ZSL Wild Science Podcast
39 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsDelve into topical issues in zoology, conservation and the environment, from saving species and protecting the planet, to finding out about the animals living across the globe, including in London’s own river Thames. Learn more about the science behind the conservation work being done by ZSL and others, in this podcast from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology. Hosted previously by Dr Monni Böhm, and now by Ellie Darbey.
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Episodes
ZSL #038 Extinct in the wild: the vital role of conservation zoos and aquariums in saving species on the brink of extinction
March 28, 2023 23:08 - 52 minutes - 63.3 MBThe world is facing a crisis of species extinction, however targeted efforts in conservation biology can provide a glimmer of hope. A new study led by ZSL, published recently in Science, is the first to assess animals and plants categorised as ‘Extinct in the Wild’ by the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species – until now, a surprisingly overlooked group. In this episode, our host Ellie Darbey, with the help of four fantastic guests, discovers the incredible potential for conservation zoos, a...
ZSL #037 How can we recover nature in our cities: rewilding, reconnecting habitats and restoring rivers
December 20, 2022 12:44 - 42 minutes - 50 MBIt’s no secret that cities are generally perceived as spaces of little conservation relevance, yet local urban wildlife underpins a range of ecosystem services. In a time where rapid changes in the climate are causing more extreme natural events, wildlife is disappearing and we are becoming more and more disconnected from nature through urbanisation, could the recovery of urban ecosystems be a potential solution for a more resilient planet? In this episode, our host Ellie Darbey will discove...
ZSL #036 What lies beneath: investigating the amazing world of wildlife pathology
December 09, 2021 08:00 - 53 minutes - 60.9 MBPathology is the science of diagnosing diseases by observing physical changes in animal cells and tissues, either in living, or more commonly dead animals. In this episode, our host Ellie Darbey will explore the unseen…or rather, unheard world of wildlife pathology with the help of ZSL’s experienced pathologists, veterinarians, and scientists. Through post mortems on black widow spiders, to giant stranded humpback whales, these four pathology professionals will show the value of this diagnos...
ZSL #035 Nature-based solutions - putting nature at the heart of global climate change and biodiversity science-policy agendas
October 05, 2021 11:18 - 50 minutes - 57.6 MBThe anthropogenically driven climate crisis and unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss are both threatening the foundations of economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide. Treating these two crises separately can be ineffectual or even deepen the problem. A recent landmark study calls for a more integrated approach to tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. Ellie Darbey will be joined by lead author of the article, Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, along with th...
ZSL #035: Nature-based solutions - putting nature at the heart of global climate change and biodiversity science-policy agendas
October 05, 2021 11:18 - 50 minutes - 57.6 MBThe anthropogenically driven climate crisis and unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss are both threatening the foundations of economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide. Treating these two crises separately can be ineffectual or even deepen the problem. A recent landmark study calls for a more integrated approach to tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. Ellie Darbey will be joined by lead author of the article, Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, along with th...
ZSL #034 Marine habitat restoration in the UK: tales of oysters, saltmarsh, kelp, and seagrass
August 06, 2021 14:56 - 52 minutes - 58.5 MBCoastal marine habitats are essential to the health of our marine ecosystem, and hold both environmental and social importance. They provide valuable ecosystem services, but for decades they have been impacted by harmful human activities. In her final episode as host, Monni Böhm will be joined by co-host Celine Gamble and an expert panel to explore the need for active restoration to conserve four incredible marine habitats: native oyster beds, saltmarshes, kelp forests and seagrass. How can ...
ZSL #033 Putting reptiles on the map: ZSL Science for reptilian conservation
May 19, 2021 08:00 - 49 minutes - 57.6 MBReptiles - lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodilians – make up almost one third of all land vertebrate species on Earth, and also occur in many marine and freshwater systems. Yet despite their amazing diversity, reptiles remain hugely underrepresented in conservation research and action, when compared to mammals, birds, and even amphibians. In this episode, our host Ellie Darbey finds out from four fantastic reptile experts how this is changing through increased global efforts to put reptile...
ZSL #032 Coral reefs: running the gauntlet of climate change
April 01, 2021 10:00 - 42 minutes - 64 MBCoral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world, and more than 500 million people worldwide rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods, food security, and coastal protection. However, coral reefs are impacted by several threats, including rises in sea-surface temperature due to climate change. Join Monni as she navigates these unique underwater ecosystems with the help of five fantastic coral connoisseurs. How can new technologies be used to protect and preserve coral reefs...
ZSL #031 Habitat loss and human health – understanding the links between ecosystem degradation and infectious disease outbreaks
March 04, 2021 12:06 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBAfter more than a year of Covid-19 impacting global populations, health systems and economies, one of the major questions being asked was how did this start, and how can we prevent it from happening again? As we humans increasingly disturb our planet’s natural habitats and convert them to agricultural and urban areas, the way we interact with wildlife around us also changes. In this episode, Monni turns to a team of experts in wildlife diseases, to discuss this link between ecosystem degrada...
ZSL #030 Can surveillance technology and social science address rule-breaking and wildlife crime?
February 02, 2021 11:22 - 47 minutes - 62.4 MBLaw breaking, such as poaching or fishing inside marine reserves, is a great challenge to conservationists because research is often complicated by ethics and data privacy. However, important technological progress has been made in recent years, especially in the fields of surveillance and vessel tracking. Join Monni as she finds out from a panel of experts how machine learning and technology developments in drones, infrared imaging, global positioning systems and cameras can help tackle wil...
ZSL #029 The future of biodiversity conservation - different dimensions of conservation thinking
December 22, 2020 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBConservationists are working hard to stem global biodiversity loss. Yet, just like biodiversity itself, the conservation movement is very diverse, with a variety of ideas shaping its framing, purpose and application. In this episode, Monni and co-hosts Yara Shennan-Farpón, Helen Muller and Thalassa McMurdo Hamilton, speak with Dr Chris Sandbrook, co-creator of the Future of Conservation Survey, about some of the lessons learned from analysing the perspectives of nearly 10,000 conservationist...
ZSL #028 What's next for rewilding?
December 11, 2020 11:24 - 47 minutes - 36.8 MBRewilding has emerged as a captivating, but controversial, concept in conservation. Depending on how rewilding is defined, it aims to increase “wildness” of nature, regenerate ecosystem functioning, develop self-sustaining ecosystems, or a combination of these. Join Monni as she finds out from the experts how real “wildness” can be achieved, and why now is an important time for the UK to be thinking about rewilding. What is even possible in places like the UK where we have quite limited spac...
ZSL #027 Madagascar's missing megafauna: life after lemurs, hippos and elephant birds
May 14, 2020 12:01 - 44 minutes - 58.4 MBMadagascar is famed for its incredible biodiversity and charismatic lemurs, but has also seen extensive loss of natural habitat. Monni finds out from a panel of Madagascar aficionados what the island has been like in the past and what the challenges are for its surviving wildlife. How big is an elephant bird and its poo? What can old bones tell us? What are the ups and downs of conservation efforts on Madagascar? And why is the Madagascar pochard such a special bird? This episode was recor...
ZSL #026 Shifting tides: how can small-scale fisheries help address the Sustainable Development Goals?
February 10, 2020 15:30 - 43 minutes - 63.5 MBSmall-scale fisheries (SSFs) provide around two-thirds of the world’s catch intended for human consumption, and support 90% of employment in the fisheries sector, therefore should have a huge role to play in achieving some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite this, they are barely mentioned. Monni finds out from a panel of SSF a-fish-ionados why SSFs are being overlooked, what we can learn from them, and how we can better incorporate SSFs into policy, to meet human needs whil...
ZSL #025 Can badger vaccination help eradicate bovine TB?
December 12, 2019 11:41 - 43 minutes - 62.6 MBFor decades, conservationists, vets and farmers in the UK have been at loggerheads about the best way to manage bovine tuberculosis (bTB). This cattle disease is a huge burden on the farming industry and can pass between cattle and badgers, making it difficult to eradicate. In this episode, Monni teams up with bTB & badger specialists, to discuss badger vaccination as an alternative to culling operations - the current approach to controlling the disease in England. How do the two approache...
ZSL #024 Street-smart animals - incorporating cognitive behaviour into conservation efforts
November 25, 2019 09:56 - 36 minutes - 51.1 MBHuman-induced urbanisation, invasive species and land clearing are changing the environment at a far quicker pace than animals are able to evolve. Cognitive mechanisms can play a crucial role in determining how well animals adapt to this change. In this episode, Monni and a team of experts explore how integrating cognitive mechanisms into conservation strategies offers a new approach to enable animals to adapt and survive. How can cognition play a role in caring for our animals at ZSL London...
ZSL #023 Indigenous knowledge and conservation management: challenges and opportunities
October 18, 2019 15:16 - 45 minutes - 77.3 MBIndigenous communities around the world possess an extremely rich body of knowledge about local environmental resources and biodiversity, which has the potential to be an invaluable conservation tool. However, this local ecological knowledge is being progressively eroded worldwide. Hear Monni and a diverse panel of experts discuss the challenges and opportunities for incorporating indigenous knowledge into conservation management. How can social science help? And why should more trees be ord...
ZSL #022 Can we find better ways to live with wildlife?
August 05, 2019 12:07 - 39 minutes - 77.6 MBPeople and nature depend on each other, and although humans are needed to manage and protect nature, conservation practices can interfere with human livelihoods and create conflict between groups of people with competing interests. In this episode our guest host Charlotte Coales teams up with four experts to explore the complexity of these conflicts. What are the underlying drivers? Why do conservationists need to brush up on their people skills? And how could consensus building help?
ZSL #021 World Swallowtail Day
June 06, 2019 13:23 - 30 minutes - 42 MBJune 9th is World Swallowtail Day, and what better way to celebrate than with a trip to ZSL’s Butterfly Paradise to marvel at swallowtails, their bird poo mimicking larvae and get a good sniff of the osmeterium. The what? Find out in this episode, where Monni and guests discuss important conservation work for swallowtails at home and abroad, learn about butterfly houses and ZSL’s ongoing work assessing the status of swallowtails worldwide, and are introduced to the Dance of the Golden Birdwi...
ZSL #020 Marine plastic pollution: the science story
May 17, 2019 13:15 - 38 minutes - 54.5 MBHold your breath while we remain underwater for this next episode - Monni and a team of specialists investigate the science behind marine plastic pollution. What are the impacts of plastic on wildlife, people and our coasts? What are the future avenues for tackling this issue? What can each one of us do to reduce single-use plastic in our everyday lives? And how many washing machines can you fit into one small laboratory?
ZSL #019 How electronic animal tracking has revolutionised marine conservation
April 24, 2019 16:21 - 39 minutes - 58.4 MBThe marine environment is vast and until recently its sheer size and inaccessibility have hindered our ability to understand the impacts of environmental changes on marine life. Monni and a team of marine wildlife experts reveal how advances in electronic tracking equipment have allowed us to remotely monitor marine animals. How do you tag marine animals? What are the challenges we face when using tagging equipment in the marine environment? How can this help to improve conservation managem...
ZSL #018 Rewilding in a changing climate
February 27, 2019 15:18 - 36 minutes - 49.1 MBConservation often tries to restore habitats to what they were - but given that our climate is changing fast, this kind of ecosystem restoration may no longer be possible. Monni and guests explore how rewilding can help build resilient ecosystems for the future. Why is rewilding often so contentious? How can it be applied to help threatened species? Can humans derive benefits from rewilding? And how do classic cars come into all of this?
ZSL #017 Giving animals choice: how our zoo keepers use science to positively impact animal welfare
January 31, 2019 14:00 - 33 minutes - 44.7 MBMonni teams up with ZSL's Behavioural Management Committee (BMC) to find out how giving animals choice positively enhances their welfare and how this is put into practice every day at our zoos. What is the BMC and what happens at 'enrichment evenings'? How do you assess the welfare needs of an ant? How long does it take a gorilla to solve a puzzle and how does behavioural management in our zoos benefit research projects in the wild? And finally... does 'positive reinforcement' also work on M...
ZSL #016 Wildlife and wellbeing in urban landscapes
December 10, 2018 14:00 - 20 minutes - 28.5 MBNearly half of the world’s human population lives in urban environments and this is projected to increase in future. While many species suffer the effects from urbanisation, other species thrive (or at least persist) in our urban landscapes. Monni and guests explore what creatures are lurking in our cities at night, how we can improve our urban landscapes for nature and our own well-being and what you should (and shouldn't) do when you find a camera trap in a park.
ZSL #015 Biodiversity indicators: getting the measure of biodiversity and what it all means
November 13, 2018 10:17 - 33 minutes - 43.2 MBMonni explores the ins and outs of biodiversity indicators with IOZ’s Indicator and Assessments Research Unit. Biodiversity indicators are measures of how biodiversity is doing worldwide, and we see them reported in the media: the Living Planet Index, for example, was recently published as part of the 2018 Living Planet Report and shows that populations of vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish) have decline on average by 60% since 1970. How do such metrics come about and...
ZSL #014 A new era for shark conservation? Protecting ‘flat sharks’, rays and angels
October 03, 2018 09:33 - 25 minutes - 17.1 MBMonni and guests explore a new era of shark conservation, focusing on protecting the lesser-known ‘flat sharks’ and rays, such as sawfishes, angel sharks, wedgefishes stingrays and guitar sharks. Large coastal sharks have a greater exposure to habitat degradation and fishing compared to offshore and pelagic species, increasing their risk of extinction. Find out what mermaids’ purses tell us about the current distribution of these flat sharks, which include angel sharks living in the Canary I...
ZSL #013: Cetacean by-catch: casting the net for solutions
September 07, 2018 09:10 - 27 minutes - 19.7 MBBy-catch is defined as the accidental entanglement of non-target species in fishing gear and is a principal cause of strandings for cetaceans. Monni is joined by researchers from the Cetaceans Strandings Investigations Programme (CSIP) and its partners to discuss by-catch as both a welfare and a conservation issue. With the scale of fishing in global oceans increasing, what solutions are available to reduce the impact of by-catch on cetacean populations around our shores?
ZSL #012: ZSL at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2018
July 04, 2018 09:30 - 13 minutes - 10.2 MBIn this special mini-episode join Monni at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition for a teaser of what our researchers will be talking on our ZSL stand ‘Where the Wild Things Are’. Learn about the camera traps, tags and trackers being deployed around the world to study and monitor wildlife in remote locations, and what we can learn from the data they capture. Find out why should come along to the exhibition and what you can see and do at our exhibit, from animal top trumps, a cuddly sha...
ZSL #011 Can we still save coral reefs?
June 26, 2018 15:30 - 28 minutes - 26.8 MBMonni is joined by co-presenter Rachel Jones to navigate the hot waters of threats to coral reefs. Speakers discuss their experiences and stories from over 30 years' of research into the beauty and importance of these bio-diverse ecosystems. Even away from direct threats such as pollution, the protected reefs of the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory have recently been severely damaged by widespread bleaching events. Can the reefs bounce back? What research is being don...
ZSL #010: Species in the red: behind the scenes of the IUCN Red List
May 30, 2018 15:30 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBWe have probably all heard about threatened species that are close to extinction, but how do we measure this? Monni travels to the IUCN Red List Unit in Cambridge to find out about the ins and outs of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the extinction risk of species. How do we measure extinction risk? Who compiles the Red List and why? Which species have been assessed, what data do we need and where are the main data gaps? And what has Frank ...
ZSL #009: Collaborating for conservation in China
April 20, 2018 15:28 - 24 minutes - 17.5 MBThis episode is hosted by guest presenter Charlotte Coales, Public Engagement with Conservation Science Coordinator at ZSL. Charlotte and co-presenter Heidi Ma explore wildlife in China, a vast ‘megadiverse’ country that contains over 10% of global mammal species. From addressing pangolin trade for traditional Chinese medicine to protecting the beautiful and mysterious snow leopard, find out about the collaborative conservation projects stretching across China’s wide range of ecosystems.
ZSL #008: Reintroductions for saving species – meet the wildlife movers
April 17, 2018 16:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBMonni is joined by co-presenter Helen Gath to navigate the topic of reintroduction, an effective but complex conservation tool that can help save small populations of species. Speakers discuss how difficult reintroduction decisions are made in order to manage the risks and competing stakeholder interests involved, They discuss Helen's work on Mauritius, beavers in Scotland and Yellowstone’s 'nervous elk'!
ZSL #007: Ten years on the EDGE of Existence
February 26, 2018 14:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBMonni is joined by co-presenter Claudia Gray to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of ZSL's EDGE of Existence Programme. This unique conservation programme aims to save wildlife that’s Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered, including the Chinese giant salamander, clawed frog and long-beaked echidna. Guests delve into the Tree of Life to explore these weird and wonderful species, which currently represent some of life’s oldest and most threatened lineages. Learn about the work being do...
ZSL #006: Wildlife of the West African Savannah: unfamiliar and under threat
February 09, 2018 12:25 - 19 minutes - 18 MBThe West African Savannah stretches 1,600,000 square kilometres across 12 countries, ranging from dense rain forest to arid grassland. It once hosted rhinos, giraffes, lions and other charismatic megafauna more familiar from East African safaris, but populations have declined over the last 40 years. Despite working in an area of economic pressure and political unrest, Monni’s guests celebrate conservation projects that work with governments and local communities across national boundaries to...
ZSL #005: The state of the Thames
February 01, 2018 19:37 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBSince being declared ‘biologically dead’ in 1958, the River Thames is now considered a global conservation success story of a recovering urban estuary. Monni talks to guests working on a range of conservation projects by researchers and citizen scientists in the heart of London, including juvenile fish surveys, seal counts and ‘outflow safaris’. Find out more about the diverse range of species now living in the Thames’ muddy waters.
ZSL #004: Conserving the mountain chicken frog: understanding and mitigating an amphibian disease outbreak
February 01, 2018 19:36 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBThe mountain chicken frog became critically endangered after an outbreak of the amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which caused an 85% decline in population on its home island of Dominica, and near extinction on the neighbouring island of Montserrat. Monni is joined by a team from the Mountain Chicken Recovery Programme working in ZSL London Zoo and out in the field to understand the disease and its impacts. By monitoring the outbreak as it happened, what can be learned to inform fut...
ZSL #003: Saving pangolins: Earth’s most trafficked wild mammals
February 01, 2018 19:36 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBTo mark World Pangolin Day, Monni and guests discuss the plight of pangolins: the odd-looking scaly-anteater victims of an illegal wildlife trade that has brought them to the brink of extinction. Although they are severely threatened, a growing conservation movement is working to prevent poaching, limit trafficking and change consumer behaviour, with the aim of tipping the scales back in the pangolin's favour.
ZSL #002: Fishing in the Arctic - is there a sustainable approach?
February 01, 2018 19:35 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBIn our second episode, we discuss the northern ocean, which has only recently become accessible after the retreat of Arctic ice. Fishing vessels, including destructive bottom trawlers, can now venture further north than ever before into previously un-fished waters. Monni Böhm is joined by guests to explore the potential value of marine reserves, consumer pressure, certification schemes and scientific understanding as strategies for managing future marine exploitation.
ZSL #001: Can I protect the planet? How our daily decisions impact biodiversity decline
February 01, 2018 19:34 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBIn this first episode of the ZSL Wild Science podcast, we interview speakers taking part in a debate at the Zoological Society of London: ‘Global biodiversity decline is not impacted by my daily decisions’. Join presenter Monni Böhm, a research scientist in ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, to discuss whether the problem of declining biodiversity requires global-scale political, technological and economic solutions, or whether individuals can make a difference.