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,...

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...

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.

A recent landmark study calls for a more integrated approach to tackling the global 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...

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.

Despite their amazing diversity, reptiles remain hugely underrepresented in conservation research and action. 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...

Coral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world, yet they 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?

In this episode, Monni turns to a team of experts in wildlife diseases, to discuss the 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?

Join Monni as she finds out from a panel of experts how machine learning and technological 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?

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?

Rewilding has emerged as a captivating, but controversial, concept in conservation. 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?

Monni finds out from a panel of experts about all things Madagascar and what the challenges are for its wildlife. How big is an elephant bird and its poo? What can old bones tell us? And why is the Madagascar pochard such a special bird? (Recorded in November 2019)

Monni finds out from a panel of small-scale fisheries (SSF) a-fish-ionados why SSFs are being overlooked in the Sustainable Development Goals, what we can learn from SSFs, and how we can better incorporate them into policy, to meet human needs while safeguarding marine biodiversity. Where does gender come into this? And what is this creature that breeds like a plant but feeds like a carnivore?

In this episode, Monni teams up with bovine tuberculosis & 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©?

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? And why do some baboons think they’re being stalked?

Hear Monni and a diverse panel of experts discuss the challenges and opportunities for incorporating indigenous ecological knowledge into conservation management. How can social science help? And why should more trees be ordained as monks? *We apologise for the variety in sound quality on this episode, we experienced some technical issues during recording.

In this episode our guest host Charlotte Coales teams up with four experts to explore the complexity of human-wildlife conflict. 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 Monni and guests celebrate in ZSL’s Butterfly Paradise by discussing important conservation work for swallowtails at home and abroad, and ZSL’s ongoing work assessing the status of swallowtails worldwide.

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 environmental impacts of marine plastic and what can we do to tackle the issue?

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.

Conservation often tries to restore habitats to what they were - but given that our climate is changing fast, ecosystem restoration may no longer be possible. Monni and guests explore how rewilding can help build resilient ecosystems for the future.

Monni teams up with ZSL's Behavioural Management Committee to find out how giving animals choice positively enhances their welfare and how this is put into practice every day at our zoos.

Monni and guests explore urban wildlife, how we can improve our cities for nature and ultimately 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. 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.