Conservationists Assemble: How experts are saving endangered species (and how you can too!)

The Conservationists Assemble is back with episode 52.In this episode Jonny welcomes Irna, Dhanu & Vanda to discuss the collective journey and efforts of wildlife rescue centre Jogja, konklusi & the gembira loka zoo in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in their mission to raise the profile of and save the critically endangered Malayan giant turtle (Orlitia borneensis). Links/Extra reading: Saving Malayan Giant Turtle from brink of extinction, Phase I: establishing healthy and genetically viable assurance colony — Asian Species Action Partnership | ASAP Species Conservation – WRC Jogja (PDF) Turtles in Malaysia: A Review of Conservation Status and a Call for Research ZQ_107_92d68e56d4.pdf - Zooquaria Issue 107 (has some background on the founding population of O. borneensis in EAZA member organisations. 2022_TAG_Annual_Reports_web_7d92d2e668.pdf - The 2022 EAZA TAG report mentions an upgrade from an ESB to a new style EEP for O. borneensis). EAZA_AC_22_PROGRAMME_BOOKLET_0f9083bedf.pdf - The 2022 EAZA annual conference featured poster publicising the efforts of Gdansk zoo, Poland in assisted breeding of O. borneensis. ZootierlisteHomepage - Current estimates of O. borneensis under human care globally Orlitia borneensis (Malaysian Giant Turtle) (PDF) Orlitia borneensis (Gray, 1873) (Testudines, Geoemydidae), Malaysian Giant Turtle, from Belitung Island, Indonesia: filling a distribution gap - a paper published since recording this episode filling a distribution gap in O. borneensis Kolaborasi Inklusi Konservasi (KONKLUSI) — Asian Species Action Partnership | ASAP - konklusi Kolaborasi Inklusi Konservasi (@konklusi_id) • Instagram photos and videos - konklusi Instagram Homepage | Happy Loka Zoo - gembira loka zoo homepage Gembira Loka Zoo (@gembiraloka.zoo) • Instagram photos and videos - gembira loka instagram

The Conservationists Assemble is back with Volume 50!Tune in to part 1 of the conversation with your host Jonny Bloxham and special guests, Kate Pearce and Rohan Cleave from Melbourne Zoo & Zoos Victoria.This episode is all about the Lord Howe island stick insect. A critically endangered invertebrate endemic to Lord Howe island that went from estimated millions in population to what was thought to be complete extinction in the matter of a decade with the wreckage of a ship and the arrival of invasive rodents in the 1900s. That was until 2001 when a population of anywhere between 9-35 individuals were found on six Melaleuca howeana shrubs on the nearby and almost inhospitable, Ball's pyramid.This conversation highlights a tremendous and ongoing effort to save a species from extinction.Find some awesome resources and links below: Sticky: Rediscovering the Lord Howe Stick Insect - Island Conservation (PDF) The recovery programme for the Lord Howe Island Phasmid (Dryococelus australis) following its rediscovery (PDF) Rediscovery of the ‘extinct’ Lord Howe Island stick-insect (Dryococelus australis (Montrouzier)) (Phasmatodea) and recommendations for its conservation Lord Howe Island Stick Insect Conservation Breeding Program turns 20 Beyond Mega Zoo - The Lord Howe Island stick insect Lord Howe Stick Insects, resilient survivors but are they cute? Museum Lecture: The true life adventure story of Lord Howe Island Stick Insect Reading with a Ranger – “Phasmid Saving the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect” Home | Lord Howe Island Board Phasmid Pale Ale 16-Case – Lord Howe Island Brewing Co https://www.instagram.com/lenkomelb?igsh=cWdnZDdtaXpubThy - a link to the talented Dana Lenko who produced the jumper that Kate was wearing (and briefly discussed in part. 2)

The Conservationists Assemble is back with volume 48! Today's episode focuses on the Scarce Yellow Sally. There are fewer pleasures greater than being out in nature, and rivers are a great source of that. For me, rivers were a great source of enjoyment in the pandemic as I know they were for a lot of people. When restrictions started easing here in the UK, Panshanger park became a place we visited often. On days where the weather was pristine, we would sit at the river's edge and just enjoy the environment. I knew that there was wildlife around. The possibility of kingfishers and perhaps even otters. Okay so both (particularly the latter) were incredibly unlikely given the presence of people enjoying the outdoors. But being able to observe the character of butterflies, bees and dragonflies along the waters edge was a privilege.Today's episode is about a species that relies upon and is synonymous with healthy rivers, the Scarce Yellow Sally. Joining me is Joe Chattell, as we put the spotlight on this mysterious stonefly. Check out the resources below to learn more! https://www.instagram.com/joechattell?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=emk0eWtwa2dpNjI1 Recording Riverflies Introduction to Stoneflies Contents Meeting Sally... - Buglife Blog - Buglife Scarce Yellow Sally - Buglife projects John Davy-Bowker — Freshwater Biological Association Craig Macadam — Freshwater Biological Association Connect with the podcast - Will you join the fight? conservationistsassemble@outlook.com Conservationists Assemble (@conservationistsassemblepod) • Instagram photos and videos

The Conservationists Assemble is back with volume 46! Today's episode focuses on conservation education and highlights this crucial element within modern conservation efforts. Joining me is Chris Eley from Hertfordshire Zoo in the UK to share is insight on the incredible power of education. Check out the resources below to learn more and how to get involved! Connect with the podcast - Will you join the fight? conservationistsassemble@outlook.com Conservationists Assemble (@conservationistsassemblepod) • Instagram photos and videos Conservation education resources: https://www.instagram.com/chris__eley?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Chris Eley- International Award-Winning Conservation Photographer Education | BIAZA The IZE/WAZA Education Strategy - WAZA

The Conservationists Assemble is back with volume 44! Today's episode is all about the Large Heath Butterfly and tells an empowering story of UK conservation success! Joining me are Alan Wright and Jenny Bennion of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Find out how this species has returned from extinction and how an unknown habitat in our peatlands can be so beneficial to so many species but also us as humans.Check out the resources below to learn more and how to get involved! Connect with the podcast - Will you join the fight? Send any photos or videos of any species that you enjoy or a particularly proud of. And in the spirit of advocating for wild spaces, lets see your photos and videos of those too! If you have any questions or suggestions for future episodes send your thoughts or voice notes in too! conservationistsassemble@outlook.com Conservationists Assemble (@conservationistsassemblepod) • Instagram photos and videos Large Heath Butterfly resources:How do you reintroduce an extinct butterfly? | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside Great Manchester Wetlands | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside GM Wetlands Partnership Briefing note October 2021.docx Large heath | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside My first encounter with the rare large heath butterfly | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside Rare large heath caterpillars hatch at Chester Zoo | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside Species reintroduction | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside Bringing a species back from extinction - YouTube GM Wetlands Species Reintroductions Project Scope.pdf Peatland restoration | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside How to go peat free at home | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside Peatland Practical Volunteer | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside Peatlands: What are they and how did they form? | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside Winmarleigh & Cockerham Moss | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside Reintroduction of the large heath butterfly | BIAZA Large heath butterfly returns to the wild - YouTube

The Conservationists Assemble is back with volume 42! Welcome fellow wildlife avengers to the Conservationists Assemble. My name is Jonny Bloxham but here I am known as my alter ego, Captain Conservation, your friendly neighbourhood animal advocate. I am a former zookeeper with a passion for conservation education and the global efforts for threatened species and habitats around the world. I am inviting you to join me as we take the fight to our planet’s biggest villain and my arch-nemesis, extinction! Whether you’re new to animal advocacy or a veteran in wildlife preservation, this is the podcast for you! Each week, I will be teaming up with Earth’s mightiest wildlife heroes to unify the greatest collaboration of conservationists ever known where we will be discussing our planet’s epic species and what is being done to save them. This is the conservationists assemble podcast. Hello everyone and thank you for tuning in to another episode of the conservationists assemble podcast. How have you all been? I hope you’ve all had a wonderful week. I want to hear all about what experiences with nature or thoughts you’ve had about wildlife this week. I want to include you all in this podcast so if you’ve visited a zoo or aquarium this week, snapped a photo or video that you wish to share or have a story about animals that you want to tell. Send them to conservationistsassemble@outlook.com Today's episode is all about the Galapagos giant tortoise and takes the podcast's first look into the birthplace of the theory of evolution. Joining me is Dr. Claudia Rudolf von Rohr, zoological director at Zoo Zurich and EEP coordinator for the Galapagos giant tortoise. I hope you enjoy the episode as Claudia guides us through understanding their threats and conservation actions. Will you join the fight? You can check out more amazing work here: Conservation and environmental science news - Mongabay Friends of Galápagos (@friendsofgalapagos) • Instagram photos and videos Don’t forget that there are plenty of ways to interact with the podcast by sharing your favourite photos and videos of your favourite species. You can also send in your favourite memories from a time at your favourite zoo or experiencing nature first hand. And you can have your say by expressing species, topics, organisations or specific guests you would wish to have on the podcast. Perhaps you want to appear on an episode yourself if you have a topic you are particularly passionate about. You can do all of these things by emailing or by messaging on facebook and instagram. Until next time, this is Captain Conservation signing off, over and out. Connect with the podcast: conservationistsassemble@outlook.com Conservationists Assemble (@conservationistsassemblepod) • Instagram photos and videos

The Conservationists Assemble is back with volume 40! Welcome fellow wildlife avengers to the Conservationists Assemble. My name is Jonny Bloxham but here I am known as my alter ego, Captain Conservation, your friendly neighbourhood animal advocate. I am a former zookeeper with a passion for conservation education and the global efforts for threatened species and habitats around the world. I am inviting you to join me as we take the fight to our planet’s biggest villain and my arch-nemesis, extinction! Whether you’re new to animal advocacy or a veteran in wildlife preservation, this is the podcast for you! Each week, I will be teaming up with Earth’s mightiest wildlife heroes to unify the greatest collaboration of conservationists ever known where we will be discussing our planet’s epic species and what is being done to save them. This is the conservationists assemble podcast. Will you join the fight? Hello everyone and thank you for tuning in to another episode of the conservationists assemble podcast. How have you all been? I hope you’ve all had a wonderful week. I want to hear all about what experiences with nature or thoughts you’ve had about wildlife this week. I want to include you all in this podcast so if you’ve visited a zoo or aquarium this week, snapped a photo or video that you wish to share or have a story about animals that you want to tell. Send them to conservationistsassemble@outlook.com I’ve made it no secret that aside from raising awareness of our planet’s threatened species through uniting with amazing conservationists around the world, that community is an integral part of my hopes and dreams for the conservationists assemble. Which is why, week in and week out I ask and offer for every one of you, the listeners, to share your photos, videos, stories and experiences of wildlife and your time in zoos as well as your thoughts on the podcast and to spread the word with family, friends and peers. The importance of community is a sentiment that has been reflected by a number of guests on the podcast such as Andrea Dempsey in volume 19 on the Diana Monkey and WAPCA, and more recently in volumes 32 and 33 with Matt Ford of the Talarak foundation on the Visayan Warty Pig, both of whom expressed the importance of working with and including those who live in country for the preservation of wildlife and a desire to have those exact people leading the conservation efforts for those species. Today’s episode is exactly an example of indigenous peoples being at the helm of conservation. Joining me now is Paul Edonga, founder and executive director of the Save the Beisa Oryx Community Trust, which is currently Africa’s only indigenous pastoralist-led conservation network. I hope you enjoy the episode as Paul guides us through a story driven by a unique grassroots alliance of knowledge and expertise. Will you join the fight? You can check out more of the work for the Beisa Oryx here: SBOC – Save Beisa Oryx Community Facebook - Save the Beisa Oryx Community Trust Don’t forget that there are plenty of ways to interact with the podcast by sharing your favourite photos and videos of Beisa Oryx. You can also send in your favourite memories from a time at your favourite zoo or experiencing nature first hand. And you can have your say by expressing species, topics, organisations or specific guests you would wish to have on the podcast. Perhaps you want to appear on an episode yourself if you have a topic you are particularly passionate about. You can do all of these things by emailing or by messaging on facebook and instagram. Until next time, this is Captain Conservation signing off, over and out. Connect with the podcast: conservationistsassemble@outlook.com Conservationists Assemble (@conservationistsassemblepod) • Instagram photos and videos

The Conservationists Assemble is back with volume 38!And I've got to say this species is very close to my heart. It's a species I've previously worked with for a lengthy period of my zookeeping career and also the focal species of episode 30's solo episode. That, of course, being the Red Panda. Welcome to the Conservationists Assemble. The podcast that seeks to unite with earths mightiest conservation heroes to raise the profile of our planet’s most threatened species by putting the spotlight on the fantastic work of both in situ and ex situ conservation organisations and highlighting the link between them as well as asking those important questions of what more can and needs to be done. I am your host, Captain Conservation a.k.a. Jonny Bloxham, and I am inviting you to become a conservation avenger as we take the fight to earth’s biggest villain and my arch nemesis, extinction. This week I've teamed up with Janno Weerman, manager of living collections at Rotterdam Zoo to discuss the current population of red pandas in ex situ organisations as well as the importance of collaboration. Will you join the fight? You can check out more of the work for the Red Panda here: Janno Weerman Red Panda | Rotterdam Zoo The Power of Partnership in Red Panda Conservation | Red Panda Network Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park Don’t forget that there are plenty of ways to interact with the podcast by sharing your favourite photos and videos of Red Panda. You can also send in your favourite memories from a time at your favourite zoo or experiencing nature first hand. And you can have your say by expressing species, topics, organisations or specific guests you would wish to have on the podcast. Perhaps you want to appear on an episode yourself if you have a topic you are particularly passionate about. You can do all of these things by emailing or by messaging on facebook and instagram. Until next time, this is Captain Conservation signing off, over and out. Connect with the podcast: conservationistsassemble@outlook.com Conservationists Assemble (@conservationistsassemblepod) • Instagram photos and videos

The Conservationists Assemble is back with volume 36! Welcome to the Conservationists Assemble. The podcast that seeks to unite with earths mightiest conservation heroes to raise the profile of our planet’s most threatened species by putting the spotlight on the fantastic work of both in situ and ex situ conservation organisations and highlighting the link between them as well as asking those important questions of what more can and needs to be done. I am your host, Captain Conservation a.k.a. Jonny Bloxham, and I am inviting you to join the ranks of the conservationists assemble community as we take the fight to earth’s biggest villain and my arch nemesis, extinction. This episode is focused on the Egyptian Vulture, Europe's smallest and only globally endangered Vulture. I’ve teamed up with José Tavares, director of the Vulture Conservation Foundation who has all of the intel required to inform us on what it is going to take to defeat extinction. Will you join the fight? In this episode, José informs us on what we know about these truly overlooked birds, the threats they face and the different organisations and efforts in conserving this awesome species. Check out the links below to learn more about the work to save the Egyptian Vulture! Vulture Conservation Foundation: Our Mission & Vision - Vulture Conservation Foundation (4vultures.org) José Tavares: José Tavares - Vulture Conservation Foundation (4vultures.org) The Egyptian Vulture: Egyptian Vulture - Vulture Conservation Foundation (4vultures.org) Don’t forget that there are plenty of ways to interact with the podcast by sharing your favourite photos and videos of Egyptian Vultures. You can also send in your favourite memories from a time at your favourite zoo or experiencing nature first hand. And don’t forget you can have your say by expressing species, topics, organisations or specific guests you would wish to have on the podcast. Perhaps you want to appear on an episode yourself if you have a topic you are particularly passionate about. You can do all of these things by emailing conservationistsassemble@outlook.com or by messaging on facebook and instagram. Until next time, this is captain conservation signing off, over and out.

The Conservationists Assemble is back with volume 34! Tune into this episode where we roam into the unknown world of the dwarf buffalo, the Tamaraw, with our special guest, Fiona Sach. Fiona is the zoo conservation impact manager at the Zoological Society of London and the EEP coordinator for the remote style Tamaraw programme. In this episode, Fiona enlightens us on what we know about this fantastic animal, the threats they face and the different organisations and efforts in conserving the world's smallest buffalo. A particularly interesting topic of conversation focuses on how zoos are involved in Tamaraw conservation despite there being no Tamaraw outside of the Philippines. Check out the links below to learn more about the work to save the Tamaraw! ZSL Tamaraw: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/species/tamaraw ZSL Tamaraw blog: Finding the perfect site for Tamaraw Conservation | The Zoological Society of London (zsl.org) ZSL Tamaraw project page: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/tamaraw-conservation Re:Wild: https://www.rewild.org/wild-about/tamaraw d'Aboville Foundation: https://www.dabovillefoundation.org/ Tamaraw conservation and management action plan: https://www.cpsg.org/sites/cbsg.org/files/documents/TamarawTCMAP_Oct21_FINAL.pdf

Episode 32 is here! In this episode I am joined by Matt Ward and we dive into the world of the visayan warty pig and by the end of the episode we will have discussed:1. What we know about these critically endangered animals.2. How they are changing the way of how we perceive intelligence in mammals.3. The threats they are facing in the wild. Tune in to part 1 of the visayan warty pig episode of the conservationists assemble podcast before part 2 next where we discuss the work of the Talarak foundation and the origin story of Matt. Check out the work of Talarak foundation here: Home (talarak.org) More from the Conservationists Assemble community: Do you want to have your say on what species, guests, or organisations should be featured on the podcast. OR You just want to share your favourite pictures, videos or stories from your time around animals in zoos or in the wild.Email me, Captain Conservation, on conservationistsassemble@outlook.com

Join the fight against extinction in volume 27 of the Conservationists Assemble as Captain Conservation is joined by wildlife hero, Dan Kemp currently zookeeping and living life to the fullest at Rainforestation in Australia.Tune in to the Clouded Leopard mission briefing as Dan and the captain discuss the importance of having clouded leopards present in the wild as an apex predator to keep the ecosystem in balance and aid in seed dispersal by predating fruit-eating birds. Learn all about the Clouded Leopards awesome super powers and abilities, from exceptionally large canines, to their secret weapon that makes them excellent climbers. Rally with Captain Conservation, Dan and their allies from the International Clouded Leopard Day team celebrated on the 4th August each year, the awesome people of the Clouded Leopard Working Group and the heroes behind Project Neofelis as they take the fight to X-Tinction to defeat his schemes of habitat destruction, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Listen to Dan's origin story as he details his journey, influences, hurdles and future ambitions as well an in depth conservation about what we, as zookeepers passionate and loyal to the industry, would love to see zoos doing more of for Clouded Leopards and conservation in general all in this episode of the Conservationists Assemble.