All Creatures Podcast

Angie welcomes Dr. Katy Ayres to discuss sharks’ physiology and urgent conservation needs, highlight National Geographic’s SharkFest (premiering Sunday, July 5 on Nat Geo, Disney+ and Hulu), and preview “Hammerhead Sharks Up Close”.

Dr. Ayres, an England-born marine scientist and National Geographic Explorer who studies sharks in Baja, Mexico, shares how her lifelong fascination began. She explains sharks’ ecological roles as scavengers and indicators of healthy ecosystems, outlines threats including overfishing, bycatch, illegal fishing, finning practices, and climate-driven range shifts, and notes species-specific vulnerability based on life history.

Timeline

00:00 Welcome to Shark Fest
01:42 Meet Dr Kaci Ayers
02:11 Shark Obsession Origins
04:23 First Big Shark Dive
06:50 Keeping Childhood Passions
08:23 Sharks Have Personalities
10:44 Ancient Survivors Explained
11:02 Teeth Tricks and Adaptations
14:41 Why Sharks Matter
17:57 Population Declines and Finning
22:10 Drone Science in Baja
29:00 Drone Counts and Trends
30:08 Orcas Shift Blacktips
31:13 AI Shark Counting
31:55 Local Shark Spotters
36:30 Shark Fest Message
40:04 Future Tagging Questions
43:15 Advice for Marine Careers
48:27 Everyday Shark Help
54:09 Wrap Up and Thanks

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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

A classic episode released a few years ago. Here it is again in case you missed it.

Capybaras have become one of the world's most beloved animals, winning hearts with their calm personalities and remarkable ability to get along with almost every other species. In this classic episode, we explore the fascinating lives of the world's largest rodents, from their semi-aquatic lifestyle and complex social behavior to why they're such an important part of South America's wetland ecosystems. Although currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, capybaras still face local threats from habitat loss and hunting in parts of their range. Join us as we discover why these gentle giants are far more than just an internet sensation—they're a vital piece of healthy freshwater ecosystems.

==

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

Elephants don't simply wander across the landscape.

For generations, they have followed ancient migration routes passed down through memory, experience, and culture. These invisible highways connect water, food, and survival itself.

In this episode, Chris explores the remarkable world of elephant corridors, how matriarchs guide their families across vast distances, and what happens when ancient pathways collide with roads, farms, fences, and the modern world.

Because this isn't just a story about elephants.

It's a story about memory, coexistence, and whether humanity can still make room for giants.

Timeline

00:00 Elephants Don’t Wander
02:56 Why Movement Matters
08:51 Culture Beyond Humans
14:41 Matriarch Memory Map
21:00 Ancient Elephant Corridors
26:09 Modern Barriers Fragmentation
33:41 Conflict and Coexistence
36:15 Corridor Solutions and Hope
44:18 Final Question for Us

==

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

We are re-releasing this episode from 2020.

Amur Falcons are one of the most remarkable migratory birds on Earth. Weighing less than 200 grams, these small raptors undertake an astonishing annual journey of more than 20,000 kilometres, travelling from breeding grounds in eastern Asia to wintering grounds in southern Africa.

In this episode, we explore the incredible biology behind their migration, including a non-stop flight of up to 3,000 kilometres across the Indian Ocean—one of the longest over-water journeys known for any bird of prey. We also discuss how satellite tracking revealed the true scale of their migration and how communities in India helped transform a major conservation crisis into an inspiring success story.

Although currently listed as Amur Falcon by the IUCN as a species of Least Concern, Amur Falcons still face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and changes to insect populations along their migratory route.

==

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 and Angie revisit the giant panda, first featured on the podcast in 2018, and explore one of conservation's most celebrated success stories.

They discuss how giant pandas recovered from Endangered to Vulnerable status through habitat protection, wildlife corridors, anti-poaching efforts, and decades of dedicated conservation work in China. Along the way, they uncover the fascinating biology of these bamboo specialists, from their unique "pseudo-thumb" to their challenging breeding habits and surprisingly inefficient digestive system. The episode also examines the role of zoos, captive breeding programs, and what the panda's recovery can teach us about saving other species.

Timeline

00:00 Welcome Back to Pandas
00:41 Conservation Success Story
03:18 Panda Basics and Anatomy
06:24 Zoo Life and Panda Loans
13:31 Breeding Challenges and Bamboo
15:27 Habitat Corridors and Reserves
20:37 China’s Green Economy Shift
27:42 Evolution of a Bamboo Bear
32:07 Fast Facts and Panda Speed
33:45 Bamboo Diet Basics
34:16 Gut Microbes Explained
35:01 Built for Bamboo
36:23 Taste Gene Twist
37:50 Smell and Food Choice
39:32 Seasonal Bamboo Menu
42:50 Carnivore Gut Problem
46:59 Clumsy Charm Behaviors
51:48 Poop and Field Science
53:06 Solitary Social Signals
57:30 Breeding Window Crunch
01:01:43 Cubs and Diapause
01:06:26 Conservation Comeback
01:09:18 Wrap Up and Thanks
==

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