ZSL Wild Science Podcast

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   Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Read more about the project: www.zsl.org/news-and-events/feature/responsible-sourcing-africa  World Forest ID: https://worldforestid.org/  The Alliance for Wood ID Testing: https://worldforestid.org/insights/partnership-with-wwf  ZSL SPOTT'S ESG policy transparency assessments of timber and pulp companies: https://www.spott.org/timber-pulp/  Free training materials on forest-driven commodities: https://www.spott.org/training-hub/   Help keep SPOTT going. Without continued funding, these assessments can't continue. Donate today at https://donate.zsl.org/spott/ or email spott@zsl.org  Find out more about ZSL's Sustainable Business and Finance team: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/working-with-business  Get in touch  Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Find us @ZSLScience on X or @zslofficial.bsky.social on BlueSky and use the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation Email spott@zsl.org for questions about SPOTT assessments, methodology, or partnership. Follow SPOTT on LinkedIn @ZSL SPOTT, X @zslspott or BlueSky ‪@zslspott.bsky.social‬ ‬‬‬‬‬ ZSL's Sustainable Business and Finance team offers advisory services to help companies and investors take practical, science-based action for nature. Get in touch: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/working-with-business/advisory-services

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 Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation SPOTT: https://www.spott.org/ Natural rubber: SPOTT'S ESG policy transparency assessments: https://www.spott.org/natural-rubber/ SPOTT training hub: https://www.spott.org/training-hub/ Help keep SPOTT going. Without continued funding, these assessments can't continue. Donate today at https://donate.zsl.org/spott/ or email spott@zsl.org Find out more about ZSL's Sustainable Business and Finance team: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/working-with-business  Get in touch  Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Find us @ZSLScience on X or @zslofficial.bsky.social on BlueSky and use the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation Email spott@zsl.org for questions about SPOTT assessments, methodology, or partnership. Follow SPOTT on LinkedIn @ZSL SPOTT, X @zslspott or BlueSky ‪@zslspott.bsky.social‬ ‬‬‬‬‬ ZSL's Sustainable Business and Finance team offers advisory services to help companies and investors take practical, science-based action for nature. Get in touch: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/working-with-business/advisory-services  

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 Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Project SIARC: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/project-siarc Ocean Predator Lab: https://www.oceanpredatorlab.com/ David Curnick: https://www.zsl.org/about-zsl/our-people/david-curnick A fisher's perspective: Using half a century of local fisher knowledge to identify socio-economic, ecological and legislative trends influencing angelshark (Squatina squatina) records in Wales: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.70044  Get in touch  Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Find us @ZSLScience on X or @zslofficial.bsky.social on BlueSky and use the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation  

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   Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation The Evolution of Enrichment, a public event held at ZSL featuring a talk from Amanda Ferguson on how diet presentation can meet the behavioural needs of animals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hqrweox2UA Amanda Ferguson: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amanda-Ferguson-9 Corncrake conservation: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/conserving-native-birds Mountain chicken frog conservation: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/mountain-chicken-frog-conservation Comparison of the nutritional content of the captive and wild diets of the critically endangered mountain chicken frog (Leptodactylus fallax) to improve its captive husbandry https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30221785/ Get in touch  Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Find us @ZSLScience on X or @zslofficial.bsky.social on BlueSky and use the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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 Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Bethan Laughlin: https://www.zsl.org/about-zsl/our-people/bethan-laughlin ZSL's United Nations and Intergovernmental Policy Engagement: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/conservation/creating-change/informing-policy/united-nations-and-intergovernmental-engagement ZSL's COP16 position statement: https://cms.zsl.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/CBD%20COP16%20Key%20Asks%20-%20October%202024.pdf "Negotiations ran out of time, but action on biodiversity loss cannot be postponed…" Blog written by Georgina Chandler:  https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/feature/cbd-cop16-negotiations-ran-out-time-action-biodiversity-loss-cannot-be   Get in touch Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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 Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Bethan Laughlin: https://www.zsl.org/about-zsl/our-people/bethan-laughlin Georgina Chandler: https://www.zsl.org/about-zsl/our-people/georgina-chandler Read more about our EDGE Fellows: https://www.edgeofexistence.org/edge-fellows/ ZSL's COP16 position statement: https://cms.zsl.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/CBD%20COP16%20Key%20Asks%20-%20October%202024.pdf "Negotiations ran out of time, but action on biodiversity loss cannot be postponed…" Blog written by Georgina Chandler: https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/feature/cbd-cop16-negotiations-ran-out-time-action-biodiversity-loss-cannot-be   Get in touch Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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 Resources and references If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/Conservation Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/wildlife-disease-risk-analysis-and-health-surveillance More about dormice health monitoring: Hazel dormice - People's Trust for Endangered Species (ptes.org) & National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP) (ptes.org) More about our Extinct in the Wild work: Extinct in the Wild | The Zoological Society of London (zsl.org) More about chequered skipper conservation: Chequered Skippers - Butterfly Conservation Vernet, M., Trask, A.E., Andrews, C.E. et al. Assessing invasion risks using EICAT-based expert elicitation: application to a conservation translocation. Biol Invasions 26, 2707–2721 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03341-2 Gibson, L., Shadbolt, T., Paul, P. et al. Prevalence and Molecular Analysis of Encephalomyocarditis Virus-2 in the Hazel Dormouse. EcoHealth 21, 112–122 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-024-01680-z  Get in touch Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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 Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Bethan Laughlin: https://www.zsl.org/about-zsl/our-people/bethan-laughlin Watch a recording of our Science and Conservation Event, Putting Nature at the Heart of Global Decision Making: https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/events/putting-nature-heart-global-decision-making View the infographic depicting successes and failures following the Rio Earth Summit as described by Bethan in this episode: https://cms.zsl.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/CBD%20UNFCCC%20timeline.png Get in touch Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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 Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Ben Williams: https://www.zsl.org/about-zsl/our-people/ben-williams Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System: https://www.buildingcoral.com/ and https://www.buildingcoral.com/news/mars-data-scientists-turn-their-skills-to-coral-reef-restoration Datascape Realities: https://www.datascaperealities.com/ and @datascape_real   Get in touch  Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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   Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Joshua Elves-Powell: https://www.zsl.org/about-zsl/our-people/joshua-elves-powell The latest publication from Joshua Elves-Powell, reporting major declines in South Korean big cat trade: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0299783 Project Moon Bear: https://en.projectmoonbear.org/Mission Korean Tiger and Leopard Conservation Fund: https://blog.naver.com/savetiger Blogs written by Joshua Elves-Powell Asiatic black bear restoration in South Korea: https://theconversation.com/south-korea-is-bringing-back-bears-in-a-country-of-52-million-people-i-went-to-find-out-how-164301 Moves to end bear farming in South Korea: https://theconversation.com/south-korea-to-ban-bear-farming-but-what-to-do-about-hundreds-of-captive-animals-that-remain-197316   Get in touch  Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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. Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts any previous episodes, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at wild.science@zsl.org Check out our science and conservation work at www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation  Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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?   Guests Professor Nathalie Pettorelli, Institute of Zoology, ZSL Dr Chris Carbone, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL Joe Pecorelli, Conservation Project Manager, Marine and Freshwater, Conservation & Policy, ZSL Overview 03:31 – Ellie Darbey introduces the first guest, Professor Nathalie Pettorelli to discuss how to rewild in urban environments 16:39 – Ellie is joined by Dr Chris Carbone to talk about the London Hogwatch Project, and their community engagement 26:59 – Species Spotlight: The European hedgehog! 28:12 – Ellie welcomes the final guest Joe Pecorelli to discuss river restoration in London, and the power of the waterways 37:19 – The guests give their answer for the one thing they'd like to change in policy or legislation to help recover urban nature. Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts on the one change you'd like to see in policy or legislation to help recover nature in cities, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: wild.science@zsl.org  Check out our science and conservation work at: zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Living Planet Report: https://www.zsl.org/global-biodiversity-monitoring/indicators-and-assessments-unit/living-planet-index/living-planet Previous Episode mentioned #035 on Nature-based solutions: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-wild-science-podcast Rewilding your cities ZSL report: https://www.zsl.org/science/news/rewilding-our-cities-could-reduce-impacts-of-extreme-weather-says-new-report Rewild my street: https://www.rewildmystreet.org/ London Hogwatch: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/species/mammals/london-hogwatch Pine Marten sighting: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/news/nationally-critically-endangered-pine-marten-spotted-in-london London's Rivers: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/londons-rivers State of the Thames Report: https://www.zsl.org/natureatheart/the-state-of-the-thames-2021 Volunteer for London's Rivers: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/volunteer-for-londons-rivers Flood and Water Management act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/29/contents Get in touch Email wild.science@zsl.org with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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 Dr Simon Spiro, Wildlife Health Services, Zoological Society of London Dr Becki Lawson, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London Rob Deaville, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London Dr Tammy Shadbolt, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London 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. Resources Previous ZSL Event "Revealing the unseen: the amazing world of wildlife pathology": https://www.zsl.org/science/whats-on/revealing-the-unseen-the-amazing-world-of-wildlife-pathology Blog: Grass in the Snake - Zoo Pathology in Practice: https://www.zsl.org/blogs/science/grass-in-the-snake-zoo-pathology-in-practice Royal College of Pathologists: Careers in Pathology: https://www.rcpath.org/discover-pathology/careers-in-pathology.html Royal College of Pathologists: Become a Veterinary Pathologist: https://www.rcpath.org/discover-pathology/careers-in-pathology/become-a-veterinary-pathologist.html Garden Wildlife Health Project: gardenwildlifehealth.org UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP): https://www.zsl.org/science/research/uk-cetacean-strandings-investigation-programme-csip "Hessy" the humpback whale in the media: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/09/humpback-whale-found-dead-thames-hit-by-ship Collaborative UK Marine Mammals Strandings Project: summary of contaminant data for the period 1993-2001: https://www.cefas.co.uk/publications/techrep/tech131.pdf Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance (DRAHS) Project: https://www.zsl.org/science/wildlife-health/disease-risk-analysis-and-health-surveillance Hazel dormouse 1000th reintroduction: https://www.zsl.org/blogs/science/dormouse-reintroductions--a-landmark-day Study and Research Opportunities at ZSL: https://www.zsl.org/science/postgraduate-study

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: Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, Zoological Society of London Professor Heather Koldewey, Zoological Society of London Professor William Sutherland CBE, University of Cambridge Matthew Lowton, Zoological Society of London   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.   Resources Article: "Time to integrate global climate change and biodiversity science-policy agendas": https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13985 Upcoming live ZSL Event on 12 October: https://www.zsl.org/science/whats-on/time-to-integrate-global-climate-change-and-biodiversity-science-policy-agendas Putting Nature at the heart of global decision making: https://www.zsl.org/natureatheart "Unite solutions to climate and biodiversity crises to save life on earth": https://www.zsl.org/news/unite-solutions-to-climate-and-biodiversity-crises-to-save-life-on-earth-says-zsl-led-study Previous ZSL Event "Nature to get out of the climate crisis - how does that work?": https://www.zsl.org/science/whats-on/nature-to-get-out-of-the-climate-crisis-how-does-that-work Previous Wild Science Podcast Episode "ZSL #028 What's next for rewilding?": https://www.zsl.org/zsl-wild-science-podcast United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/ UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties UK 2021 (CoP 26): https://ukcop26.org/ Convention on Biological Diversity: https://www.cbd.int/ ZSL's Protected Areas and Restoration work: https://www.zsl.org/regions/uk-overseas-territories/chagos-archipelago https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/asia/rehabilitating-mangroves-in-the-philippines https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/thames-conservation/native-oyster-restoration Conservation Evidence Resource: https://www.conservationevidence.com Book by William J. Sutherland et al. "What Works in Conservation 2021": https://www.openbookpublishers.com/product/1490 Breadth of ZSL's conservation work: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/how-we-work

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: Celine Gamble, Zoological Society of London Dr Joanne Preston, University of Portsmouth Angus Garbutt, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Dr Ian Hendy, The Blue Marine Foundation Dr Richard Unsworth, Swansea University and Project Seagrass   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 .   Resources 25 Year environment plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-plan UN decade on Ecosystem Restoration: https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/ Native Oyster Network: https://nativeoysternetwork.org/ Native Oyster Network Habitat Restoration Handbook (November 2020): https://nativeoysternetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2020/11/ZSL00150%20Oyster%20Handbook_WEB.pdf ZSL Native oyster restoration: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/thames-conservation/native-oyster-restoration Twitter: @NativeOysterNet; #OysterLove UKCEH Restoration of coastal habitats: https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/restoration The Saltmarsh App: https://www.saltmarshapp.com/ Blue Marine Foundation Sussex Kelp Project: https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/projects/sussex-kelp/ Lyme Bay Reserve: https://www.lymebayreserve.co.uk/science/ Research on Kelp and Oyster restoration in Australia: kelp and oyster restoration in Australia? https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13719 Project Seagrass (Seagrass Ocean Rescue): https://www.projectseagrass.org/ Chesapeake Bay Seagrass Restoration: https://www.vims.edu/research/units/programs/sav1/restoration/index.php 750,000 seeds planted in Wales in UK's Biggest Seagrass Restoration Scheme: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/press-office/news-events/news/2020/03/750000-seeds-planted-in-wales-inuks-biggest-seagrassrestoration-scheme-.php

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: Dr Monika Böhm, Freshwater Coordinator, Indianapolis Zoo Global Center for Species Survival. Dr Rikki Gumbs, EDGE Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Zoological Society of London. Emmanuel Amoah, Executive Director, Threatened Species Conservation Alliance (THRESCOAL). Benjamin Tapley, Head of the Reptile Team, Zoological Society of London. 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. Resources The IUCN Sampled Red List Index: zsl.org/global-biodiversity-monitoring/indicators-and-assessments-unit/the-sampled-red-list-index Global Reptile Assessment: natureserve.org/conservation-tools/projects/global-reptile-assessment The Global Assessment of Reptile Distributions: gardinitiative.org/ Indianapolis Zoo: indianapoliszoo.com/conservation/ ZSL's EDGE of Existence Programme: edgeofexistence.org/ Imperial College London's Grantham Institute: https://granthaminstitute.com/ THRESCOAL: threscoal.org/ Emmanuel's ZSL EDGE project page: edgeofexistence.org/fellow/emmanuel-amoah/ ZSL London Zoo Reptile House: zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/exhibits/reptile-house ZSL online Science and Conservation Event: zsl.org/science/whats-on/putting-reptiles-on-the-map-zsl-science-for-reptilian-conservation Related ZSL Wild Science podcast episodes: zsl.org/zsl-wild-science-podcast #007: Ten years on the EDGE of Existence #010: Species in the red: behind the scenes of the IUCN Red List #015: Biodiversity indicators: getting the measure of biodiversity and what it all means

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: Dr Catherine Head, Institute of Zoology, ZSL and University of Oxford Dr Jamie Craggs FLS, Horniman Museum & Gardens and Natural History Museum, London Dr James Guest, Newcastle University Dr Rosa van der Ven, Wageningen University Dr Chris Yesson, Institute of Zoology, ZSL   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.   Resources Project Coral: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/project/project-coral/ Coral Assist: https://www.coralassistlab.org/ ZSL Wild Science Podcast #011 Can we still save coral reefs and what if we don't?: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-wild-science-podcast ZSL's work with coral reefs in the Chagos Archipelago: https://www.zsl.org/regions/uk-overseas-territories/chagos-archipelago Bertarelli Foundation: https://www.fondation-bertarelli.org/ 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: Dr Rory Gibb, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Dr Christina Faust, Pennsylvania State University Dr Kimberly Fornace, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 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: Dr Tom B Letessier, Research Fellow at the Institute of Zoology, ZSL Dr Kristina Boerder, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dalhousie University  Professor Serge Wich, Liverpool John Moores University Dr Colin Beale, Reader at the University of York Dr Ana Nuno, NOVA University Lisbon and University of Exeter  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: Guardian article on the use of technology to stop illegal trade: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/08/wildlife-trafficking-science-technology-come-to-rescue-end-illegal-trade Guardian article on drones and big datat: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/feb/18/drones-and-big-data-the-next-frontier-in-the-fight-against-wildlife-extinction Global Fishing Watch: https://globalfishingwatch.org/ Link to New York Times article on Palau vs the Poachers: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/21/magazine/palau-vs-the-poachers.html Review of the Outlaw Ocean book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/oct/02/the-outlaw-ocean-by-ian-urbina-review

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/