Our Wild World

Encore: What's That Thing Sitting on Your Shoulders?

The one tool each of us has at our disposal is our brain, and the ability to think ourselves through to solutions. The headlines are downright scary these days, and while it seems like the world has been turned upside down around us while we weren’t looking, that suddenly the scale and scope of our challenges are so much bigger than the individual. But, historically, this is when we humans are often at our very best, and how we choose to respond to the challenges we are facing will define our...

Encore: Loving Wildlife To Death with Glen Martin

Since this episode originally aired a year ago, traction from animal rights and welfare movements have certainly gained ground for exotic animals in captivity. However, in terms of large landscape-species survival plans, rights and welfare acts can create direct conflict to saving species in the wild: umbrella species and critical players in conserving large landscapes, biodiversity and ecosystems that depend upon them, where extinction of an entire species in the wild V's. an individual, wou...

Encore: National Strategies Combatting Wildlife Trafficking

We are dealing with an unprecedented spike in illegal wildlife trade, threatening to overturn decades of conservation gains. Wildlife overexploitation and crime is big business these days beyond the slippery slope and repercussions of impending extinctions. With my guest today, Will Gartshore of WWF we’ll gain in-depth understanding of the wide net involved in and stemming from illegal wildlife trafficking, and what the US government, our Congress, and the current Administration is doing abou...

Encore: The Missing Links with Brian Czech

Despite the incredible successes in conservation, overall, something isn’t working. We are losing ground. What are the missing links? Delving deeply into this question, we keep butting up against the fundamental conflicts between economic growth and wildlife conservation. With my guest Brian Czech, we tackle this subject head-on., Brian documented the causes of species endangerment for US Fish and Wildlife Services only to have his findings squelched as a taboo subject in any conversation in ...

Encore: CITES: CoP-OUT with Chris Mercer

As the dust just begins to settle from CITES, the veil lifts and the shock waves of the decisions ripple across the world- through the conservation communities and the ‘industry’. The other side altruism is business, and philanthropy and conservation today has become very big business indeed, when model base is ‘utilization’, ‘consumptive’ and a flip definition of ‘sustainable use’. There is a disturbing trend with far reaching consequences when wild life becomes, as my guest Chris Mercer ...

Caught In The Middle- Seized Wildlife with Bill Clark

We hear of orphans being taken in all the time, but the larger problem is that which is causing more orphans- the taking of wildlife in the international illegal trade, and even in legal trade What happens to all the confiscated wild animals- seized by Interpol, Customs, USFW- when an illegal trafficker is busted at a border- an airport, a port, state lines, international boundaries? With my guest Bill Clark, we discuss the rules and guidelines that govern the international trade in wildlife ...

Possibilism with Michael Soule

Our guest Michael Soule, the father of conservation biology, shares his deep insights from decades working in conservation. Over the past several decades, as a society, we spend more time living through devices than connecting with tangible nature. Michael helps us to understand that connecting with nature is spending time being in and listening to the wild. That the responsibility lies with each of us and our institutions to care about the environment to get our communities, especially child...

Encore: Lets Not Bank on Extinction with WildAid Peter Knights, Hong Hoang, Alex Hofford

In today’s globalized world little now stays local- from tourists to terrorists – can reach almost anywhere. From headlines of S. Africa ruling for rhino horn trade, to recent reports of thieves breaking into a French zoo and into a South African rhino orphanage to kill captive rhinos for their horns. may suggest a renewed surge in demand for rhino horn and similarly, the killing of a famous bull elephant in Kenya has depressed wildlife advocates. Although appalling incidents, there are many ...

Wicked Problems with Ashwell Glasson

Today, with returning guest Ashwell Glasson, we address deep seated Wicked Problems as a root cause of civil unrest and social disruptions that are occurring globally, as a result of unrestrained economic growth leading to environmental problems. We gain an understanding that we cannot isolate environmental issues to a specific region as they have far reaching effects and lead to interconnected series of problems on national and global scales. We must break our cycle of short term thinking an...

Encore: Do You See What I See with Nick Brandt and BigLife Foundation

“East Africa, is just a microcosm, where you can still see open plains shared by so many different people and creatures has a visceral impact on most humans who see it, and fill the most jaded of us with a profound sense of wonder. If we follow our present path of development and rate of destruction, we will see the unique megafauna of Africa disappear. We are living through the antithesis of genesis right now. All those billions of years to reach a place of such wondrous diversity, and then ...

Our Footprint in the Extremes with Nigel Kuhn

From the Sahara Desert in Mali to the frozen desert of Antarctica, extreme conditions require unique measures to deal with waste management and humanity’s footprint. My guest, Nigel Kuhn, and I discuss waste management at these two extreme places, both with sensitive, desert ecosystems where human impact is amplified. Nigel describes the tipping point that is happening in Mali where the country is suffering from excessive plastics and waste, and contrasts that with the extreme measures taken ...

The Missing Links with Brian Czech

Despite the incredible successes in conservation, overall, something isn’t working. We are losing ground. What are the missing links? Delving deeply into this question, we keep butting up against the fundamental conflicts between economic growth and wildlife conservation. With my guest Brian Czech, we tackle this subject head-on., Brian documented the causes of species endangerment for US Fish and Wildlife Services only to have his findings squelched as a taboo subject in any conversation in ...

Encore: Conservation Frontlines

There is a lot happening on the ground, in the news and in the courtrooms around the world in wildlife conservation. Battles are being fought and lines are being drawn as to the place our wildlife holds in our value systems, our economics and our hearts and our history. Between advocates and opponents of how we will manage our wildlife populations into the future and the reasons for doing so- ethics, morals, and economic benefits worldwide. Today we’ll discuss the footprint of wildlife con...

Encore: The Economics of Conservation

The needs of people and wildlife are inextricably linked, bound together by the common resources of our earth. Our human sense of entitlement over these resources vs. the needs of animals is where conflict arises that often turns into a boiling battle: Let’s call it the Tree-hugger vs. the Corporation. But what we're really talking about here is the economics of conservation vs. the moral and ethical dilemma of providing an atmosphere that allows for and includes security for the other life-f...

Encore: April Fool's Day- Are we really so foolish?

Wouldn’t it be great if today’s headlines were : It’s okay. We can all come out now! the Extinction and Global crises are over, and We’ve Won! We don’t have to worry about environmental collapse or losing our polar bears and elephants, and our world turning into one big corporate machine, because humanity came to its senses the other day - we all pulled together and turned our wild world around! Each of us one day said to the other, well… here’s what I did today, and I’m going to do it ever...

Infinite Growth on a Finite Planet with Aaron Vandiver

In continuing our series of facing extreme challenges, my guest Aaron Vandiver brings insights as to how the fundamental policies and structures of the global Growth Model by which we all operate within, ultimately brings about the ecological destruction we need to prevent. This model is written, enforced, and entrenched in just about every layer of society and policy today. Conservation and economists knew back in the sixties, that infinite growth is simply not possible on a finite planet. ...

Facing Day Zero with Ashwell Glasson

We’ve been here before. At every convention of parties from Kyoto to Paris, from Millennium Development and Sustainability Goals to CITES, to Climate Talks by our worlds leading conservationists and scientists, we fail to fully commit to cleaning up our individual and collective act. We keep setting the bar for culpability and responsibility lower, and cooperation and sanctions farther afield down the timeline. From benchmarks set in 2000, to 2020, to 2050, we keep thinking we can dodge Day Z...

Humane Washing vs Animal Wellbeing with Marc Bekoff

In his new book, ‘Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age’ my guest Marc Bekoff and I converse on the science of animal-welfare versus animal well-being. “Whenever you see the word “welfare” in the literature, you can be pretty sure something unpleasant is being done to animals”. Our compelling conversation highlights the limitations and frustrations with the science of animal-welfare and works to emphasize that individuals matter, as well as shifting legal def...

Encore: A Nose For Data- Working Dogs for Conservation with Megan Parker and Pete Coppolillo

To save wildlife, we can start by saving a dog. Thousands of high energy dogs that don’t make good pets, are stuck in shelters. WDC offers a second chance to high-drive shelter dogs, many of whom would have been euthanized had they not saved themselves by getting a job saving wildlife. WD4C trains the world's best conservation detection dogs and put them to work protecting wildlife and wild places. Montana-based non profit WD4C, uses highly trained detection dogs to make conservation more eff...

Finding Inspiration with Lori Robinson

With thirty to fifty percent of all species vanishing by mid-century, scientists call this the sixth extinction. Not knowing how to help stop this trend causes many people to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. With my guest Lori Robinson today, provide attainable antidotes for this despair. Author Lori Robinson, of ‘Saving Wild’ and ‘Wild Lives’, asked leading conservationists how we stay Inspired, and in the latter highlights conservation legends historical moments that often lay the foundation ...

Encore: Rewilding Our Hearts with Marc Bekoff

Encore: Rewilding Our Hearts with Marc Bekoff

Rewilding has long been a conservation term for connectivity and creating corridors for wildlife movement. In recent decades, it is the concept finding suitable existing habitats for species on the brink of extinction that may exist outside of where they currently live or are being extirpated. Today there is a new meaning. With Marc Bekoff, and his newest book, ‘Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence’. Rewilding in this sense brings us to an understanding if not...

The Will to Change with Stephen Capra

While much of the world of conservation today is focused on hot-spots and mega fauna elsewhere around the world, we are forgetting that the United States of America is losing it’s biodiversity and the wild lands that hold much of it: Our Federal public lands. My guest today, Stephen Capra of Bold Visions Conservation and I discuss the degradation of our US conservation movements, which have been under siege since the early 50s, as political agendas consistently tear away the very fabric that ...

Encore: OS X World Version Update Conservation 2.0 with Ashwell Glasson

Today’s conversation with my guest Ashwell Glasson gives provides us with a view of the scale and scope of the challenges we are facing in securing biodiversity. What is being called for is an overhaul of the current models and mindsets driving conservation efforts in global landscapes under multiple pressures, including transnational wildlife crime at unprecedented levels. For the sake of frame of reference, our discussion is focused around rhino conservation as it holds markers of all that ...

Changing the Game with Ashwell Glasson

In any plans for the future of African wildlife and its conservation, it is critical to understand the moving parts at play in the background. National and international politics and finances are continuously and strategically moving on the global game-board of who has wildlife and who wants it. Hunters, zoos, tourism to ecosystems and health - all are players in this global game of chess. Today, with my guest Ashwell Glassson, we pull back the curtain to peer at the tectonic movements of how...

A Brave New World- Akashinga with Damien Mander

Today’s program with Damien Mander, IAPF began on the day after Mugabe resigned and amidst jubilation in the streets of Harare as Zimbabwe swore in a new interim President. This shift is one of the most hopeful messages the world and conservation can look to that systemic change is possible. We picked up the conversation one week later to further discuss the evolution of conservation in a country that historically has depended upon income generated by the hunting concessions- land that is not...

Zimbabwe - A Pathway For Leadership with Johnny Rodrigues

Africa is changing. Most recent headlines are Zimbabwe. Now that Mugabe is out, an interim government in place and plans for inclusive elections with opposition parties at the table, what we are not hearing about are the continued capture of live, wild baby elephants and other species still being held in Zimbabwe for export to China. My guest today Johnny Rodrigues of Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), has for years and in previous episodes on this program, made the world aware of these...

Encore: Corruption Of The Wild With Nick Lynch

Zimbabwe: Wildlife and mineral rich, home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World and World Heritage Site. My guest Nick Lynch an I discuss how, once a model of progressive management between Old and New Africa, Zimbabwe now daily symbolizes egregious cronyism and greed running rampant. The dubious murky dealings of 24 baby elephants taken from the wild for live-export to an ivory hungry China has roused national and international headlines of inept and failing wildlife policies management i...

Encore: On the Brink

Everyday, every year, every moment, we are on the brink: of a new day, a new year, and to be astonished. We live on the only blue ball that carries life, as we know it, and such an abundance of life it is. We are also on the brink of change throughout our human and non-human communities; shifts in thought, knowledge, culture and civilizations. Today we’ll highlight landmarks of 2013 and some hints at what’s in store from our wild world to you for a brand new year- the crossover paths and l...

Encore: Trading What's Left of Life

Decades of data tells us our world is quickly sliding past tipping points to points of no return. In just the last decade viable populations across the board have or are disappearing. That we not reaching global sustainable development and environmental goals compatible and conducive to the continuance of life as we know it. We must take action now to implement multilayered solutions, options and alternatives. The decisions of trade in endangered flora and fauna is CITES. CoP17 is happening...

Encore: CITES A Treaty for our Times with Dr. Ronald Orenstein Part 2

Encore: CITES A Treaty for our Times with Dr. Ronald Orenstein Part 2

“For the worst possible reasons, elephants and rhinoceroses are front-page news today, the poster children for the worst excesses of organized wildlife crime. The present crisis is the outcome of some 40 years of history, some of it acted out in nature and some at international meetings where the rules defining the fate of species are endlessly fought over.” What has changed dramatically is the landscape of highly organized crime, of which the sole purpose is economics: get rich. When at the ...

Encore: What Is CITES The Long View with Dr. Ronald Orenstein Part 1

The recent trend is that CITES is outdated, that it has no teeth, that the very trade in endangered and threatened species is causing them to slip toward extinction. On the face of it that would seem a compelling argument., WildiZe Observers had the opportunity roam the halls, and like many others; we came away with more questions than answers. I felt it imperative to better understand CITES from those more knowledgeable than myself. Dr. Ronald Orenstein is a highly involved participant and ...

Wildlife Protection Solutions with Eric Schmidt

Today my guest is Eric Schmidt, Executive Director of Wildlife Protection Solutions a nonprofit who’s mission is to use technology for the conservation of endangered species & ecosystems. I first encountered WPS at event 0with panel speakers specifically discussing wildlife issues, poaching, and species loss and how their effects relate to security needs that have global impacts and consequences. I was immediately intrigued their systems approach and the possibilities in both large landscape ...

Encore: A Chat Over Tea, Kenya Style with Will Knocker

We’re seeing shifts of time, generations and modernization and technology all over the world, and it’s always a good thing to hear the voices from the rest of the world. My guest today, Will Knocker, joins us from Kenya, overlooking Nairobi National Park. Will has lifetimes of knowledge to share as a third generation Kenyan- and an eloquent ability to share both visions of the past and merge them with the present. Sharing conversations, drawing parralles through the lens of living generations...

Let's Get Science Out of the Lab Into The Communities with Dr. Kathy Alexander

Transferring data and knowledge gained through research into a journal that sits on a shelf won’t carry us through to creating the interdisciplinary and collaborative results we in the real world- from research and science in the field and the lab into the hands and households of the communities where it is needed to best take advantage of all dimensions and perspectives for an inclusive understanding and creative solutions of the challenges that real people and real communities face on a dai...

Encore: How Do We Value Wildlife with Calvin Cottar

New conservation models and strategies are ripe for out of the box thinking to be responsive to the hierarchy of needs and shifts in both multi-use landscapes and various value systems, with economic benefits based upon productivity through payment for ecosystem services (PES). If wildlife has no value to the local private landowners that depend 100% on living off their land, then wildlife will not be considered as part of the economic equation of payment or solutions, or via utilization- a s...

Rhinos, Lions and Profits-Selling Out Our Wild with Pieter Kat

Rapid changes to our entire earth and our wild species and heritage is happening the world over: from climate change to regulations to law enforcement and models that unfortunately end up promoting continued illegal wildlife trade. With my guest Dr. Pieter Kat, we discuss the recent headlines of a legalized national trade in rhino horn within S. Africa and the ramifications and consequences, as yet still unknown, of the online auction of rhino horn for private use while at the same time it is...

Encore: For The Love of Lions with Dr. Pieter Kat

In a world inundated with captive bred African lions, why are we losing wild lions in Africa? With successful foreign bans against import of lion trophy and products, airline embargos, and bans of lions in circuses and performing entities - combined with the global push for USFW to list African Lions as endangered under the ESA, will we turn the tide for lions? Or will the illegal trade and pressure from moneyed private interests in S. Africa, the NRA, SCI and DSC to obfuscate collective data...

Encore: MORE CATS, part 2 Feral Cats and Wildlands

In our previous episode we learned the interesting history of cats becoming our pets, yet barely covered the tip of the iceberg of feral cats and their impacts on our world. Today we continue the conversation about cats with Dr. John Hadidian and Katie Lisnik. Feral cats are not only an abuse or cruelty issue, a health issue but they are also a conservation issue. From TNR programs to euthanasia, how do we respond to cats gone wild in our wildlands, and more so, what we can do to prevent th...

Encore: CATS CATS CATS with Dr. John Hadidian and Katie Lisnik, HSUS

We’re not talking about the furry loveable housecat. There are currently an estimated 30-40 million cats in the US alone, living in our neighborhoods, our wildlands and in their own communities. With Dr. John Hadidian and Katie Lisnik of the Humane Society of the US we’re talking about the cats that are not owned, live in your community, and are feral, and what the differences are. A stray cat is a pet who has been lost or abandoned, used to contact with people and tame enough to be adopted. ...

Encore: Dreaming Big with Richard Bonham, Big Life Foundation

Today we cap off the trilogy of Big Life Foundation, with my guest Richard Bonham, co-founder and keystone of the trio of creators in the model of Big Life’s structure. Richard grew up in Kenya, witnessing first-hand the increase in human population closely followed by changes in land use, and thus the wildlife, coupled with the increase in human-wildlife conflict. By creating clear links between land use, value and benefit, turned into an economic model where community ‘buy-in’ is critical t...

Encore: Predators and Pastoralists- with Tom Hill and BigLife Foundation

Conservation Economics 101: How do we preserve the African pastoralist lifestyle and cultural heritage, while also securing the landscape and the predators who live within it? In 2003, my guest Tom Hill and his colleague Richard Bonham, co-Founder of BigLife Foundation, created the Predator Compensation Fund, an innovation in wildlife conservation strategy that has proven highly successful at saving the great predators of the region– especially lions, reversing their otherwise imminent extinc...

Where Wild Things Are

A Whole Lot More than Mans Best Friend, with Dr. Pete Coppolillo

Our Astonishing World and the Power of One, Continued

Our Astonishing World and the Power of One

Reshaping Relationships and Responses Toward Abuse and Maltreatment of Animals with Philip Tedeschi

When Wild Things Come Out From the Wild

When Wild Things Come Out From the Wild

The urban wilderness: The bear, raccoon, beaver or the lion in your yard, patrolling your neighborhoods and nearby recreation areas, and rising numbers of risky and close encounters with the wild animals in our backyards, and those when we’re in what we have designated as 'their space.' These rising encounters signify changes both environmentally and culturally, of our rapidly growing human footprint causing fuzzy boundaries of our understanding and attitudes toward wildlife, and those betwee...