Conservation Conversation

Ultimate Safari

Conversations with the incredible people responsible for the conservation of our planet. Talking all things nature, from the illegal wildlife trade and the complexities of keystone species, to the beauty and significance of our biodiversity.

Episodes

  1. 28/08/2023

    Searching for Spots | A citizen science project for leopard conservation

    We’re still talking all things leopard but this time we chat with a real life citizen scientist. Owen Grobler lives on a wildlife estate in Hoedspruit, South Africa. As a new resident to the estate, Owen was driven to learn more about the peri urban leopards that were sighted in the area. Five years later what began as a passion project, has turned into so much more. A wildlife photographer by trade, Owen started following, recording and photographing the elusive big cats who called this disturbed landscape home. In conjunction with the publication of his book, “Searching for Spots”, over time the importance of co-habitation became more and more evident. More recently the future of the resident leopards is in the spot light and Owen is determined to go to bat for their safety and conservation. In this podcast, hear about Owen’s personal encounters with wild leopards in a built up area and what that means for the leopards, and for the residents. The connection to any wild animal is special and in this case, Owen shares the painstaking lengths to which he has gone to photograph them. We are also joined by conservation ecologist and project manager Marine from Ingwe Leopard Research who expands on the important role, people like Owen play in the study and conservation of leopards. The various links mentioned in the podcast are below: Owen’s Book: https://www.searchingforspots.com/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/searchingforspots/ Ingwe Crowd Funding https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ingwe-leopard-research Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ingwe_leopard_research/

    54 min
  2. 30/09/2022

    Conservation Conversation | Canned Lion Hunting

    Did you know that there are more than 300 farms in South Africa where lions are bred in cages for the hunting industry? It's called canned lion hunting because it is hunting in a can. Instant. No chase. No escape. No mercy. Shot in a fenced camp.    Since it was first uncovered in 1997, this industry has been under huge scrutiny both locally and internationally. Canned lion hunting remains legal in South Africa. A canned lion is a lion born in captivity on a lion farm. It is taken from its mother at 2 to 3 weeks old, so she can breed again, and sold to cub petting destinations for tourists. Later, stressed and malnourished, the young lion, now too big for petting, is sold to a lion walking destination, also for tourists. Finally, the lion is sold to a hunter, to be shot and killed as a trophy.  Today there are 3 times more canned lions than wild lions in South Africa. For about 11000 lions, there is not one day of freedom. Farmed lions can never be made wild and will never know the natural sanctity of being free. A hunter or farmers’ bullet awaits them.  Many conservationist groups and individuals have long lobbied with the South African government against canned lion hunting. We learn more from Chris Mercer who is recognised as the leading international expert on the practice of canned lion hunting and has lobbied against it for more than 20 years.  Chris and his late partner Beverley, established a wildlife rehab centre and sanctuary in the Karoo region, of South Africa. When they heard of the unimaginably cruel treatment of lions on South Africa's lion farms, Chris started to campaign against canned hunting. The Campaign Against Canned Hunting was born.    If you would like to learn more about the work being done by Chris and others mentioned in this podcast, please see the links below |  http://www.cannedlion.org/  & https://www.lionsbonesbullets.film/

    34 min

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Conversations with the incredible people responsible for the conservation of our planet. Talking all things nature, from the illegal wildlife trade and the complexities of keystone species, to the beauty and significance of our biodiversity.