DareToCare - Animal Welfare Podcast

Aimée, Anette, Maya, Silke, Mascha and Annette

We Dare To Care! By listening to our podcast you do too! Together we dive into a vast variety of animal welfare topics, speaking to vets, students, farmers and others, listening to their view. Our aim is to raise awareness on different issues and thereby make a difference. We would love to get your input. Let us know what you are interested in. Please share your thoughts and our podcast! :) Email us: podcast.daretocare@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagramm: @daretocare_podcast Some episodes are in English and some in German. Enjoy!

  1. MAR 12

    91 Scrollen, schauen, schweigen? Unsere Verantwortung bei Tierleid im Netz

    In dieser Folge sprechen wir über eine Schattenseite der sozialen Medien, die oft im schnellen Scrollen untergeht – und doch millionenfach geklickt wird: Tierleid als Content. Zu Gast ist Wiebke Plasse, Referentin bei der WTG (Welt-Tierschutz-Gesellschaft) und Initiatorin der Kampagne „Stoppt Tierleid in den sozialen Netzwerken“. Mit ihr werfen wir einen schonungslosen, aber notwendigen Blick auf die Mechanismen hinter Videos und Bildern, in denen Tiere leiden – und die dennoch viral gehen. Was war der Auslöser für die Kampagne? Welche konkreten Forderungen stellt die WTG an Plattformbetreiber, Politik und Gesellschaft? Und wie präsent ist Tierleid auf Social Media aktuell wirklich – hat sich die Problematik in den letzten Jahren verschärft? Wir sprechen über die unterschiedlichen Formen von Tierleid im Netz: von offensichtlich gewalttätigen Inhalten bis hin zu subtileren, oft verniedlichten Darstellungen, die auf den ersten Blick harmlos wirken. Warum funktionieren solche Inhalte so gut? Welche Rolle spielen Empathie, Sensationslust und die algorithmische Verstärkung durch Plattformen? Ein zentrales Thema: Führt die ständige Konfrontation mit extremen Bildern zu einer Abstumpfung? Und welches Ziel verfolgen Menschen, die Tierleid gezielt erzeugen, um Aufmerksamkeit zu generieren? Wir diskutieren auch die gesellschaftliche Dimension: Spiegelt Tierleid auf Social Media fehlendes Bewusstsein für Tierschutz wider? Welche Verantwortung tragen Plattformbetreiber – und wo liegen aktuell die größten Herausforderungen im Dialog mit ihnen? Wie arbeitet die WTG konkret an Veränderungen, mit welchen Partner*innen, und welche politischen Schritte wären dringend notwendig? Trotz der Schwere des Themas geht es auch um Hoffnung: Welche positiven Entwicklungen gibt es? Wo zeigen sich erste Erfolge? Und ganz wichtig: Was können wir als Nutzer*innen tun? Reicht es, Inhalte zu melden? Wie unterscheiden wir seriöse Aufklärungsarbeit von problematischem Content? Und welches realistische Ziel können wir uns im Kampf gegen Tierleid in sozialen Medien in den kommenden Jahren setzen? Eine Folge über Verantwortung, digitale Dynamiken – und darüber, warum Wegsehen keine Optionist. Zum Nachlesen: Petition für ein Stopp von Tierleid-Inhalten: https://welttierschutz.org/petition-tierleid-stoppen/Leitfaden zur Erkennung von Tierleid-Inhalten in den sozialen Netzwerken:https://welttierschutz.org/leitfaden-tierleid/Leitfaden zum Melden von Tierleid-Inhalten in den sozialen Netzwerken: https://welttierschutz.org/leitfaden-melden/Zum Weiterhören: #StopptTierleid in Tierwelten, dem Podcast der Welttierschutzgesellschaft: Folge 13 über die Inhalte der Kampagne: https://tierwelten.podigee.io/13-tierleid-social-mediaFolge 14 mit Fokus auf inszenierte Tierrettungen:   https://tierwelten.podigee.io/14-fake-rescuesIf you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please email: podcast.daretocare@gmail.com. We are always happy about feedback! FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS - Instagram: @daretocare_podcast

    1 hr
  2. FEB 26

    90 What Captive Tigers Really Need: Welfare, Law, and Responsibility

    Tanya Erzinclioglu is a wildlife welfare specialist and long-time advocate for captive big cats, with years of hands-on experience working on tiger welfare and policy reform in Thailand. She is the Director of the NGO ForTigers and was closely involved in the landmark case that led to the closure of the infamous Tiger Temple. When we think of tigers, we usually picture them roaming free in the wild — yet today, thousands live in captivity, particularly in tourism-driven settings. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the reality of captive tiger keeping in Thailand: why tigers are kept, how welfare is framed versus practiced, and what tigers actually need to live physically and psychologically healthy lives. Together, we unpack the welfare challenges Tanya has encountered first-hand, from enclosure design, enrichment, diet, and veterinary care to the impacts of constant human contact in tourism facilities. We address common myths — including the persistent belief that tourism tigers are routinely sedated — and explore how stress and long-term wellbeing are affected by close human interaction. We also critically examine conservation claims made by captive facilities. Where is the line between genuine conservation and commercial exploitation? A major part of the conversation focuses on the Tiger Temple case: why it became a turning point for tiger welfare in Thailand, what legal and welfare failures were exposed, and what lessons governments, NGOs, and the public should take from its closure. Finally, we look at the gap between legislation and enforcement, and how animal welfare advocacy can be pursued responsibly and respectfully across cultural contexts. This episode is an unflinching but nuanced look at tiger welfare — beyond glossy photos, conservation marketing, and easy answers. Read more: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39279339/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37746904/ If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please email: podcast.daretocare@gmail.com. We are always happy about feedback! FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS - Instagram: @daretocare_podcast

    55 min
  3. JAN 29

    88 Mental Health in Rescued Bears

    In this episode, we are joined by Sarah Van Herpt, Director of Veterinary and Behavioural Husbandry Services at Animals Asia, for an in-depth conversation about animal mental health, trauma, and recovery in sanctuary settings. With a background spanning biology, conservation, veterinary nursing, and clinical animal behaviour, Sarah brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective shaped by her work in Vietnam and New Zealand. Together, we explore why psychological well-being deserves the same attention as physical health in rescued wildlife, particularly in bears recovering from the trauma of bile farming. Sarah shares how mental health is assessed in sanctuary medicine, the behavioural signs of trauma she commonly sees in newly rescued bears, and how her team balances environmental enrichment, cooperative care training, and, when necessary, behavioural medication. The episode also dives into the practical and ethical considerations of psychopharmacology in wildlife: how decisions to medicate are made, what has been learned about dosages and side effects in bears, and how success is measured beyond simple clinical outcomes. Through the powerful case of Ban, a rescued bear whose recovery illustrates the intersection of medicine, behaviour, and trust, Sarah highlights the transformative impact of patient-centred, trauma-informed care. Finally, we reflect on broader questions facing the veterinary and animal welfare professions: Is the field ready to formally integrate mental health into welfare assessments? And how can we move past concerns about anthropomorphism to better support animals recovering from profound psychological trauma? This episode is essential listening for veterinarians, animal welfare professionals, and anyone interested in compassionate, evidence-based approaches to animal care. Read more: www.animalsasia.org If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please email: podcast.daretocare@gmail.com. We are always happy about feedback! FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS - Instagram: @daretocare_podcast

    55 min

About

We Dare To Care! By listening to our podcast you do too! Together we dive into a vast variety of animal welfare topics, speaking to vets, students, farmers and others, listening to their view. Our aim is to raise awareness on different issues and thereby make a difference. We would love to get your input. Let us know what you are interested in. Please share your thoughts and our podcast! :) Email us: podcast.daretocare@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagramm: @daretocare_podcast Some episodes are in English and some in German. Enjoy!