolves and the Conservation Success Conundrum with Hanna Pettersson →

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 →

211: When Reintroductions Cause De-wilding with Alex Lees

A large pelican with distinctive dishevelled, cream-coloured plumage rests on weathered wooden logs. The bird displays its characteristic enormous pale yellow bill and bright orange eyes, with wispy feathers creating an almost comical 'bad hair day' appearance atop its head. The pelican's posture is relaxed as it sits amongst the timber, with its substantial body and wings folded naturally. The wooden logs show signs of age and weathering, creating interesting textures and lines that frame the bird. The background is softly blurred in dark tones, making the pale pelican stand out prominently in the composition.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mrrImy0I4FvZqKCVVb5zP Can species reintroductions harm biodiversity rather than help it? Why might bringing back wolves or lynx create more problems than solutions? Are we using reintroductions as a distraction from the real drivers of our nature crisis? In conversation with Alex Lees, Reader at Manchester Metropolitan University, we explore these questions and cut through popular … Continue reading 211: When Reintroductions Cause De-wilding with Alex Lees →

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 →

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 →

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 →

198: Living with Wolves – The Complete Guide to Coexistence

The image shows a book cover titled "LIVING WITH WOLVES" by Thorsten Gieser. The cover features a close-up photograph of a grey wolf with amber eyes looking directly at the camera against a blurred natural background. The subtitle reads "Affects, Feelings and Sentiments in Human-Wolf-Coexistence" and the book appears to be published by Transcript in their Human-Animal Studies series.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/02cT5I7h7A5Q8uNWCPL3LX I feel like this episode is the ultimate guide to understanding coexistence with wolves. Once again I talk with ecological anthropologist Thorsten Gieser, this time about his excellent book “Living with Wolves: Affects, Feelings and Sentiments in Human-Wolf Coexistence”. In the episode, Thorsten recounts a tense atmosphere during the visit to a wolf kill … Continue reading 198: Living with Wolves – The Complete Guide to Coexistence →

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 →