ZSL Wild Science Podcast

Deep in the dense rainforests of southern Chile lives a tiny amphibian. Just 3cm long, expertly blending into the browns and green of the forest floor, with a narrow-pointed nose and angular body, the Darwin's frog is fighting for survival. Scientists at ZSL have spent more than 20 years working on a disease known as chytridiomycosis, which has devastated amphibian populations globally, to try and understand underlying drivers of the distribution, spread and impacts of the disease. In this episode, we hear about the work being done to protect and restore Darwin's frog populations, and how funding from the Postcode Lottery enables this vital research. Overview 00:12 Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, Episode introduction 01:21 Dr Andrés Valenzuela-Sánchez, Research Fellow in Wildlife Health at ZSL 28:48 Will Humpington, Climate Change and Environment Advisor at the Postcode Lottery 33:35 Thank you 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: [email protected] Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Find out more about the Postcode Lottery's work supporting charitable causes: https://www.postcodelottery.co.uk/charities More about ZSL's relationship with the Postcode Lottery: https://www.zsl.org/support-us/charitable-trusts-and-foundations Find more information on amphibian chytridiomycosis: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/amphibian-chytridiomycosis Darwin's frog vocal sac brooding behaviour: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZQGJR6FGgh/ The first time that chytridiomycosis is documented in a terrestrial species, having previously thought to be only transmissible through water: Valenzuela-Sánchez, A., Delgado-Oyarzún, S., Azat, C. et al. Localized transmission of an aquatic pathogen drives hidden epidemics and population collapse in a terrestrial host. Nat Ecol Evol 10, 308–317 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02930-1 Watch A Leap of Hope, a ZSL film capturing the rescue mission and 7000-mile expedition made by conservationists to protect the Darwin's frog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs1SIs0KRlk Ranita de Darwin and their work in Parque Tantauco: https://www.ranitadedarwin.org/en/rescatetantauco Get in touch Email [email protected] with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Find us @ZSLScience on X or @zslofficial.bsky.social on BlueSky and use the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

Out of sight…but not out of mind? Coral reefs exist largely out of sight for the majority of the world's population, so the vast array of ecosystem services they provide for local communities are often forgotten, leading conservation efforts to feel like an uphill battle. In this episode, we talk to the people trying to tackle this problem; from using the sounds that healthy and degraded coral reefs make to monitor their restoration, to bringing people closer to coral reefs using virtual reality. Overview 00:13 Introduction to the topic from Harriet McAra 01:26 Ben Williams, PhD student at the Institute of Zoology and UCL, on coral reefs' importance, coral soundscapes and the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System 08:30 Introduction to the Datascape Realities Project 08:52 John Zhang and Lourenco Viveiros, co-founders of Datascape Realities, and Jason Lynch, UCL and Institute of Zoology 28:14 Outro and further information 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: [email protected] Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Ben Williams: https://www.zsl.org/about-zsl/our-people/ben-williams Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System: https://www.buildingcoral.com/ and https://www.buildingcoral.com/news/mars-data-scientists-turn-their-skills-to-coral-reef-restoration Datascape Realities: https://www.datascaperealities.com/ and @datascape_real Get in touch Email [email protected] with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

The ZSL Wild Science podcast is back! After a break, we have returned to explore even more topical issues in zoology, conservation and the environment. New host, Harriet McAra, Science Communications and Events Manager at ZSL's Institute of Zoology, will take listeners on a journey to learn more about the incredible science behind ZSL's cutting-edge conservation work. Resources If there's a topic you'd like to hear on a future podcast, or if you'd like to share your thoughts any previous episodes, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at [email protected] Check out our science and conservation work at www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

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 Professor Nathalie Pettorelli, Institute of Zoology, ZSL Dr Chris Carbone, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL Joe Pecorelli, Conservation Project Manager, Marine and Freshwater, 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: [email protected] Check out our science and conservation work at: zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Living Planet Report: https://www.zsl.org/global-biodiversity-monitoring/indicators-and-assessments-unit/living-planet-index/living-planet Previous Episode mentioned #035 on Nature-based solutions: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-wild-science-podcast Rewilding your cities ZSL report: https://www.zsl.org/science/news/rewilding-our-cities-could-reduce-impacts-of-extreme-weather-says-new-report Rewild my street: https://www.rewildmystreet.org/ London Hogwatch: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/species/mammals/london-hogwatch Pine Marten sighting: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/news/nationally-critically-endangered-pine-marten-spotted-in-london London's Rivers: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/londons-rivers State of the Thames Report: https://www.zsl.org/natureatheart/the-state-of-the-thames-2021 Volunteer for London's Rivers: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/volunteer-for-londons-rivers Flood and Water Management act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/29/contents Get in touch Email [email protected] with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation

The anthropogenically driven climate crisis and unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss are both threatening the foundations of economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide. Treating these two crises separately can be ineffectual or even deepen the problem. A recent landmark study calls for a more integrated approach to tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. Ellie Darbey will be joined by lead author of the article, Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, along with three co-authors, to share their expertise on these issues and help untangle the web of science and policy. Why is it important to tackle both these crises together? How can Nature-based Solutions help? And what needs to be done to integrate these solutions into global science-policy agendas? Guests: Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, Zoological Society of London Professor Heather Koldewey, Zoological Society of London Professor William Sutherland CBE, University of Cambridge Matthew Lowton, Zoological Society of London Overview 01:26 – Ellie Darbey introduces the co-host of this episode, Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, to discuss the climate change and biodiversity crises, and introduce Nature-based solutions (NbS). 12:12 – Ellie and Nathalie are joined by Professor Heather Koldewey to explore the use of protected areas and restoration projects in the marine world. 28:59 – Professor William Sutherland joins to explain how to measure the risks of NbS, and emphasises the importance of evidence-based science policies. 38:42 – Ellie and Nathalie welcome Matthew Lowton to discuss the global conventions for climate change and biodiversity, and the ways to get NbS into science-policy agendas. Resources Article: "Time to integrate global climate change and biodiversity science-policy agendas": https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13985 Upcoming live ZSL Event on 12 October: https://www.zsl.org/science/whats-on/time-to-integrate-global-climate-change-and-biodiversity-science-policy-agendas Putting Nature at the heart of global decision making: https://www.zsl.org/natureatheart "Unite solutions to climate and biodiversity crises to save life on earth": https://www.zsl.org/news/unite-solutions-to-climate-and-biodiversity-crises-to-save-life-on-earth-says-zsl-led-study Previous ZSL Event "Nature to get out of the climate crisis - how does that work?": https://www.zsl.org/science/whats-on/nature-to-get-out-of-the-climate-crisis-how-does-that-work Previous Wild Science Podcast Episode "ZSL #028 What's next for rewilding?": https://www.zsl.org/zsl-wild-science-podcast United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/ UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties UK 2021 (CoP 26): https://ukcop26.org/ Convention on Biological Diversity: https://www.cbd.int/ ZSL's Protected Areas and Restoration work: https://www.zsl.org/regions/uk-overseas-territories/chagos-archipelago https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/asia/rehabilitating-mangroves-in-the-philippines https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/thames-conservation/native-oyster-restoration Conservation Evidence Resource: https://www.conservationevidence.com Book by William J. Sutherland et al. "What Works in Conservation 2021": https://www.openbookpublishers.com/product/1490 Breadth of ZSL's conservation work: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/how-we-work

Reptiles - lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodilians – make up almost one third of all land vertebrate species on Earth, and also occur in many marine and freshwater systems. Yet despite their amazing diversity, reptiles remain hugely underrepresented in conservation research and action, when compared to mammals, birds, and even amphibians. In this episode, our host Ellie Darbey finds out from four fantastic reptile experts how this is changing through increased global efforts to put reptiles on the conservation map. What key advances in species assessments have already made an impact for reptile conservation? How does ZSL's science and conservation work directly contribute to protecting reptiles in the wild? And wait…where is Monni? Guests: Dr Monika Böhm, Freshwater Coordinator, Indianapolis Zoo Global Center for Species Survival. Dr Rikki Gumbs, EDGE Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Zoological Society of London. Emmanuel Amoah, Executive Director, Threatened Species Conservation Alliance (THRESCOAL). Benjamin Tapley, Head of the Reptile Team, Zoological Society of London. Overview 01:38 – Ellie welcomes the first guest, Dr Monni Böhm, to discuss how assessments like the IUCN Sampled Red List Index and Global Assessment of Reptile Distributions are essential for advancing the agenda for reptilian conservation. 14:30 – Dr Rikki Gumbs joins the podcast to talk about the reptilian Tree of Life, and the purpose and impact of ZSL's EDGE of Existence programme. 24:08 – Emmanuel Amoah discusses the aims of Ghanaian NGO, THRESCOAL, set up following his EDGE Fellowship, and how community-led conservation can be used to help protect the West African slender-snouted crocodile. 33:32 – Ellie is joined by the final guest, Benjamin Tapley, who provides an overview of the contribution of zoos to conservation in the wild, using the example of the Big-Headed Turtle project in Vietnam. 46:25 – All four guests provide their recommendations for the next step in reptile conservation. Resources The IUCN Sampled Red List Index: zsl.org/global-biodiversity-monitoring/indicators-and-assessments-unit/the-sampled-red-list-index Global Reptile Assessment: natureserve.org/conservation-tools/projects/global-reptile-assessment The Global Assessment of Reptile Distributions: gardinitiative.org/ Indianapolis Zoo: indianapoliszoo.com/conservation/ ZSL's EDGE of Existence Programme: edgeofexistence.org/ Imperial College London's Grantham Institute: https://granthaminstitute.com/ THRESCOAL: threscoal.org/ Emmanuel's ZSL EDGE project page: edgeofexistence.org/fellow/emmanuel-amoah/ ZSL London Zoo Reptile House: zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/exhibits/reptile-house ZSL online Science and Conservation Event: zsl.org/science/whats-on/putting-reptiles-on-the-map-zsl-science-for-reptilian-conservation Related ZSL Wild Science podcast episodes: zsl.org/zsl-wild-science-podcast #007: Ten years on the EDGE of Existence #010: Species in the red: behind the scenes of the IUCN Red List #015: Biodiversity indicators: getting the measure of biodiversity and what it all means

After more than a year of Covid-19 impacting global populations, health systems and economies, one of the major questions being asked was how did this start, and how can we prevent it from happening again? As we humans increasingly disturb our planet's natural habitats and convert them to agricultural and urban areas, the way we interact with wildlife around us also changes. In this episode, Monni turns to a team of experts in wildlife diseases, to discuss this link between ecosystem degradation and infectious disease outbreaks. What makes an animal a good host for carrying zoonotic diseases? Can we predict and prevent infectious disease outbreaks in the future? And exactly what does a job as 'human bait' entail? Guests: Dr Rory Gibb, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Dr Christina Faust, Pennsylvania State University Dr Kimberly Fornace, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Overview 01:40 Monni welcomes Dr Rory Gibb, to discuss zoonotic hosts and their response to land-use change, and how we should move forward to help human health in the future. 18:28 Dr Christina Faust joins Monni to explore disease transmission, explaining where transmission is more likely to happen in different types of landscapes, and how this could be tracked to avoid future outbreaks in humans. 28:43 Monni is joined by the final guest, Dr Kimberly Fornace, to discuss the Monkey Bar project, and how different technologies such as drones and radio collars were used to monitor monkey malaria. Hosted by Dr Monni Böhm, ZSL Research Fellow and produced by Eleanor Darbey, ZSL Scientific Events Coordinator.

Conservationists are working hard to stem global biodiversity loss. Yet, just like biodiversity itself, the conservation movement is very diverse, with a variety of ideas shaping its framing, purpose and application. In this episode, Monni and co-hosts Yara Shennan-Farpón, Helen Muller and Thalassa McMurdo Hamilton, speak with Dr Chris Sandbrook, co-creator of the Future of Conservation Survey, about some of the lessons learned from analysing the perspectives of nearly 10,000 conservationists from around the world. What could the future of conservation look like? And what would need to happen for us to get there? Take the survey to find out and reflect on where you think the future of conservation lies: https://www.futureconservation.org/