Episode 56: Stick Your Neck Out For, Giraffes

This week we head back to Africa to cover one of their more endearing primates, the Bush Baby. Specifically, we are covering the critically endangered Rhondo Dwarf Bush Baby. There are approximately 20 different species of Bush Baby in Africa, which are also called Galagos and resemble some of our earliest primate ancestors. The Rhondo Dwarf Bush baby is native to the coastal region of Tanzania living in the evergreen forests in the Tanzanian highlands. Due to deforestation and human encroachment, this species is at extinctions door step. Only two small populations of these animals exist today, separated by over 250 miles (400 km).  While highlighting this species, we also talk about some generalities of all the species of Bush Babies and just what makes them so special.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE         Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 Kesä 20211h 15min

Nuklu Phom was recently awarded the prestigious Whitley Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature. Nuklu has been instrumental in leading efforts to preserve the Amur Falcon in Nagaland, India. The Amur Falcon is the world's longest migrating bird of prey and Nagaland is a critical stop along their long migration. Over a decade ago, Amur Falcons were being poached in the tens of thousands. However, Nuklu helped organize a grassroots effort to not only halt the poaching, but also preserve Nagaland's natural resources. His project that is being supported by the Whitley Fund for Nature is called "Establishing a biodiversity peace corridor in Nagaland." He is a true conservation hero and his story is one that needs to be told.  You can learn more about Sammy Safari and the Whitley Nature Fund by going HERE Show notes HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 Kesä 202146min

Birds continue to fascinate us, and the Amur Falcon is no exception. This fascinating raptor migrates farther than any other bird of prey on Earth. They reside in the Amur region of north China, Mongolia, Russia for part of the year, and then go on an incredible journey all the way down to South Africa. In this week's podcast we cover just how these birds make such an incredible trek. We also highlight Nagaland in Eastern India. It is a critical stop for the Amur Falcon before a long trek over the Indian Ocean. For years the Amur Falcon was poached by the tens of thousands. But conservationists, to include this week's interview Nuklu Phom, another Whitely Fund for Nature award winner, stepped in and stopped it. This is an incredible story about an incredible bird and not one to miss.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22 Kesä 20211h 6min

In honor of Giraffe Day, June 21, we welcome Global Conservation Force Giraffe Project Coordinator Mike Bona. Giraffe are suffering what many are calling a "silent extinction." They have suffered a 40% reduction in their population in just the last 15 years. Mike is a long time hoof stock keeper at the LA Zoo and has been involved in many conservation projects with many endangered species. His focus has primarily been in Giraffe and has now joined Global Conservation Force to protect and preserve these majestic animals.  You can learn more about Global Conservation Force by visiting their website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 Kesä 202157min

The Gerenuk like a giraffe is a long-necked herbivore. While not closely related to giraffes, the Gerenuk has evolved to grow long necks to reach foliage that many other herbivores cant. They are a very unique antelope species from Africa. In this week's podcast we talk about this species and all its interesting adaptations to survive in the Horn of Africa. The Gerenuk is also sliding towards extinction and we discuss what some conservation organizations are doing to help them. Yet, we do also bring some feel good conservation stories from Africa and just how you may participate as "remote rangers." We hope you enjoy this week's species.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15 Kesä 20211h

Sammy Safari was recently awarded the prestigious Whitley Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature. Sammy is leading an effort to help save sea turtles off the coast of Kenya. Sea turtles have been poached off Kenya for many years, with a dramatic increase seen with the Covid pandemic. The loss of tourism in Kenya has pushed locals out into the oceans to survive. Sadly, sea turtles have been targeted for poaching. Sammy and his team with Local Ocean Trust have been educating the masses on not only why sea turtles are important, but also working to preserve the Kenyan coastline and its mangrove forests. He is a true conservation hero doing his part to save these animals. Congratulations to Sammy and his team! You can learn more about Sammy Safari and the Whitley Nature Fund by going HERE Show notes HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Kesä 202139min

In honor of Sea Turtle Week, we decided to return to sea turtles and specifically cover the largest of the group, the Leatherback. This sea turtle dwarfs their distant relatives and can reach over 6.5 feet (2 meters) and weigh nearly a ton (900 kg). They are enormous! Not to mention they are one of the deepest diving animals (outside of fish), among many other amazing facts. Sadly, sea turtle populations continue to decline and we discuss this more in depth in this episode. We also highlight conservation efforts to protect them around the globe. We learned quite a bit about these amazing animals and hope you do too.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! You can visit our website HERE       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Kesä 20211h 8min

Dr. Lucy Kemp was recently awarded the prestigious Whitley Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature. Dr. Kemp is leading a grassroots effort to help save and preserve the amazing Southern Ground-hornbill in Africa. Her story gives us so much hope for the future for not only the Southern Ground-hornbill, but all wildlife in Africa and beyond. Her project title is "A community-based approach to conserve the Southern Ground-hornbill." In our interview we discuss the issues that are driving this incredible bird towards extinction and what she and her team at the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project are doing to stop this from happening.  Congratulations to Dr. Kemp and her team!  You can learn more about Dr. Lucy Kemp and the Whitley Nature Fund by going HERE Show notes HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Kesä 202144min