All Creatures Podcast

From the archives of All Creatures Podcast, we're revisiting our inspiring 2021 conversation with Dr. Paula Kahumbu, one of Africa's most influential wildlife conservationists, a National Geographic Explorer, and recipient of the prestigious Whitley Gold Award.

As a leading voice in elephant conservation, Dr. Kahumbu has dedicated her career to protecting Africa's wildlife, combating the illegal ivory trade, and inspiring a new generation of conservationists. Through her leadership at WildlifeDirect and her groundbreaking television series Wildlife Warriors, she has helped bring African conservation stories to millions while championing local communities and African-led conservation efforts.

Fresh off our own live podcast event at National Geographic, we're celebrating another extraordinary Explorer whose passion, determination, and leadership remind us that protecting wildlife begins with empowering the people who share their world.

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How did life first take to the air? In this classic interview from 2022, Chris and Angie welcome evolutionary biologist Dr. Richard Dawkins to discuss his book Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and Evolution. From tiny flying insects to soaring birds, Dawkins explores the many ways evolution has overcome gravity—and how those solutions compare with our own flying machines.

The conversation also reaches beyond flight to the wonder of scientific discovery, the importance of conservation, and the power of sharing science with others. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation about evolution and the creatures that inspire us to look up.

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Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris recounts the recovery of New Zealand’s Chatham black robin (karure/keruru), an island species devastated by habitat clearing and introduced predators like rats and cats, until its range shrank to tiny Mangere Island.

Numbers fell from 18 birds in 1972 to seven in 1976, then to five by 1980 with only one breeding female, “Old Blue,” paired with “Old Yellow,” leaving the species’ future dependent on her.

Chris tells the story of how conservationists and the New Zealand Wildlife Service team, led by figures like Don Merton, combined translocation, predator control, habitat restoration (including planting about 120,000 trees), and pioneering cross-fostering led to this species survival.

Timeline

00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:59 Island Origins and Threats
02:58 Collapse to Seven Birds
05:12 Only Five Left
08:23 Old Blue Last Female
12:06 Why Every Egg Matters
16:49 Radical Egg Moving
18:31 Cross Fostering Breakthrough
23:07 Habitat and Predator Control
27:37 Numbers Rebound
30:52 Hope and Wider Lessons
33:23 Ongoing Work Today
36:05 Northern White Rhino Parallel
37:41 Final Takeaway and Hope

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Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What kind of animal can see light we cannot and strike with enough force to crack a crab’s shell? In this classic episode from 2022, Chris and Angie meet the mantis shrimp: a small marine predator with extraordinary eyes and one of the most powerful hunting strikes in the animal world. Some species smash hard-shelled prey, while others use sharp, spear-like limbs to catch fish.

“Mantis shrimp” refers to hundreds of species, so there is no single conservation status for them all. Some face pressure from fishing and the loss of the reefs and seabed habitats they call home. Join us for one of our favorite classic episodes and discover why this remarkable creature deserves attention far beyond its famous punch.

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In this classic episode from 2019, Chris and Angie explore the cheetah’s incredible speed, from its flexible spine and gripping claws to the long tail that helps it turn during a chase. But there is much more to this remarkable cat than its sprint.

Cheetahs are currently listed as Vulnerable globally, while the remaining Asiatic cheetahs in Iran are Critically Endangered. Across their range, shrinking and fragmented habitat leaves cheetahs with less space and fewer wild prey. Many live alongside farmers, where conflict over livestock can lead to cheetahs being killed; cubs are also taken for the illegal pet trade.

Join us to discover why the cheetah’s future depends on protecting connected landscapes and finding ways for people and wildlife to live together.

==

Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices