show episodes
 
Did you know that in the world of elephants the females are the ones in charge? Or that a grizzly bear's bite is strong enough to crush a bowling ball? Amazing Wildlife gives a behind-the-scenes look inside the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park to gain insight on rare species and to explore the ongoing conservation efforts to save endangered wildlife no matter how big or small. Join us as hosts Rick Schwartz and now Marco Wendt transport listeners around the globe to highlight the ...
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show series
 
The San Diego Zoo has a long history with the giant panda, and there are two pandas coming to the zoo soon! The zoo is working with partners in China to research and promote the sustained recovery of this bamboo-eating species, and Rick and Marco have so many questions about their return. Today they are speaking with Megan Owen, vice president of w…
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National Capybara Appreciation Day is just around the corner! To celebrate, Rick and Marco speak with Senior Wildlife Care Specialist Kimberly Hyde to find out more about the world’s largest rodent. This South American water-loving mammal might be known for its cuteness factor, but it also helps support a healthy ecosystem. Tune in to find out lots…
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When you think of carnivorous birds, you probably imagine an eagle or a falcon, but did you know storks are carnivorous too? Hosts Rick and Marco visit the Bird Conservation Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to speak with Senior Wildlife Care Specialist Miranda Estensen. While the milky stork is native to the mangroves of Southeast Asia, it i…
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Rick and Marco highlight a rare and unusual species that's known as a “spiny anteater.” It's the egg-laying echidna! Our hosts are joined by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance senior wildlife care specialists Jen Lebeau and Adam Murdoch to discuss one of the newest species at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We learn about puggles (baby echidnas), how c…
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Endangered Species Day is May 17, and in this episode, hosts Rick and Marco talk about species that need our help. From the ālula plant to the axolotl salamander, many species around the world have seen their numbers drastically decline. There is good news, though, because there are steps we can take to help safeguard ecosystems and create sustaina…
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Earth Day is celebrated on April 22, but around here, every day is Earth Day. In this episode, hosts Rick and Marco discuss the origins of Earth Day and why it was first established in 1970. After starting in the U.S., the holiday is now observed in many nations around the world. Listen in to learn how preserving the environment benefits humans and…
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Spring is fluttering by! It’s April, and that means Butterfly Jungle is currently open at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. In this episode, we are talking with the McKinney Family Curator of Invertebrates, Paige Howorth, about butterflies and butterfly conservation. We know so little about invertebrates in comparison to other wildlife, yet they are t…
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Who’s in charge here? In this episode we are talking all about the female's role in leading the group, troop, herd, or family with Kristi Burtis, vice president of wildlife care at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Rick, Marco, and Kristi discuss the role of the females in lions, gorillas, elephants, meerkats, lemurs, and even killer whales! We learn …
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Welcome to Season 3 of Amazing Wildlife! Hosts Rick and Marco are joined by a returning friend of the show, Kim Gray, the curator of herpetology and ichthyology (reptiles, amphibians, and fish) at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Oftentimes, people have some fears around snakes, but Kim shares the misconceptions about the king cobra, who is the top…
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In the season finale, Rick and Marco take a trip to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Biodiversity Reserve to speak with Charlie de la Rosa, Ph.D., natural lands manager for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. This 900-acre preserve in San Diego's North County supports large expanses of coastal sage scrub vegetation along two regionally important wildlife…
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Amazing Wildlife spotlights the only native aquatic turtle species in California, the Pacific pond turtle. Rick and Marco are joined by Kim Gray, curator of herpetology and ichthyology at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, to find out why protecting and conserving these turtles will help our ecosystems as well. You’ll hear why this species is also ca…
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Amazing Wildlife is on grounds at the San Diego Zoo to highlight the polar opposite of the polar bear—the penguin! (Fun fact: they don’t live together, despite what you may see on TV or in cartoons). While many species of penguins do spend time around Antarctica, Rick and Marco discuss the different types of penguins that do not. Discover how pengu…
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For the first time this season, Amazing Wildlife highlights the Oceans hub, with a “deep dive” into the icy waters of the Arctic to look at polar bears! Rick and Marco are joined by Kelly Murphy, lead wildlife care specialist for the Polar Plunge habitat at the San Diego Zoo. Kelly introduces us to the three polar bears at Polar Plunge—Chinook, Kal…
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Amazing Wildlife is spotlighting the Australian Forest Conservation Hub by highlighting a favorite tree-dwelling marsupial: the koala! Rick and Marco are joined by Jen Tobey, a researcher at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, who explains why marsupials are raised in a pouch—and the truth about why koalas sleep so much. The San Diego Zoo has the larg…
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Amazing Wildlife focuses on the Southwest Conservation Hub to take a closer look at the burrowing owl, found in San Diego County—one of the most biologically diverse counties in the United States. Marco attempts to mimic the sound of this unique bird that is about the size of a stick of butter! Rick and Marco chat with Colleen Wisinski, conservatio…
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It’s World Rhino Day (September 22)! For this special day to raise awareness about rhino conservation, Amazing Wildlife is joined by Gavin Livingston, the curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Rick and Marco discuss the five different species of rhinos and offer some interesting facts about their hair color—and how much their head we…
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Join us, as Amazing Wildlife gets ready to celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day (September 2). Rick and Marco visit Jenna Stallard, wildlife care manager of birds at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We’ll learn about Old World vultures (from Europe, Africa, and Asia) and New World vultures (from the Americas and the Caribbean), in addition t…
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Get to know one of the largest species of the great apes, the gorilla! In this episode of Amazing Wildlife, Rick and Marco visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to speak with Breanne Murray, a senior wildlife care specialist. After discussing some popular gorilla terminology, the hosts learn about one of the world's oldest silverbacks, who lives at t…
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In honor of World Elephant Day (celebrated on Saturday, August 12), Amazing Wildlife visits the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to highlight the world’s largest living land mammal. Rick and Marco chat with Catie Aubuchon, a wildlife care specialist, to unpack pachyderm facts and get a better understanding of all that goes into caring for elephants, from …
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Happy International Tiger Day—also known as Global Tiger Day—on July 29! For this very special episode of Amazing Wildlife, Rick and Marco are joined by Lori Hieber, lead wildlife care specialist for the primate and carnivore team. Lori, who has worked with tigers for 15 years, describes the different subspecies of tigers and their various sizes. I…
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