ZSL Wild Science Podcast

Happy World Swallowtail Day to our listeners! 🦋

To mark this special day and celebrate these incredible insects, we catch up with Sophie Ledger, Red List Research Associate and Manager at ZSL's Institute of Zoology, and Dr Mark Collins, President of the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust, to explore the ecology, adaptations and challenges of this remarkable family of butterflies, and hear about the work being done to protect and conserve them. Whether you're a lifelong lepidopterist, or simply enjoy watching a butterfly in flight, we hope you enjoy this episode.

Overview

00:11 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction 01:19 Sophie Ledger, Red List Research Associate and Manager at ZSL's Institute of Zoology gives an overview of the swallowtail butterfly family, the threats they currently face, and the wonderful (and sometimes weird) adaptations they have evolved to increase their chances of survival 13:29 Sophie and Harriet discuss the work of the IUCN Butterfly and Moth Specialist Group and what comes next for swallowtail populations 22:44 Dr Mark Collins, President of the Swallowtail and Butterfly Birdwing Trust, discusses the work of the Trust both further afield in Malaysia and Bhutan, and closer to home in Norfolk, UK 38:05 Thank you and outro

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Modern zoos play a critical role in global conservation, but supporting wildlife under human care goes far beyond habitat design. Hear how ZSL's experts use science, behavioural insight and veterinary care to help animals thrive and support species on the brink of extinction. From ensuring penguins can express their natural behaviours, to delivering tailored veterinary care to supports lions' long-term health and welfare, this episode of Wild Science shines a light on the dedication and expertise within ZSL's Evidence-based Animal Care Team and beyond.

Overview

00:13 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction 01:05 Jim Mackie, Animal Behaviour Management Officer, ZSL A history of animal enrichment in zoos, recorded at London Zoo's Penguin Beach 06:57 How zoo animal welfare can contribute to wild species recovery, recorded in the Blackburn Pavilion 20:16 Training for health checks and veterinary care, recorded in the Land of the Lions 39:22 Thank you and outro

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The 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, aquariums, botanical gardens and seedbanks across the world to save these species from the brink of extinction. What are the problems associated with tiny populations? How is ZSL involved in Extinct in the Wild projects? And why won't anyone just choose their favourite species?!

Overview

03:36 - Ellie Darbey introduces the first guest, Dr Donal Smith (Postdoctoral Research Associate) to discuss the new publication and small population biology

18:50 - Ellie is joined by Dr John Ewen (Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL) to talk about ZSL's Extinct in the Wild initiative and conservation decision making

28:25 - Species Spotlight: Partula snails!

29:40 - Ellie welcomes Alex Cliffe (Ectotherms Team Leader, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo), to discuss breeding programmes in zoos, and ZSL's work with the Mexican pupfish

39:45 - Ellie is joined by the final guest, Melanie Mesa Blas (Guam Department of Education and recipient of 2022 National Geographic Explorer Grant with ZSL) to find out about the future of the Sihek, or Guam kingfisher and considerations for releasing back into the wild

49:28 - The guests give their thoughts on the most important thing needed now to save these species on the brink of extinction

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How does our DNA, the tiny building blocks that make every species, and every individual, totally distinct, impact our evolution? In this episode, we learn how we can visualise our DNA, or genome, to allow us to better organise the tree of life, and how learning more about this genetic make-up can provide insights into how a species survives in the face of a changing environment. We head to Cambridge, to ring native UK birds and collect samples of their DNA, and then to the Wellcome Sanger Institute, to see learn how those samples are processed and sequenced as part of a collaborative project aiming to sequence the genomes of all eukaryotes in Britain and Ireland; the Darwin Tree of Life project.

Overview

00:11 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction 01:26 Bird ringing in Cambridgeshire and Dr Ava Jenkins, Wildlife Veterinarian and Postdoctoral Research Associate, ZSL Institute of Zoology 03:13 Professor Mark Blaxter, Head of the Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute 06:18 Dr Tom Mathers, Senior Computer Biologist, Wellcome Sanger Institute 12:44 A word of thanks 18:44 A final thought from Mark Blaxter 22:57 Outro

Hi-C contact map of the common crane (Grus grus)

Hi-C contact map showing the common crane genome (https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-119/v1) after manual curation. Each block represents a chromosome in order of size from left to right and top to bottom, with dark red cluster in the bottom right hand corner showing unplaced repetitive content.

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Do you know where the wood in your floorboards comes from? Or your desk, or dining chairs? In this episode, we dig deep into the grain of a global issue that is often hidden in plain sight in our offices, our houses and our cities – tracing timber back to its source.

Harriet talks to Annabelle Dodson, ZSL's Sustainable Business Project Manager, and Victor Deklerck, Director of Science at World Forest ID, about how scientists use isotopes to pinpoint where the trees behind our wood products were grown, the role of digital tracking systems in supply chains, and real-world cases where traceability has driven more responsible sourcing and enforcement. This project is funded by Fondation Lombard Odier and the EU through the ECO-SOLVE project.

This episode is part of a series showcasing ZSL's Sustainable Business and Finance work.

Please note that this podcast was recorded before the European Commission confirmed changes to the implementation timeline of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Compliance requirements for micro and small enterprises have been delayed to 30 December 2026 (previously June 2026), while medium and large enterprises must still comply by 30 December 2025.

Overview

00:14 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction 02:10 Annabelle Dodson, Sustainable Business Project Manager, ZSL 03:19 How does illegal timber enter supply chains, and how does traceability help? 05:17 ZSL Cameroon and World Forest ID 07:50 Victor Deklerck, Director of Science, World Forest ID 09:06 From chemical fingerprints to final verification 12:36 Implications for industry 17:05 The future of supply chain transparency 19:21 What can consumers and companies do to support traceability? 20:40 Harriet McAra, summary and outro

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What do car tyres, yoga mats and trainers have in common? They all contain natural rubber, tapped from trees by millions of small farmers, mostly in Asia. While natural rubber production is renewable, its impact on the environment through deforestation, habitat loss and soil degradation, can be great when not managed sustainably.

In this episode, we hear from a Thai rubber farmer, about the challenges faced on the ground, as well as one of the world's biggest tyre makers, Michelin, about rubber's colonial history, its tangled supply chains, and how they're working with farmers on sustainability. Finally, we explore how investors can use their influence to demand better practices and drive industry-wide change that benefits both people and nature.

This episode is part of a series showcasing ZSL's Sustainable Business and Finance work.

Overview

00:15 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, and Rachel Poluan, ZSL SPOTT Team: Episode introduction 02:58 Introduction to the natural rubber sector and how rubber is produced 07:30 Edouard De Rostolan, Michelin: The historical legacy of rubber production and supply chains 12:54 Exploring ESG risks and opportunities 23:52 Khun Soontorn, a rubber smallholder in Thailand: A smallholder perspective 32:04 Agroforestry and the environmental aspects of rubber farms 41:38 Joe Horrocks Taylor, Columbia Threadneedle: How can investors and buyers affect change? 1:02:15 Rachel Poluan, summary and outro

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The coastal waters of Wales are home to a whopping 27 species of sharks, skates and rays, known collectively as elasmobranchs, and they are a fundamental part of Wales' natural heritage. But even so, research on their biology and conservation status is lacking. In this episode, Wild Science hits the road to join scientists from Project SIARC and the Ocean Predator Lab in North Wales as they work with local fishing communities to monitor tope sharks, and contribute to better understanding and conservation of shark species in the region.

Overview

00:11 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction 01:26 Welcome to Pwllheli 03:13 Interview with David Curnick, Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL and Head of the Ocean Predator Lab 06:18 How to tag a tope shark 12:44 Interview with Daniel Montgomery, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Institute of Zoology, ZSL 18:44 Interview with Jake Davies, Project SIARC Technical Specialist, ZSL and Natural Resources Wales 22:57 Outro and final reflections

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Making sure that the animals held in ZSL's two conservation zoos, London and Whipsnade, are fed a diet that can help them thrive is crucial, both for keeping them healthy under managed care, and ensuring they are in the best possible shape for a return to the wild. Amanda Ferguson is ZSL's Diet Management Officer and is responsible for creating tailored diets for all the animals across both ZSL Zoos, from snails to elephants! We learn how to feed an animal for which there are no guidelines, why enriched feeding methods are so important, and why you'll rarely see a monkey at London Zoo with a banana.

Overview

00:11 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction

01:10 Interview with Amanda Ferguson

25:16 How does nutrition help us recover wild populations?

33:04 Outro and final reflections

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After our Nature's Negotiators miniseries, where we learned all about the complexities, challenges and importance of United Nations climate and biodiversity meetings, we wanted to give the gift of a bonus episode to round things off! We catch up with Bethan to hear how things went after she attended COP29, United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Azerbaijan.

Overview

00:11 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction

00:54 Bethan Laughlin, ZSL's Senior Policy Specialist, on how the finance negotiations at COP29 played out

06:37 Bethan on the strength of language used in texts agreed at COP29, and how that came to be

10:38 Bethan on the accuracy of the portrayal of COP29 in the media

12:38 The other themes discussed at COP29

14:04 What can be expected at the next climate COP in Belem, Brazil

16:17 Outro

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2024 has been a big year for international climate policy, with two UN Conference of Parties, or COPs, taking place in quick succession; COP16 in Colombia followed just a few weeks later by COP29 in Azerbaijan. In this episode of Wild Science, we follow on from part one of our Nature's Negotiators miniseries, and are once again joined by Bethan Laughlin, ZSL Senior Policy Specialist. We discuss the challenges and successes of the two biodiversity and climate COPs, tackle some new UN lingo, and hear about key hopes for the future of climate policy.

Overview

00:12 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction

01:12 Bethan Laughlin, ZSL's Senior Policy Specialist, speaking from COP16 in Cali, Colombia

02:13 Interview with Bethan Laughlin on the successes of COP16

04:05 Insights on the ground at COP16: Davi Teles, Mónica Franco Gutiérrez & Liliana Patricia Saboyá Acosta

07:47 Georgina Chandler, ZSL's Head of Policy and Campaigns, on digital sequence information

10:34 Continued: Interview with Bethan on the challenges of COP16 and opportunities for the future

17:56 Carly Siege, Manager for International Policy Conservation International

19:30 Thomas Pickford, UK Partnerships and Policy Lead, The Nature Conservancy

30:45 Final reflections, an update from Bethan, and outro

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What does it take to reintroduce an animal to the wild safely? How do we make sure that disease risk to existing populations, and to the animals being reintroduced, is mitigated?

Hear from the Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance Team (DRAHS) at ZSL who are working to give animals the best start possible as they return to the wild, and whose work has contributed to the recovery of over 30 species across the world.

Overview

00:11 Harriet McAra, Introduction to episode

01:01 Dr Tony Sainsbury, DRAHS lead, ZSL

05:44 Clare McNamee, Wildlife Veterinarian and Research Associate, ZSL

10:40 Dr Sophie Common, Wildlife Veterinarian and Research Associate, ZSL

17:27 Georgie Gerrard, DRAHS Project Manager, ZSL

20:32 Becky Foskett, Pathology and Field Technician, ZSL

27:45 Dr Claudia Carraro, Wildlife Veterinarian and Research Associate, ZSL

32:31 Outro and further information

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You may have heard of a COP, and you've almost definitely heard of the United Nations (UN), but how much do you know about the negotiations that go into getting nature, climate and biodiversity embedded into international policy? Ahead of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in Colombia this autumn, we're hearing from policy experts in this two-part miniseries on how we can save the planet one meeting at a time…or at least try to.

Overview

00:11 Introduction to Nature's Negotiators mini-series

00:24 Bethan Laughlin, ZSL's Senior Policy Specialist, speaking from a CBD intercessional meeting in Nairobi

01:07 Introduction from Harriet McAra

2:09 Interview with Bethan Laughlin on the history of the CBD, UNFCCC and Global Biodiversity Framework

10:02 Nelly Musyoka, ZSL Kenya's Community Liaison Officer, on how the 23 CBD targets are applied to real world conservation

14:39 Bethan Laughlin on what ZSL's priorities are for COP16 in Colombia

23:39 Fiona Dobson, RSPB, on what RSPB's priorities are for COP16 in Colombia

33:18 Outro and further information

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Out of sight…but not out of mind? Coral reefs exist largely out of sight for the majority of the world's population, so the vast array of ecosystem services they provide for local communities are often forgotten, leading conservation efforts to feel like an uphill battle. In this episode, we talk to the people trying to tackle this problem; from using the sounds that healthy and degraded coral reefs make to monitor their restoration, to bringing people closer to coral reefs using virtual reality.

Overview

00:13 Introduction to the topic from Harriet McAra

01:26 Ben Williams, PhD student at the Institute of Zoology and UCL, on coral reefs' importance, coral soundscapes and the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System

08:30 Introduction to the Datascape Realities Project

08:52 John Zhang and Lourenco Viveiros, co-founders of Datascape Realities, and Jason Lynch, UCL and Institute of Zoology

28:14 Outro and further information

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Co-existence between communities living on the Korean Peninsula and carnivores such as leopards, tigers and black bears, has historically presented many challenges leading to population declines in these species. However, thanks to international treaties such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, as well as economic growth and conservation translocations, the tide is now turning on these declines in South Korea. In this episode, host Harriet McAra is joined by Joshua Elves-Powell to discuss how wildlife trade has impacted carnivores in East Asia, and the conservation measures being taken to protect these globally threatened species.

Overview

00:20 - Introduction to the topic from Harriet McAra, and introduction to the podcast guest

02:24 - Josh Elves-Powell, PhD student at the Institute of Zoology and UCL, introduction and interview

27:06 - Outro and further information

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The ZSL Wild Science podcast is back! After a break, we have returned to explore even more topical issues in zoology, conservation and the environment. New host, Harriet McAra, Science Communications and Events Manager at ZSL's Institute of Zoology, will take listeners on a journey to learn more about the incredible science behind ZSL's cutting-edge conservation work.

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It'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 discover how we can recover nature in our cities, with ZSL's experts in rewilding, reconnecting habitats and river restoration. Does the answer lie in empowering local communities? Or is it in the plight of the hedgehog? And why must we enact the mysterious Schedule Three?

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Pathology 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 diagnostic work to the conservation and welfare of animals in zoos and in the wild. What are the practicalities of examining large animals like elephants and rhinos? How can pathology be used to solve wildlife crimes? And what do pathology and The Supreme Court have in common?

Guests

Overview

01:22 – Ellie Darbey introduces the first guest, Dr Simon Spiro, to discuss what it's like to be a veterinarian pathologist, and how pathology can be used for animal welfare and conservation

14:06 – Ellie is joined by Dr Becki Lawson to explore the Garden Wildlife Health Project and the detective work used to discover a snake fungal pathogen in Europe.

27:15 – Rob Deaville joins to explain what happened to "Hessy" the humpback whale, and how the Cetacean Strandings programme works.

40:10 – Ellie welcomes the final guest Dr Tammy Shadbolt to discuss the Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance Project and how pathology can help solve wildlife crimes.

49:44 – The speakers give their advice for pursuing a career involving wildlife pathology from their varied backgrounds and perspectives.

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The 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 three co-authors, to share their expertise on these issues and help untangle the web of science and policy. Why is it important to tackle both these crises together? How can Nature-based Solutions help? And what needs to be done to integrate these solutions into global science-policy agendas?

Guests:

Overview

01:26 – Ellie Darbey introduces the co-host of this episode, Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, to discuss the climate change and biodiversity crises, and introduce Nature-based solutions (NbS).

12:12 – Ellie and Nathalie are joined by Professor Heather Koldewey to explore the use of protected areas and restoration projects in the marine world.

28:59 – Professor William Sutherland joins to explain how to measure the risks of NbS, and emphasises the importance of evidence-based science policies.

38:42 – Ellie and Nathalie welcome Matthew Lowton to discuss the global conventions for climate change and biodiversity, and the ways to get NbS into science-policy agendas.

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Coastal 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 we scale up these restoration efforts? What makes some species in these habitats ecological superheroes? And what on earth is a scuba-diving spider?

Please note: this episode was recorded in 2020.

Guests:

Overview

01:06 – Dr Monni Böhm introduces the co-host of this episode, Celine Gamble, to discuss why marine habitat restoration is needed, and introduce the Native Oyster Network.

05:29 – Monni and Celine are joined by Dr Joanne Preston who will discuss the forgotten ecosystem of oyster beds, and how to restore native oyster reefs in the UK.

14:51 – Angus Garbutt describes the diversity of saltmarshes of the UK, provides unique insight into their ecological and cultural importance, and the methods used to restore them.

28:12 – Monni and Celine introduce Dr Ian Hendy who explains what can be done to 'Help our Kelp' and why conserving it is crucial for marine biodiversity in the UK.

39:16 – Dr Richard Unsworth joins the hosts to talk about the importance of seagrasses, and the lessons learned from the UK's first major seagrass restoration project .

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Reptiles - 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 reptiles on the conservation map. What key advances in species assessments have already made an impact for reptile conservation? How does ZSL's science and conservation work directly contribute to protecting reptiles in the wild? And wait…where is Monni?

Guests:

Overview

01:38 – Ellie welcomes the first guest, Dr Monni Böhm, to discuss how assessments like the IUCN Sampled Red List Index and Global Assessment of Reptile Distributions are essential for advancing the agenda for reptilian conservation.

14:30 – Dr Rikki Gumbs joins the podcast to talk about the reptilian Tree of Life, and the purpose and impact of ZSL's EDGE of Existence programme.

24:08 – Emmanuel Amoah discusses the aims of Ghanaian NGO, THRESCOAL, set up following his EDGE Fellowship, and how community-led conservation can be used to help protect the West African slender-snouted crocodile.

33:32 – Ellie is joined by the final guest, Benjamin Tapley, who provides an overview of the contribution of zoos to conservation in the wild, using the example of the Big-Headed Turtle project in Vietnam.

46:25 – All four guests provide their recommendations for the next step in reptile conservation.

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Coral 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 for the future? Why is connectivity important? And which fascinating fact will make your brain (coral) explode?

Guests:

Overview

01:05 – Monni is joined by the co-host of this episode, Dr Catherine Head, an expert in applied ecology and evolution in marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs, and how tools like population genetics can help conserve them.

05:29 – First up, Monni and Catherine welcome Dr Jamie Craggs, to discuss how captive breeding techniques in aquaria can be used for coral conservation.

14:40 – Dr James Guest joins the podcast to talk about his work with 'Coral Assist', a project which examines the feasibility of using "assisted gene flow" and selective breeding to assist corals in the face of climate change.

24:14 – Dr Rosa van der Ven discusses genetic connectivity of corals between reefs, and explains why connectivity is important for their conservation.

30:52 – Monni and Catherine are joined by their final guest, Dr Chris Yesson, cold water coral expert, to discuss how genetic techniques like coral barcoding are used to identify corals in aquaria, and how this can be useful coral conservation.

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Hosted and edited by Dr Monni Böhm, ZSL Research Fellow, and produced by Eleanor Darbey, ZSL Scientific Events Coordinator.

After 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 degradation and infectious disease outbreaks. What makes an animal a good host for carrying zoonotic diseases? Can we predict and prevent infectious disease outbreaks in the future? And exactly what does a job as 'human bait' entail?

Guests:

Overview

01:40 Monni welcomes Dr Rory Gibb, to discuss zoonotic hosts and their response to land-use change, and how we should move forward to help human health in the future.

18:28 Dr Christina Faust joins Monni to explore disease transmission, explaining where transmission is more likely to happen in different types of landscapes, and how this could be tracked to avoid future outbreaks in humans.

28:43 Monni is joined by the final guest, Dr Kimberly Fornace, to discuss the Monkey Bar project, and how different technologies such as drones and radio collars were used to monitor monkey malaria.

Hosted by Dr Monni Böhm, ZSL Research Fellow and produced by Eleanor Darbey, ZSL Scientific Events Coordinator.

Law 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 wildlife crime. How can social science help us understand the motivations behind rule-breaking? And what rule is Monni so afraid of admitting that she once broke?

Guests:

Overview

00:53 - Monni is joined by the co-host of today's episode, Dr Tom B Letessier, an expert in the use of drones and other technologies for marine protected area (MPA) surveillance, fisheries enforcement and megafauna monitoring.

03:49 - Monni and Tom welcome Dr Kristina Boerder to discuss the use of automatic identification systems (AIS) to track illegal activity of fishing vessels in MPAs.

17:48 - Professor Serge Wich joins the hosts to take the surveillance discussion on land, using drones and infrared cameras in tropical terrestrial ecosystems.

24:35 - Dr Colin Beale discusses how to tackle wildlife crime in Africa using algorithms to analyse evidence of illegal activity in the bush and inform ranger-led patrols.

33:44 - Monni and Tom are joined by their final guest, Dr Ana Nuno, to find out how social science can address rule breaking in conservation.

Resources:

Conservationists 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 conservationists from around the world. What could the future of conservation look like? And what would need to happen for us to get there?

Take the survey to find out and reflect on where you think the future of conservation lies: https://www.futureconservation.org/

Rewilding 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 space? Should people be part of rewilding? And why can the Tamworth Pig be considered the hippopotamus of the UK?

Madagascar 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 recorded in November 2019

Small-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 while safeguarding marine biodiversity. But where does gender come into this? And what is this creature that breeds like a plant but feeds like a carnivore?

For 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 approaches compare in terms of effectiveness, practicality and cost? How can the disease be eradicated? And what on earth is a Goodger©?

Human-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 Zoo? Why do some baboons think they're being stalked? And will Monni ever learn?

Indigenous 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 ordained as monks?

*Listener note: we apologise for the variety in sound quality on this episode, we experienced some technical issues during recording.

People 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?

June 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 Birdwing. Happy World Swallowtail Day!

Hold 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?

The 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 management? And fin-ally, why are plungers and egg timers involved?

Conservation 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?

Monni 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 Monni?

Nearly 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.

Monni 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 why do we need them? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Who are the people behind these biodiversity indicators? And… are spiders "huggable"? You've come to the right place to find out.

Monni 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 Islands and around Welsh coast.

By-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?

In 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 shark, display camera traps and trackers, and an interactive game flapping an albatross!

Monni 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 done to find out more about them, and why is it so important to take action now?

We 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 Zappa got to do with it all? Find out more about this flagship conservation tool and the people who eat, sleep and breathe the IUCN Red List.

This 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.

Monni 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'!

Monni 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 done across the globe to ensure their survival.

The 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 conserve the region's remaining cheetahs, wild dogs, and remarkable 'desert-adapted' elephants.

Since 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.

The 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 future conservation management and restore the mountain chicken to its native habitat?

To 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.

In 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.

In 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.