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 →

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 →

168: Coexistence with Wolves in Estonia with Helen Arusoo

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2SacXgnHbTR90b9C9AIjJQ On my podcast, we talk a lot about coexistence with large carnivores and the challenges it poses. Some of those challenges might seem insurmountable to some. To shed some light on overcoming these hurdles, I contacted Helen Arusoo, an Estonian nature journalist and the leader of the National Animal Working Group. In this conversation, … Continue reading 168: Coexistence with Wolves in Estonia with Helen Arusoo →

157: Is The Red Wolf a Real Species? Conversation with Peter Brewitt

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6lsehN0AMB6t8AOIgzhI1X?si=XVCow1myTMCQIustrV8DgA Without exaggeration, red wolves are my favourite canid species. I don’t exactly remember where and when I heard about them for the first time but I really got interested after reading an excellent book by Dan Flores, “Coyote America”. The history of this species and the inept and ultimately futile conservation and recovery programs … Continue reading 157: Is The Red Wolf a Real Species? Conversation with Peter Brewitt →

Episode 119: Land and Deer Management in Scotland with Megan Rowland

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2i5v0bVI1gAMvnp70gI2QX?si=f7323d9ad0db4c59 For many of you, Megan Rowland needs no introduction. She is a Deer Management Officer for NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency. Before that, she worked as a surveyor for RSPB Scotland where she surveyed the entire suite of Highland bird species. She has also been a volunteer for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, a local Raptor … Continue reading Episode 119: Land and Deer Management in Scotland with Megan Rowland →

Episode 115: Coexisting with Large Carnivores with John Linnell

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ZDufR9wqjnTW4lxZgCNIk?si=7065e1e340414628 Large terrestrial carnivores, like wolves, bears and lynx, are the poster children for conservation and rewilding efforts. Also, they are usually right in the epicentre of the human-wildlife conflict which always sparks emotions. That makes it easy to use them to politicize conservation. https://youtu.be/uZkolVlvu0k In many previous podcasts, our discussions about rewilding inevitably led … Continue reading Episode 115: Coexisting with Large Carnivores with John Linnell →

Episode 100: Deer, Sheep and Fires with Ashley Glover

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2mmIBjmiFOaA673AbsmhxH?si=0PvwW_IKT-ev2tYbYpedgQ&dl_branch=1 There are no two ways about it. It’s a milestone episode. Episode 100. To mark the occasion we get together with environmentalist, hunter and axe thrower, Ashley Glover to discuss some of the most interesting subjects from the past three years. And while the title says “Deer, Sheep and Fires,” in reality it should … Continue reading Episode 100: Deer, Sheep and Fires with Ashley Glover →

Episode 92: Upland Ecology with Cathy Mayne

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6KCZ7BclxG4NjcXbw9J5id?si=EcD570X0Q860K2w36B5aeg&dl_branch=1 In recent episodes, I have presented a whole host of views and opinions regarding rewilding, land management, and the need to change the way we coexist with nature. In this episode, we continue on that path, but with a guest, Dr Cathy Mayne, who has a particularly interesting perspective. That perspective might not be … Continue reading Episode 92: Upland Ecology with Cathy Mayne →

Episode 89: Camera Trapping and Large Mammal Monitoring with Adam Francis Smith

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0y5EVzNYX67eMf0QVclvEU?si=fKfdySxHQu2WwKox9UIJTA&dl_branch=1 In this instalment of the podcast, our guest is a young scientist, Adam Francis Smith, who lives in the Bavarian Forest National Park. Adam specializes in large terrestrial mammal monitoring and predator-prey interactions. He also works for the Frankfurt Zoological Society where he focuses on specific project areas in Ukraine and Belarus and where, … Continue reading Episode 89: Camera Trapping and Large Mammal Monitoring with Adam Francis Smith →

Episode 88: Rewilding Scotland with Peter Cairns

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4u2l6ReNgvYLO50Y1pxIBj?si=we0XDmeASgeY4vACBCRjyA&dl_branch=1 Peter Cairns is the executive director of the environmental charity Scotland: The Big Picture, the first organisation in Scotland wholly dedicated to championing rewilding. We started our conversation by discussing the controversy surrounding the term rewilding. Since rewilding (for want of a better, less controversial, term) is of great interest to me, the discussion … Continue reading Episode 88: Rewilding Scotland with Peter Cairns →