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We return to the ocean to one of the most beloved marine mammals, the Sea Otter. Sea otters were almost hunted to extinction for their lustrous fur coats. By the early 20th century they numbered just a few thousand . Through international cooperation, Sea Otters were protected and now number over 100,000 animals in the wild. However, Sea Otters are still endangered and under incredible pressure. This species is also critical to a healthy coastal ecosystem around the northern Pacific rim. We hope you enjoy learning more in this week's podcast about Sea Otters and all their mustelid hijinks.  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! Show notes  

This week we welcome Dr. Shermin de Silva, the founder and President of Trunks and Leaves. Dr. de Silva is an expert in Asian elephant conservation. We discuss many of the issues facing elephants in Asia. It is a fascinating look at how Asian elephant conservation differs from African elephant conservation. We also discuss many differences between African and Asian elephants and how that can influence their futures.  You can visit the Trunks and Leaves website HERE Dr. de Silva also asked us to share this as she said: We have an emerging crisis in which one of the critical corridors linked to the national park is under threat. You can see more about it here on our blog. It's a developing situation and I am setting up a legal defense fund for the lawsuits being filed to protect the corridor.  You can donate to the defense fund by the following link (Thank you!)   https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2132558

The Shoebill, or also known as Shoebill Stork, Death Pelican, Whalehead, and others, is one unique bird.  What draws most to this bird is its enormous beak. It quite simply earned its name because it's beak looks like an old Dutch wooden shoe. Its massive. Native to central Africa, the Shoebill has carved out its ecological niche as a predator and plays a key role in maintaining freshwater ecosystems. It is a large bird that preys on anything from tilapia, lungfish to lizards and small crocodiles. The Shoebill is a prized sighting by many bird watchers and now we know why. In this week's podcast we cover everything Shoebill. From their natural history, ecological impacts, their physiology, reproduction and behavior. This is an incredible bird that will bring a smile to your face.  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! Show notes HERE  

We bring you a special interview with Sierra Club's Bonnie Rice and the Executive Director of the Global Indigenous Council Rain Bear Stands Last. We spend a fascinating hour not only addressing grey wolves in the Americas, but also how conservation intertwines with the rights of indigenous peoples. This is a new take for us on conservation and a critical one. As we all work together around the globe to save our environment and all the species that inhabit it, we also need to respect and engage those living in these areas. We are so grateful to the Sierra Club and Global Indigenous Council for their keen insight.  Please visit the Sierra Club's website HERE Please visit the Global Indigenous Council website HERE 

One of the more iconic species of the Americas, the Black Bear, is an animal that inhabits many people's backyards. This often timid bear, has adapted due to its incredible intelligence to living side by side people. So much so that they are an actual conservation success story. Once decimated in the late 1800s, the American Black Bear has bounced back, despite losing much of its historical range. In this week's podcast we learn about another amazing bear species. We talk everything Black Bear, with even some comparisons with its cousins the brown (grizzly) bear, polar bear, and many others.  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! Show notes HERE    

We have covered some strange and exotic animals and this one is near the top of the list. This cute little creature, the Pink Fairy Armadillo is from South America. Weighing less than 120 grams and at less than 5 inches in length, this armadillo has carved its niche in central Argentina. While their physiology may seem bizarre, for millions of years the Pink Fairy Armadillo has survived for thousands and thousands of years. We had another fun week covering an obscure species in dire need. While we do not have hard data on this little animal, data indicates they may be endangered and heading towards extinction. They deserve our attention and love. Plus, come on, Pink Fairy, Armadillo. Fantastic! 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! Show notes HERE        

In this week's episode we jump to one of our favorite families, the mustelids, and tackle the Wolverine. These circumpolar predators are mysterious and incredibly unique. They are actually the largest mustelid on the planet and exhibit many common traits found in these animals. The Wolverine is tenacious, rugged and a survivor. We also have a major announcement to make that should make everyone smile. Thank you so much for your support and for sharing these episodes with your friends and family. This is the defining decade for our planet and we all need to band together to protect our wildlife.  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! Show notes HERE      

We kick off 2021 with an amazing animal that at times defies logic. The Pronghorn Antelope is native to North America but is an incredibly unique hooved animal. Most of its relatives died out at the end of the last Ice Age, but somehow survived. It also is not only one of the fastest land mammals and has many other jaw-dropping adaptations. This is another cant miss episode about a species many often forget about.  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! Show notes HERE  

This is our 200th official episode. We want to thank all the listeners from around the world for your support! In this episode we quickly recap some of our favorite episodes and interviews from over the last 100 episodes. We then jump into a trivia battle about some the quirkier facts we uncovered over so many amazing species. We all are making a difference in the world. Thank you for sharing this information with your friends and family. Conservation issues are making headline news day in and day out. You are a major part of that and we thank you. The animals need our love and education is the first step. We can not thank you enough.  Happy 2021 everyone! 

This week we welcome chimpanzee expert Dr. Andrew Halloran. He is the Director of chimpanzee care at Save the Chimps. As a primatologist, Andrew has spent the past 20 years working to improve and save the lives of chimpanzees––not only chimps in captivity here in the U.S. but chimps in the wild. Save the Chimps is the largest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary in the world whose mission is to provide refuge and exemplary care to chimpanzees in need. Save the Chimps offers life-long care for chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, the pet trade, and entertainment industry. You can visit their website HERE

We are finishing this month of our holiday animals from around the world with the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. These primates are specialist at elevation and in the snow. More importantly, all 5 species of snub-nosed monkeys are endangered. Some even critically endangered. Listen more to this weeks episode to learn more about these remote living distant cousins. 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! Show notes HERE  

As we continue our winter (summer in Southern Hemisphere) we celebrate with a true survivor. The Arctic Fox is one of the most adaptable small mammals on our planet. Surviving in the harsh extremes of the Arctic, these special canids are built to survive. From their physiology to behavior, the Arctic Fox is a pure joy to learn about. 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! Show notes HERE    

We continue our holiday celebration with another winter wonderland creature, the Musk Ox. Survivors of the last Ice Age, and hunted out of most of their natural range, the Musk Ox is a survivor. This week we learn all about this hooved Arctic dweller and discuss just how they survive in their extreme environment. 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! Show notes HERE  

To honor the US Thanksgiving holiday this week we chat about the Turkey. Native to the Americas the Turkey is an iconic bird that has always been associated with Thanksgiving. These ground dwelling birds are amazing in their own right. While millions of domestic turkeys are consumed worldwide, wild Turkeys were faced with extinction. In this episode we discuss their incredible rebound and all their fun and interesting facts. 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! Show notes 

We are heading down under to chat about the World's happiest animal. The Quokka is a unique marsupial found only in Western Australia. It is now well known for its incredible charisma. Multiple images of the Quokka have sprung up on social media over the last few years making them a fan favorite. This animal has much to teach us and was a joy to cover. 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! Show notes HERE 

Captain Paul Watson is a world known activist and co-founder of Greenpeace. He is best known for his antiwhaling activities leading to the very popular show on Animal Planet, Whale Wars.  Captain Watson founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977 and since has been a major influential voice in the protection of our oceans and the species that live within it. Sea Shepherd is involved in many campaigns across the planet to include protection of the Vaquita, Sea Turtles, Wild Salmon, Whales and many other species. You can learn more about the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society HERE Captain Watson also recently published another book titled Orcapedia. It can be viewed and purchased HERE  The book highlights all the Orcas captured and held in captivity throughout the world. Readers are introduced to more than 60 orcas by name along with their photos, personal history, and notable incidents that have occurred during their captivity.

As we enter the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere we kick off with a favorite of many, the Beluga whale. These Arctic dwelling whales live in some of the coldest waters on the planet and thrive. These ivory colored whales have many incredible adaptations to survive and thrive in our northernmost oceans. 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! Show notes HERE

This week we have another round table discussion with our great friend Corbin Maxey. This will be the ultimate episode to end our "Spooky October" series. Here we talk about all the data and information on famous man eater stories. We also look at the data of the truth of animal attacks and just which species kill the most humans. We hope you enjoy this episode and be sure to check out Corbin's Podcast Animals to the Max.

We are so excited to have Dr. Rebecca Cliffe on to discuss the Sloth Conservation Foundation. Dr. Cliffe is their founder and director. After completing her graduate studies and seeing the decline of the sloths she decided to act. We spend an hour discussing all things sloths and know you will enjoy this interview. Sloth Conservation Foundation 

We continue our spooky animal series for October with the Piranha. These fish live in South America and have a fearsome reputation. In this week's episode we discover more than just about the feeding frenzies of the Pirahna. There are so many surprising facts about these famous fish we have no doubt you will be amazed. 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! Show notes HERE