The All Creatures Podcast

This week we talk about one of the world's oldest mammals, the Tapir. Specifically, we focus on the Malayan Tapir. The Tapirs are fascinating animals that have changed little over the past 30 million years. What makes them even more intriguing is, the Malayan Tapir lives in South East Asia, whereas the other species of Tapir live in Central and South America. While they have diverged nearly 20 million years ago, they differ little in their body composition or behaviors. We had so much fun chatting about these rather large herbivores. Sadly, all the species of Tapir are in serious decline and heading towards extinction. They are well worth learning about and fighting for.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offe

In this week's podcast we head back to Africa and cover an iconic but often forgotten species, the porcupine. These rodents are masters of the defense and predators often come out on the losing end when they mess with these. African Crested Porcupines are just one of numerous species of Old World porcupines. Many other species of the Old World Porcupines inhabit other parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. The New World Porcupines inhabit North, Central and South America and interestingly enough are not that closely related to the Old World Porcupines. This is just another fascinating species we cover and hope you enjoy this one.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  P

We welcome a highly rated journalist and author of Beloved Beasts: Fighting For Life in the Age of Extinction Michelle Nijhuis to the podcast. Michelle talks about her own journey from biologist to journalism, leading up to her newest book all about the modern conservation movement. Her book covers a wide range of conservation characters and how they helped shaped today's conservation efforts around the globe. This was a delightful and informative interview. If you have any aspirations to work in the area of conservation this is a must listen to, and Beloved Beasts is a must read.  You can learn more about Michelle and her book by going HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome back Angie to this week's podcast covering the American Alligator. This species is near and dear to both of us as the "Gator" is the official mascot for the University of Florida. A tradition is any child born in Gainesville, Florida is known as a "Gator Baby." So this week, we dedicate this episode to our kids, who all are Gator babies!  The Alligator is a massive apex predator native to North America. As a reptile, the Alligator has survived for tens of millions of years and was almost at risk of extinction in the mid 20th century. With focused conservation they have rebounded and are another conservation success story. Today there are over 5 million Alligators living in the United States alongside humans. They are a critical predator to our natural water ways and exhibit some incredible behaviors. We know you will enjoy learning about this special reptile.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support w

This week Chris highlights the disturbing reports that have been circulating the last year on the massive loss of our biodiversity across the planet. In this week's podcast, he highlights some of the statistics that shows how our complex ecosystems across almost every biome are degrading quickly. From our oceans to our rainforests, to our very own fresh waterways, across the planet we are losing not only critical species across all taxa, but also the very environments that sustain life on Earth.  It leads to the question that is now making mainstream news, are humans causing their own extinction? Now, while all the news is horrific, there is always hope! He highlights some of the conservation heroes that have dedicated their lives to saving our planet and the many species that inhabit it, but also tells you what you can do to help. As a side note, we will be back soon with our regular species podcasts.   For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to c

We welcome back our special guests Logan and Pax to the kid's edition of the All Creatures Podcast. Logan was excited to join Angie to discuss everything he learned about Tree Kangaroos! Whereas, Pax is back to educate us on the North American Porcupine. We hope you enjoy this special episode from our future conservationist. Angie is going wonderful with her newborn and we will be back soon with more species here very soon. In the meantime, we hope you are enjoying our special interviews and guests from both our adults and our young conservationists.    Pax's YouTube Channel can be viewed HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's podcast we welcome professor and author Dr. Charles Bergman. Imagine being able to travel to some of the most remote regions on the planet to see some of your favorite animals. Well, Dr. Bergman has done that and more. He is a fascinating story teller and articulates his many travels to see every species of penguin on Earth. Dr. Bergman is a long time professor at Pacific Lutheran University in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He has authored many other books on conservation and has traveled extensively. It was a real treat to have Dr. Bergman on and we are sure you will enjoy this one.  You can access Dr. Bergman's website HERE   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent report was released by WWF in collaboration of multiple agencies on our freshwater ecosystem biodiversity crisis. The report highlighted how our freshwater fishes are in steep decline. In fact, one in three freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction. In this week's podcast episode we welcome a founder and the Executive Director of Shoal, Mike Baltzer, to discuss this report and what his organization is doing to help our freshwater ecosystems. Mike is a conservation superhero who worked with WWF for 18 years before he helped found Shoal. This is an area of conservation that deserves all our attention and please share what you learn with all your friends and family.  You can view the wonderful Shoal website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, big news for us is Angie gave birth to a healthy baby boy on March 1! He came in at a whopping 8 lbs. 11 ounces. Both Angie and baby are doing well!!  With that, a couple weeks ago before Angie gave birth, we sat down with Jungle Jordan and had a fascinating chat about the role of zookeepers in education and conservation. We also had Jon (Angie's husband and now new Dad) also join in the chat. Jon is the Director of the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo program. We spent well over an hour talking about how zookeepers are now major faces in conservation. They all serve critical roles in helping to educate the public on today's biodiversity crisis.  We first had Jungle Jordan on in Episode 131 and it was a pleasure to have him back. Jordan Veasley, also known as "Jungle Jordan," is a wildlife enthusiast and educator. He began his zoo keeping career when he was young and now has worked his way up to a number of roles for the Cougar Mountain Zoo in Washington State. In Episode 131 we spent a fascinating ho

We return to the ocean to one of the most beloved marine mammals, the Sea Otter. Sea otters were almost hunted to extinction for their lustrous fur coats. By the early 20th century they numbered just a few thousand . Through international cooperation, Sea Otters were protected and now number over 100,000 animals in the wild. However, Sea Otters are still endangered and under incredible pressure. This species is also critical to a healthy coastal ecosystem around the northern Pacific rim. We hope you enjoy learning more in this week's podcast about Sea Otters and all their mustelid hijinks.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us at P

This week we welcome Dr. Shermin de Silva, the founder and President of Trunks and Leaves. Dr. de Silva is an expert in Asian elephant conservation. We discuss many of the issues facing elephants in Asia. It is a fascinating look at how Asian elephant conservation differs from African elephant conservation. We also discuss many differences between African and Asian elephants and how that can influence their futures.  You can visit the Trunks and Leaves website HERE Dr. de Silva also asked us to share this as she said: We have an emerging crisis in which one of the critical corridors linked to the national park is under threat. You can see more about it here on our blog. It's a developing situation and I am setting up a legal defense fund for the lawsuits being filed to protect the corridor.  You can donate to the defense fund by the following link (Thank you!)   https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2132558 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Shoebill, or also known as Shoebill Stork, Death Pelican, Whalehead, and others, is one unique bird.  What draws most to this bird is its enormous beak. It quite simply earned its name because it's beak looks like an old Dutch wooden shoe. Its massive. Native to central Africa, the Shoebill has carved out its ecological niche as a predator and plays a key role in maintaining freshwater ecosystems. It is a large bird that preys on anything from tilapia, lungfish to lizards and small crocodiles. The Shoebill is a prized sighting by many bird watchers and now we know why. In this week's podcast we cover everything Shoebill. From their natural history, ecological impacts, their physiology, reproduction and behavior. This is an incredible bird that will bring a smile to your face.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$

We bring you a special interview with Sierra Club's Bonnie Rice and the Executive Director of the Global Indigenous Council Rain Bear Stands Last. We spend a fascinating hour not only addressing grey wolves in the Americas, but also how conservation intertwines with the rights of indigenous peoples. This is a new take for us on conservation and a critical one. As we all work together around the globe to save our environment and all the species that inhabit it, we also need to respect and engage those living in these areas. We are so grateful to the Sierra Club and Global Indigenous Council for their keen insight.  Please visit the Sierra Club's website HERE Please visit the Global Indigenous Council website HERE  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the more iconic species of the Americas, the Black Bear, is an animal that inhabits many people's backyards. This often timid bear, has adapted due to its incredible intelligence to living side by side people. So much so that they are an actual conservation success story. Once decimated in the late 1800s, the American Black Bear has bounced back, despite losing much of its historical range. In this week's podcast we learn about another amazing bear species. We talk everything Black Bear, with even some comparisons with its cousins the brown (grizzly) bear, polar bear, and many others.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us at

We have covered some strange and exotic animals and this one is near the top of the list. This cute little creature, the Pink Fairy Armadillo is from South America. Weighing less than 120 grams and at less than 5 inches in length, this armadillo has carved its niche in central Argentina. While their physiology may seem bizarre, for millions of years the Pink Fairy Armadillo has survived for thousands and thousands of years. We had another fun week covering an obscure species in dire need. While we do not have hard data on this little animal, data indicates they may be endangered and heading towards extinction. They deserve our attention and love. Plus, come on, Pink Fairy, Armadillo. Fantastic! For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so

In this week's episode we jump to one of our favorite families, the mustelids, and tackle the Wolverine. These circumpolar predators are mysterious and incredibly unique. They are actually the largest mustelid on the planet and exhibit many common traits found in these animals. The Wolverine is tenacious, rugged and a survivor. We also have a major announcement to make that should make everyone smile. Thank you so much for your support and for sharing these episodes with your friends and family. This is the defining decade for our planet and we all need to band together to protect our wildlife.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us

We kick off 2021 with an amazing animal that at times defies logic. The Pronghorn Antelope is native to North America but is an incredibly unique hooved animal. Most of its relatives died out at the end of the last Ice Age, but somehow survived. It also is not only one of the fastest land mammals and has many other jaw-dropping adaptations. This is another cant miss episode about a species many often forget about.  For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! Show notes HERE   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is our 200th official episode. We want to thank all the listeners from around the world for your support! In this episode we quickly recap some of our favorite episodes and interviews from over the last 100 episodes. We then jump into a trivia battle about some the quirkier facts we uncovered over so many amazing species. We all are making a difference in the world. Thank you for sharing this information with your friends and family. Conservation issues are making headline news day in and day out. You are a major part of that and we thank you. The animals need our love and education is the first step. We can not thank you enough.  Happy 2021 everyone!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome chimpanzee expert Dr. Andrew Halloran. He is the Director of chimpanzee care at Save the Chimps. As a primatologist, Andrew has spent the past 20 years working to improve and save the lives of chimpanzees––not only chimps in captivity here in the U.S. but chimps in the wild. Save the Chimps is the largest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary in the world whose mission is to provide refuge and exemplary care to chimpanzees in need. Save the Chimps offers life-long care for chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, the pet trade, and entertainment industry. You can visit their website HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are finishing this month of our holiday animals from around the world with the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. These primates are specialist at elevation and in the snow. More importantly, all 5 species of snub-nosed monkeys are endangered. Some even critically endangered. Listen more to this weeks episode to learn more about these remote living distant cousins. For one cup of "good" coffee a month you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With your support we were able to donate to the Coral Reef Foundation, Red Panda Network, helped provide chum ($$) for OCEARCH, funding to train rangers in Africa with Global Conservation Force and so much more. We also offer bonus episodes and supporter only content.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. Thank you so much for your support! Show notes HERE   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices