ZSL Wild Science Podcast

Delve into topical issues in zoology, conservation and the environment, from saving species and protecting the planet, to finding out about the animals living across the globe, including in London’s own river Thames. Learn more about the science behind the conservation work being done by ZSL and others, in this podcast from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology. Hosted previously by Dr Monni Böhm and Ellie Darbey, and now by Harriet McAra.

ZSL #046 Feeding the Zoo: Nutrition for animals under managed care 04/16/2025

ZSL #045 BONUS Nature's Negotiators: Saving the planet one meeting at a time 12/30/2024

ZSL #044 Nature's Negotiators: The UN's Wildest Diplomatic Mission - Part 2 12/18/2024

ZSL #044 Nature's Negotiators: The UN's Wildest Diplomatic Mission - Part 2 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 , Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction 01:12 , 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 , 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: Check out our science and conservation work at: or Bethan Laughlin: Georgina Chandler: Read more about our EDGE Fellows: ZSL’s COP16 position statement: “Negotiations ran out of time, but action on biodiversity loss cannot be postponed…” Blog written by Georgina Chandler: Get in touch Email with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation /episode/index/show/zslscience/id/34483135

ZSL #043 Back to the Wild: Assessing disease risks for species reintroduction 10/18/2024

ZSL #042 Nature's Negotiators: The UN's Wildest Diplomatic Mission - Part 1 08/21/2024

ZSL #041 Reimagining Coral Reefs 06/14/2024

ZSL #040 Mammal conservation in Korea: Human-carnivore coexistence on the Korean Peninsula 05/20/2024

ZSL #039 Wild Science is back for 2024 05/10/2024

ZSL #037 How can we recover nature in our cities: rewilding, reconnecting habitats and restoring rivers 12/20/2022

ZSL #037 How can we recover nature in our cities: rewilding, reconnecting habitats and restoring rivers 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 , Institute of Zoology, ZSL , Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL Joe Pecorelli, Conservation Project Manager, , 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: Check out our science and conservation work at: or Living Planet Report: Previous Episode mentioned #035 on Nature-based solutions: Rewilding your cities ZSL report: Rewild my street: London Hogwatch: Pine Marten sighting: London’s Rivers: State of the Thames Report: Volunteer for London’s Rivers: Flood and Water Management act: Get in touch Email with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook /episode/index/show/zslscience/id/25374873