Snow leopards live in some of Earth's harshest environments, hunting on vertical cliffs at elevations where oxygen is half that of sea level. They're sacred to the indigenous communities who share their landscape and they're threatened by human-wildlife conflict, climate change, and the challenges of survival in an increasingly unstable mountain ecosystem.

Ashleigh Lutz-Nelson, Executive Director of Snow Leopard Conservancy, works to lift up local conservationists protecting one of the world's most elusive cats across six countries in Central Asia.

Track a snow leopard: Support conservation and follow a real snow leopard's journey with Fahlo's GPS tracking bracelets: https://myfahlo.com/products/snow-leo...

Learn more about Snow Leopard Conservancy:
Website: https://snowleopardconservancy.org/
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Instagram: @snowleopardconservancy
LinkedIn: / snow-leopard-conservancy

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Frank Pope, CEO of Save the Elephants, shares his unconventional journey into conservation

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton (1942-2025), founder of Save the Elephants and pioneer of elephant research. His groundbreaking work transformed our understanding of African elephants and shaped modern conservation practices.

Learn more about Save the Elephants:
Website: https://savetheelephants.org/
Donate:https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs...
LinkedIn: / save-the-elephants
Facebook: / savetheelephants.kenya
Instagram: @savetheelephants

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Peter Damerell, Interim Director of the Saiga Conservation Alliance, shares his journey from aspiring wildlife filmmaker to leading conservation efforts across Central Asia for one of the world's most unusual antelopes. From the vast steppes of Kazakhstan to working with traditional medicine markets in Asia, Peter coordinates an alliance of organizations protecting a species that has crashed twice and recovered dramatically—and could crash again at any moment.

In this conversation:
19:03 - What is a saiga? The biology of an Ice Age relic
32:12 - How the Saiga Conservation Alliance works
40:28 - When conservation succeeds: new challenges emerge
1:00:06 - Vision: Ecosystems where saiga and people flourish together

Learn more about Saiga Conservation Alliance:
Website: https://saiga-conservation.org/
Donate: https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs...
Facebook: / savesaigas
Instagram: saiga_conservation

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Most marine biologists dream of studying dolphins. Dr. Louisa Ponnampalam actually did it - and discovered that saving wildlife requires far more than science.

Louisa shares her journey from teenage "dolphin obsession" to founding and running Marecet, Malaysia's leading marine mammal conservation organization. She opens up about the steep learning curve from field researcher to organizational leader, the surprising skills conservation work demands, and why protecting animals means understanding the humans around them.

In this conversation:

→ The baby dugong encounter that took 11 years to happen

→ Why marine mammals are legally protected but their habitats aren't

→ Building trust with fishermen to reduce dolphin bycatch

→ The reality of conservation funding and facing "get a real job" criticism

→ Making marine conservation accessible to marginalized communities

Key timestamps: [UPDATE WITH FINAL TIMES]

0:00 - The baby dugong encounter

8:00 - Why Louisa founded Marecet and filling knowledge gaps

10:30 - The turning point: Conservation is more than science

25:00 - Working with fishermen on bycatch solutions

32:00 - Marine debris and habitat threats

40:00 - Getting research into policy and protected areas

44:00 - Learning to lead and communicate

53:00 - "Just because it's never been done doesn't mean it can't be done"

About Louisa: Dr. Louisa Ponnampalam is a Pew Fellow and co-founder of Marecet, living the childhood dream she never gave up on. She's spent nearly two decades researching dolphins, dugongs, and whales, and has helped establish multiple internationally recognized marine protected areas in Malaysia while training the next generation of homegrown marine conservationists.

Learn more about Marecet:

• Website: https://www.marecet.org/
• Donate: https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs/dolphins-and-dugongs/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marecet-research-organization/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marecetresearchorganization
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marecet/

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Weddell Seal audio from NOAA

Rosamira Guillen shares her inspiring journey to becoming Executive Director of Proyecto Tití and shows us that conservation is more than just biology. We range from fun stories of the Cotton-tops, protecting their dry-forest and working finding ways to benefit local Colombian communities to values, culture and leadership!

Follow Rosamira and her team’s work

https://www.facebook.com/proyectotiti

Instagram: Proyecto Tití (@proyectotiti) · Barranquilla

Support the protection of the world’s cutest little monkey: https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs/cotton-top-tamarin/

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Rocio Palacios has dedicated her life to learning about and protecting one of the world’s most elusive cats. The Andean Cat Alliance works across the four countries where the cats are found. Their research and conservation involves local communities and their impact benefits cats and other wildlife in the high Andes. Rocio shares fun and inspiring stories of a life rich adventure and passion.

Follow Rocio and her work

https://www.facebook.com/alianzagatoandino

Instagram: @alianza_gato_andino

Support the protection of Andean cats: https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs/andean-cat/

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Dr Colleen Begg, thought-leader in conservation, has dedicated her life to working with local communities and saving wildlife. She shares awe inspiring stories of her adventures and endurance:
Wildlife and wilderness
Catching Honey Badgers
Elephants roaming through camp
Learning traditions from local people
Leadership and community
A deadly attack by insurgents
Conservation when security is uncertain
Women empowerment
The future for conservation

Follow Colleen and her work

https://www.facebook.com/colleen.begg

https://www.facebook.com/niassalionproject

https://www.facebook.com/WomEnviroAfrica

Instagram: @Niassalionproject

Support Colleen’s team and the protection of wildlife in Niassa: https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs/lion-niassa/

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