Episode 246: Educating the Next Generation w/Dr. Amanda Romo

This week we welcome Hope Carr. She is the Education Manager at Austin Zoo, as well as the founder and chairperson of the Texas Lobo Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to the restoration of the Mexican wolf to West Texas. Hope has been drawn to wild animals and wild places her entire life, and since earning her bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Conservation at Brigham Young University, she has been dedicated to teaching people all about the value of wildlife. Prior to her role at the Austin Zoo, Hope worked at Utah’s Hogle Zoo and the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium as an educator. We spend an amazing hour talking about how the unique Austin Zoo started off as a rescue. Then Hope talks about her experience with founding the Texas Lobo Coalition and efforts to preserve the Mexican wolf.  You can learn more about the Texas Lobo Coalition HERE You can learn more about the Austin Zoo HERE   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 Maalis 20221h 10min

This week we are excited to speak with Animal Chaplain and author Sarah Bowen. Sarah has grown up with a deep love and connection to animals and nature. So much so, that is led her in a direction of exploring spirituality, our connection with animals of all types, and the wonderous landscape we and they live in. We discuss many topics related to spirituality and what drove her to write her new book, "Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain's Advice for Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Trying to Heal the Planet." This is another special interview exploring a topic we have never discussed before in this podcast in trying to understand our deep connections to our planet.  You can learn more about Sarah Bowen by visiting her website HERE You can learn more about her latest book Sacred Sendoffs HERE       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Maalis 20221h 9min

This week we welcome one of our greatest conservation heroes, Jeff Corwin. We were thrilled to spend an hour with Jeff in between filming of his latest show, Wildlife Nation, which is now airing on ABC in the USA. Jeff Corwin as a wildlife biologist and conservationist has spent the last three decades educating and entertaining many millions with his wildlife adventures. Jeff is now working with the incredible Defenders of Wildlife organization to showcase the many imperiled species in North America. For us, it was a real treat to speak with Jeff, as it is not often you get to pick the brain of one of the world's most recognized faces in animal conservation. Jeff has an illustrious career and you can learn more about him off his own Wiki page HERE Please check out the Defenders of Wildlife website HERE You can learn more about Jeff Corwin's collaboration with the Defenders of Wildlife HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Maalis 202249min

Out of all the bird species we have covered, Crows have to be one of the most sensational and intelligent. While we do debate on just who the "smartest" bird species in the world is, Crows are without doubt near the top. These amazing flying animals just prove we have so much to learn about them and nature. Crows continue to be thoroughly studied for their intelligence and we share what researchers around the world have learned from them. As well as, a few crow species, such as the Hawaiian Crow are endangered. In fact, the Hawaiian Crow is extinct in the wild and just barely hanging on with the help of conservationist. We tell their story and more. Yet, here is just a fun and enlightening episode on the Crow.  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 are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Helmi 20221h 10min

We go back to the ocean and way down under to Antarctica to cover a top predator, the Leopard Seal. Besides Orcas, nothing can match this top dog of our southern oceans. Leopard Seals are notorious for hunting penguins, as well as other small and medium sized animals. Yet, they have so much mystery about them and are very much understudied. Of what we do know, will fascinate you. This week we talk about everything Leopard Seals and also have a brief chat about the "Doomsday Glacier," which we all need to be made aware of.  For those interested, as mentioned in the podcast, the NOAA Sea Level Riser Viewer can be accessed HERE  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 are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 Helmi 20221h 10min

This week we speak with Dan Cabela about the ambitious Twelve Cheetah Project. Dan is representing the Cabela Family Foundation, who has given significant support to the rehabilitation of the Marromeu-Coutada Complex in the Zambeze Delta region in Mozambique.  Dan tells us the story of how after the success of the 24-Lion project, which we covered with guest Ivan Carter in Episode 108, that conservationists have now returned twelve cheetahs to the same region. He also talks about the challenges of rehoming this many cheetahs and its impact on the Marromeu-Coutada Complex. With the Cabela Family Foundation's support, this region of the Zambeze Delta is now thriving with wildlife.  You can learn more about the Twelve Cheetah Project in this YouTube video HERE You can learn more about the Cabela Family Foundation and their work HERE   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Helmi 202238min

What can we say about one of Africa's most iconic animals, the Wildebeest, the Gnu. They are just legends. Their mass migrations across Eastern Africa have created some of the most intense predator vs. prey footage ever seen . These rugged survivors not only outrun Lions and Hyenas on the planes, often they are seen leaping and escaping death from the jaws of the massive Nile Crocodile.  This is a special one! We go in depth on just how and why they migrate and cover everything else Wildebeest. This is must listen to! Everyone who can in their life needs to try and get to Africa to see this majestic beasts, the Wildebeest, in their native range.  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 are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Helmi 20221h 21min

With as few as 2000 Pygmy Hippos left in the world, we are losing one of natures often forgotten large herbivores. Though one tenth the size of their larger cousins the Common Hippopotamus, the Pygmy Hippo is no small runt. Weighing in as much as 600 lbs. (275 kg), they are still a force to be reckoned with. Yet, this shy and elusive herbivore is suffering and slipping towards extinction. Thankfully, these West African natives are a focus for many conservation efforts and their story is one to be told. By telling their story, all of us can bring awareness to these special animals and do all we can to help save them.  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 are able to send money to conservation organizations monthly chosen by our Patreon supporters. We recently posted a bonus episode, the Blue Footed Booby, for our Patreon only subscribers and will be offering more bonus content soon! Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 Tammi 20221h 9min