Best Dr. Cole Nelson Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 71: Tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis with Nature-Based Solutions with Seth Thomas, University of Oxford 23:42

4h ago23:42

23:42

Over the last few decades, the world has witnessed a technological revolution to tackle the climate crisis. However, more recently, there has been a growing consensus about the role of nature and nature-based solutions in tackling, not only the Three Planetary Crisis but also various pressing societal issues, such as poverty. The goals of nature-ba…

1
Episode 70: Understanding Penguin Conservation with Dee Boersma, Co-Chair, IUCN Penguin Specalist Group 20:01

7d ago20:01

20:01

The Penguin is amongst the most unique taxa of birds in the world. These flightless, aquatic birds are highly adept swimmers, having adapted to spending half their lives underwater. Penguins, with the aid of flippers and their streamlined bodies are known to swim over 20 kilometres an hour in seas while hunting for prey. There are currently between…

1
Episode 69: Preventing The Insect Crisis with Paul Hetherington, Buglife 29:55

6d ago29:55

29:55

‘If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse.’ Sir David Attenborough. From pollination and seed dispersal to pest control and nutrient cycling, insects and other invertebrates provide human…

1
Episode 68: Protecting Africa’s Biodiversity with Kaddu Sebuyna, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation 51:40

13d ago51:40

51:40

Africa’s wilderness has captured the imagination of millions of people around the world. Despite its exploding population and rapidly growing economies, the continent has often been the flagbearer of conservation globally. This ranges from the conservation of elephants and rhinos in southern Africa to the creation of Kavango Zambezi, the second-lar…

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Episode 67: Utilizing Biodiversity Credits and Academia for Conservation with Dr. Tim Coles, Founder, Operation Wallacea 0:47

1M ago0:47

0:47

In this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, I interview Dr. Tim Coles. Across his decorated conservation career, Tim has established two highly successful, self-sustaining conservation enterprises. These are Operation Wallacea and rePLANET. Operation Wallacea is a network of academics from European and North American universities, who design and…

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Episode 66: Fostering Effective Conservation Partnerships for Africa’s Biodiversity with Fred Nelson, CEO at Maliasili 42:18

27d ago42:18

42:18

Collaboration is essential for conservation. The complexity of conservation challenges is often multifold and requires the involvement and cooperation of multiple stakeholders. Additionally, the sharing of resources, particularly funding, and technical expertise from a variety of sectors, immensely contribute to the success of conservation initiati…

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Episode 65: Safeguarding Central Africa’s Crocodiles and Pangolins with Matthew Shirley 46:38

1M ago46:38

46:38

Meet the Pangolin. The world’s most trafficked mammal. Pangolins are also known as scaly anteaters due to the protective keratin scales covering their skins. Unfortunately, these protective keratin scales are leading to the pangolin’s downfall. Keratin is in high demand in China and Vietnam (the usual suspects) for traditional Chinese Medicine and …

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Episode 64: Conserving Amazon’s River Dolphins with Suzanne Smith 20:04

2M ago20:04

20:04

The Amazon River Dolphin, known locally as the “Boto”, is the largest species of river dolphin in the world. The species is also the most widespread river dolphin, covering six different countries in South America. Unfortunately, the Amazon River Dolphin is classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red List. Commercial fishing remains the primary thre…

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Episode 63: Protecting the World’s Cranes with Dr. Rich Beilfuss, President, International Crane Foundation 45:52

2M ago45:52

45:52

Globally, there are 15 species of cranes spread across all continents baring South America and Antarctica. With eight species, East Asia has the highest crane diversity. A few species of crane, such as the Siberian and Demosille crane, are known to migrate thousands of kilometers to avoid the harsh winter months of Siberia. Across their range, cran…

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Episode 62: Protecting South America’s Jaguars from the Illegal Wildlife Trade with Melissa Arias, Jaguar and Priority Landscape Coordinator, WWF 23:32

2M ago23:32

23:32

After tigers and lions, the jaguar is the third largest species of wild felid and the only species of the Panthera genus (big cats) to be found in Americas. The current range of jaguars extends from southern USA, across Mexico and Central America to the Amazonian rainforest. In Central and South America, jaguars inhabit tropical rainforests, decidu…

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Episode 61: Creating Landscapes of Lions with Alayne Oriol Cotterill, CEO at Lion Landscapes 40:10

2M ago40:10

40:10

Listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List, The African Lion is one of the most threatened species in the world. The population of this regal carnivore has dropped drastically from over 200,000 individuals a century ago to approximately 24,000 today. Almost half of this population is found outside protected areas, often in human-dominated landscap…

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Episode 60: Conserving the Lesser Florican and Great Indian Bustard with Sujit Narwade, Assistant Director, Bombay Natural History Society 13:53

2M ago13:53

13:53

Once upon a time, the Great Indian Bustard was close to becoming India’s National Bird. However, the species is now considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, with less than 100 individuals remaining in the wild. The species is predominantly found in Rajasthan, though sightings do occur across the Deccan Plateau. Collisions with windmil…

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Episode 59: The Future of Orangutan Conservation, Michelle Desilets, Executive Director, Orangutan Land Trust 25:26

3M ago25:26

25:26

One of the most charismatic species of the rainforests of south-east Asia is the orangutan. The orangutan is the only wild species of Great Ape found in Asia, with the remaining three, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos, found in Africa. Until 1996, the orangutan was considered one individual species. However, since then the species has been divide…

1
Episode 58: Creating a Future for Clouded Leopards with Chrishen Gomez, DPhil Student, WildCRU, University of Oxford 23:58

3M ago23:58

23:58

One of Asia’s most elusive predators is the Clouded Leopard. Until 2006, the term clouded leopard referred to one ubiquitous species found across the Eastern Himalayas, mainland Southeast Asia, and the islands of Borneo and Sumatara. However, extensive genetic analysis of various populations revealed two sister species of clouded leopard. The first…

1
Episode 57: Exploring the Conservation of Borneo’s Primates and Felines with Susan Cheyne, Borneo Nature Foundation International 52:42

3M ago52:42

52:42

The highly biodiverse island Borneo forms one of the largest remaining intact forests of Southeast Asia. Also, the world’s third largest island, Borneo is a stronghold for various charismatic and endangered megafauna species, including orangutans, clouded leopards, elephants, proboscis monkeys and sunbear. Unfortunately, the rainforests of south-ea…

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Episode 56: Safeguarding the Mammals of the Eastern Ghats with Dr. Vikram Aditya, Principal Scientist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies 21:35

4M ago21:35

21:35

The Eastern Ghats is amongst the most biodiverse regions in India. This discontinuous mountain range is spread predominantly across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. A study conducted by ATREE found over 200 species of birds in the Eastern Ghats, which includes the endemic Jerdon’s Courser. The region also has healthy populations of…

1
Episode 55: Reviving India’s Seagrass Meadows for Dugong Conservation with Elrika D’Souza from Nature Conservation Foundation 16:42

4M ago16:42

16:42

Dugongs are amongst Asia’s most charismatic marine mammals. The species is often referred to as "sea cows" as their diet predominantly consists of seagrass. The range of the dugongs is fragmented across the warm coastal waters of the western Pacific Ocean to the eastern coast of Africa. In India, their range extends across the Western and Southern …

1
Episode 54: Creating an Encyclopedia of India’s Wildlife with RoundGlass Sustain 26:13

4M ago26:13

26:13

India is a wildlife paradise. Despite being the largest democracy and fastest-growing economy in the world, wildlife has recovered throughout the country. From tigers of Madhya Pradesh to hornbills and Amur falcons of Nagaland and the lions of Gujarat, India is home to conservation miracles. Capturing these stories is RoundGlass Sustain. With the a…

1
Episode 53: Bringing back the Markhor with Tanushree Srivastava from Wildlife Trust of India 17:59

4M ago17:59

17:59

The Markhor is one of Central and South Asia's most charismatic mountain ungulates. The species is scattered across the Karakoram Range, Afghanistan, and the western Himalayas. The Markhor, often called the “Screw-horned Goat” is the national animal of Pakistan. In Persian and Pahto languages, the word “mārkhor” translates as "snake-eater" highligh…

1
Episode 52: Understanding Amphibian Conservation and the IUCN Red List with Dr. Sanjay Molur, Founder of Zoo Outreach Organization 29:53

5M ago29:53

29:53

With over three decades of conservation experience, Dr. Sanjay Molur, is one of India’s leading wildlife biologists. He was a part of the team of scientists which formulated the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Since 1995, Dr. Molur has conducted the status assessments of over 10,000 (sub)species and ecosystems. He was amongst the earliest sc…

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Episode 51: Conserving India’s Wildlife through Nature Writing with Neha Sinha 32:47

5M ago32:47

32:47

Neha Sinha was once an environmental reporter at The Indian Express. However, she is now one of India’s leading conservationists. Throughout her career, Neha has utilized her aptitude for communication and advocacy to improve policy and safeguard India’s precious wildlife. One of the most prominent campaigns Neha has supported is the Amur Falcon Ca…

1
Episode 50: Tackling human-wildlife conflict in the Western Ghats with Dr. Sanjay Gubbi, Wildlife Biologist 25:23

5M ago25:23

25:23

The Western Ghats is one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. Older than the Himalayas, the Western Ghats is home to at least 508 species of birds, 227 reptile species, and 139 mammal species. The region is home to the largest population of Asiatic elephants, with an estimated population of around 11,000 individuals across eight distinct popula…

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Episode 49: Conserving Gujarat’s Sloth Bears with Nishith Dharaiya, Founder of WCB Research Foundation 27:27

5M ago27:27

27:27

The sloth bear is the most widespread of the four bear species found in India. More popularly known as “Baloo” from the Jungle Book, sloth bears are found across a large variety of habitats below an altitude of 1,500m, such as tropical forests, scrubland and grasslands. Sloth bears are regionally extinct in Bangladesh and [are listed as “Vulnerable…

1
Episode 48: The Growing Challenges of Human Carnivore Conflict with Dr. Andrew Stein, Founder and Director of CLAW Conservancies 31:34

5M ago31:34

31:34

Over the last few years, the world has celebrated the recovery of various species of large carnivores from the cusps of extinction. This includes the brown bears and gray wolves of North America and Europe, the tigers of South Asia, and the lions and leopards of Africa and Asia. However, much of this recovery has occurred despite rampant habitat fr…

1
Episode 47: Rewilding Scotland with Peter Cairns, Executive Director, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture 22:03

5M ago22:03

22:03

Once upon a time, Scotland was amongst the most biodiverse regions of Europe. However, over the last few centuries, Scotland, like the rest of the United Kingdom, lost most of its biodiversity. Megafauna, such as the European bison, brown bear, gray wolf, and European beavers, were all hunted to extinction. Moreover, the Scottish Highlands have als…

1
Episode 46: Protecting Rainforests with Bioacoustics and Artifical Intelligence with Bourhan Yassin, Founder of Rainforest Connection 30:06

6M ago30:06

30:06

Over the last few years, Artificial Intelligence has evolved immensely. Not surprisingly, advanced AI and machine learning algorithms are increasingly being incorporated in sectors across the world. One particular sector, which AI is revolutionizing is wildlife conservation! With an increasingly urgent demand for effective and affordable conservati…

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Episode 45: Uncovering India’s Free Ranging Dog Problem with Chandrima Home 20:52

6M ago20:52

20:52

India is home to over 65 million free-ranging dogs. The explosion in free-ranging dog populations around the country has stemmed from poor waste management, uncomprehensive pet ownership laws, and the vulture crisis. Unfortunately, this has led to an ecological crisis. Countless endangered species, such as the Great Indian Bustard, Black-Necked Cra…

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Episode 44: Saving Gorillas, Elephants and Marine Turtles with Adam Henson, Wild Earth Allies 20:09

6M ago20:09

20:09

Wild Earth Allies protects vital areas of our natural world for the benefit of wildlife, habitats, and people by inspiring collaborative action. For decades, the organization has partnered with grassroots conservationists to conserve some of the most at-risk species around the world. These include endangered Asian elephants in Cambodia, critically …

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Episode 43: Protecting Asia's Rhinos with Markus Hofmeyr, Director of the Rhino Recovery Fund 18:34

6M ago18:34

18:34

On this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, I interview Markus Hofmeyr, who is the Director of the Rhino Recovery Fund (RRF). Launched in 2020 by the Wildlife Conservation Network, the RRF aims to protect rhinos from wildlife crime while also restoring their landscapes. The RRF is working towards the conservation of all five species of rhinos ac…

1
Episode 42: Conserving Arctic's Polar Bear with Krista Wright, Executive Director, Polar Bears International 32:28

6M ago32:28

32:28

One species of megafauna particularly impacted by climate change, is the polar bear. Considered “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List, less than 31,000 individual bears roam the Arctic and surrounding regions of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Svalbard. As Polar Bears are pagophilic (species that live on ice), they are severely threatened by the…

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Episode 41: Painting a Bright Future for Africa's Wild Dogs with Gregory Rasmussen, Founder of Painted Dog Research Trust 40:10

6M ago40:10

40:10

The African Wild Dog, more aptly known as the Painted Dog, is the largest wild canid species found in the entire African continent. The species is one of the rarest large carnivores in the world with the population of the species crashing from around 500,000 a hundred years ago, to an estimated 6,600 adult individuals today. It is for this reason t…

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Episode 40: How do we restore the world's forests? 36:56

7M ago36:56

36:56

Deforestation is one of the leading threats to biodiversity globally. The world is losing over 10 billion trees annually. Over half the three trillion trees on our planet have been lost. But why should you care? Because YOU are a victim of deforestation. Over 1.6 billion people directly rely on forests for subsistence, in the form of food, fuel, me…

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Episode 39: Creating a future for the Iranian Cheetah with Morteza Pourmirzai, CEO at Iranian Cheetah Society 34:45

7M ago34:45

34:45

The cheetah is symbolic of the African wilderness. However, once upon a time, the world’s fastest mammal, used to roam the plains of Asia, with their range extending from the Middle East across to northern parts of India. Unfortunately, the Asiatic Cheetah subspecies is now considered “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN Red List. Reports estimate, …

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Episode 38: Conserving Sri Lanka's Fishing Cats with Anjallee Prabhakaran from Small Cat Advocacy and Research 16:42

7M ago16:42

16:42

The Fishing Cat is a medium sized cat, discontinuously distributed across South and Southeast Asia. Currently, their range extends from India to Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. In India, the species is found in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal. In fact, the fishing cat is the State animal of West Bengal. A s…

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Episode 37: Conserving the Satpuda Tiger Landscape with Kishor Rithe, Founder of the Satpuda Foundation 46:16

7M ago46:16

46:16

The story of the Bengal Tiger is probably the pinnacle of India’s conservation miracles over the last few decades, especially following the enactment of Project Tiger. In fact, over the last 15 years, India’s tiger population has more than doubled. While this is promising, much work remains, as habitats continue to become fragmented, which fosters …

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Episode 36: Conserving India's Sacred Groves with Archana Godbole, Founder, Applied Environmental Research Foundation 28:44

7M ago28:44

28:44

Sacred Groves are amongst the finest examples of in-situ conservation. Often as large as 500 hectares, Sacred Groves are undisturbed and communally protected forest patches that are dedicated to local folk deities. Social traditions which embody both social and ecological values encourage the preservation of Sacred Groves. As a result, these groves…

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Episode 35: Conserving India's Tropical Forests with Dr. Kamaljit Bawa, Founder of ATREE 41:36

7M ago41:36

41:36

India is amongst the most biodiverse countries in the world, with a plethora of habitats, including tropical forests, grasslands, arid deserts, mangroves, and deciduous mountain forests. However, while much of India’s megafauna species have recovered miraculously from the brink of extinction, a major issue looms large. That is the sustainable use o…

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Episode 34: Protecting the India's Elephant Corridors with Upasana Ganguly from the Wildlife Trust of India 44:40

7M ago44:40

44:40

Ecosystems around India are becoming increasingly fragmented. This is particularly concerning for megafauna species, such as tigers and elephants. Landscape connectivity is a vital component of megafauna conservation in India. This is because the dispersal of megafauna outside of existing reserves is critical to maintaining the genetic diversity of…

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Episode 33: Creating a Nature Positive Future with Marco Lambertini 34:22

8M ago34:22

34:22

Over the last decade, carbon neutrality and net zero have become the focus across governments, industries, corporations, scientists, and environmentalists. However, over the last few years, the linkage between the carbon and biodiversity crisis has come into the limelight. Restoring biodiversity and ecosystems around the world has become a crucial …

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Episodes 32: Farmers for Forests, with Krutika Ravishankar, Co-Founder 19:06

8M ago19:06

19:06

One of the leading causes of biodiversity loss is habitat degradation. In terrestrial landscapes, this is primarily through rampant deforestation. Unfortunately, the direct impacts of deforestation and land degradation extend beyond the realms of biodiversity and climate change. Rural and tribal communities face the brunt of the socioeconomic conse…

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Episode 31: Saving India's Grasslands with The Grasslands Trust 38:47

8M ago38:47

38:47

India’s grasslands are amongst the most biodiverse in the world. From wolves and hyenas to blackbucks and gazelle and from the Great Indian Bustard to various species of cranes, these grasslands are pristine ecosystems. Moreover, grasslands play a vital role in the fight against climate change due to the large amongst of carbon sequestration they p…

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Interview 15: The History of the WILD Foundation with Vance Martin 28:42

8M ago28:42

28:42

On Episode 15, I interview Vance Martin, looking back on his 40 years as president of The Wild Foundation. We cover a wide breadth of conservation topics, including rewilding, Nature Needs Half, COP15 and the roles of indeginious communities in conservation. Tune in to also learn about various of The Wild Foundation's intiatives, including the Rewi…

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Episode 30: The History and Future of Tiger Conservation in India with Dr. Ullas Karanth - Founder, Centre for Wildlife Studies 45:49

8M ago45:49

45:49

In 2023, India celebrated a major milestone in conservation. The 2022 tiger census yielded an estimated population of around 3,600 tigers, more than double of the 2010 numbers. Ever since the inception of Project Tiger in 1974, tigers, alongside various other megafauna species, including elephants, rhinos, and lions, have recovered from the brinks …

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Episode 29: Conserving India's Wildlife from Corbett to Satpuda with Kedar Gore, Director of The Corbett Foundation 36:11

8M ago36:11

36:11

The Corbett Foundation (TCF) is amongst India’s largest and oldest wildlife conservation organizations. It was established by the late Mr. Dilip D. Khatau and his wife, Mrs. Rina Khatau, on April 22, 1994. TCF works towards wildlife conservation in tandem with the sustainable development of forest-dwelling communities. Mr. Khatau was a former Membe…

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Episode 28: Understanding the Illegal Wildlife Trade with Alice Pasqualato 30:11

9M ago30:11

30:11

With an annual turnover of USD 199 million, the illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest illicit market in the world, after drugs, arms, and human trafficking. Amongst all known threats to wildlife, the illegal trade and consumption of wildlife is amongst the most significant and destabilizing. Moreover, the negative consequences of wildlife cr…

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Episode 27: Rewilding Europe with Frans Schepers 48:42

9M ago48:42

48:42

With a growing consensus on the importance of nature-based solutions in tackling the climate crisis, one particular ecological concept has become highly prevalent. That is rewilding. Across the world, landscapes and species are making a return. This includes the Southern White Rhinos of South Africa, the Bengal Tiger and Asiatic Lion of India, and …

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Interview 16: Saving the Elusive Pygmy Hog with Dhritiman Das 22:39

9M ago22:39

22:39

Dr. Dhritiman Das is a scientisit at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust studying the world's smallest pig - the Pygmy Hog. This highly endangered species is found in the grasslands of Assam, with Manas and Kaziranga National Parks being strongholds. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is working extensively to tackle the loss of the their gras…

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Interview 10: Using AI for Sacred Groves with Monisha Krishna 17:08

9M ago17:08

17:08

The Sacred Groves provides a platform for environmentally sensitive individuals to support the conservation of indigenous natural forests and biodiverse habitats globaly. Using advanced analytics, smart contracting and contempary forest management practices, these forests will come under the protection of millions of inspired individuals. In Episod…

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Interview 9: Creating India’s First Private Wildlife Sanctuary with Pamel Malhotra 31:05

9M ago31:05

31:05

Only 3% of India's land surface is classified as a Protected Area. It is no surprise, therefore, that large populations of megafauna, including wolves, elephants, leopards and even lions, are found outside wildlife sanctuaries. Human wildlife conflict is inevitable. To counter this, a private-public model, much like what exists in the African conti…

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Interview 7: Freeing Shankar, India’s Only African Elephant with Nikita Dhawan 15:31

9M ago15:31

15:31

In Episode 7, join hosts Anish, as he speaks to Nikita Dhawan on her very ambitious Free Shankar Campaign. Shankar is India's only African Elephant, who is currently in captivity at Delhi Zoo. Like 3,000 other captive elephants in India, Shankar suffers severly from isolation, poor living conditions and countless health issues. Nikita's ambitious p…

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