WCS Wild Audio
Season 6
S6, Episode 9: The Graduate Scholarship Program
Talented, passionate local conservation leaders are critical for the durable conservation of wildlife and wild places around the world. To support them, WCS launched the Graduate Scholarship Program in 1996 to provide financial support for the highest quality, graduate-level academic training to promising conservationists. Over its nearly 30 years, the program has awarded 163 scholarships to conservationists from 42 different countries to pursue advanced degrees. With those skills, recipients are able return home and make a significant impact on their countries. They now lead conservation efforts in governments, universities, local organizations, and WCS itself—building lasting conservation capacity from within and delivering tangible conservation results on the ground.
Reporting: Dan Rosen
Guests: Denise Garcia, Richard Malonga, Peter Umunay
Previous Episodes
S6 Episode 8: The WCS 30x30 Ocean Accelerator Is Leveraging $40 Million for Marine Conservation
Participants from around the world have gathered in Nice this week for the third United Nations Oceans Conference. It’s an opportunity to assess the current state of marine conservation and seek ambitious new opportunities to achieve progress toward ocean protection. WCS was there with a big announcement to make.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Stacy Jupiter, Pamela Castillo
The 30x30 Ocean Accelerator is made possible through funding support from the Thomas L. Kempner, Jr. Foundation, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, BlackRock, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, the Shark Conservation Fund, and several other visionary private donors, with multilateral partners now engaged to expand its reach.
S6, Episode 7: Small Fish, Big Impact
Journey to the heart of the Amazon Basin—home to the largest freshwater system on Earth. These waterways don’t just support rich biodiversity—they’re a vital source of food and nutrition for millions across South America, where fish are often the most affordable and accessible source of protein. But this life-sustaining resource is under threat. Mercury contamination, overfishing, and the pressures of a globalized food market are putting fish populations—and the health of the people who rely on them—at risk. In this episode, how conservationists are working to reimagine food systems in the Amazon—blending traditional knowledge with science to protect rivers, restore fisheries, and ensure a healthy, sustainable future for communities and ecosystems alike.
Reporting: Hannah Kaplan
Guests: Silvia López Casas, Sebastian Heilpern
S6, Episode 6: This Endangered Species Day, Uncovering the Secrets of the Rainforest
A leopard. A giant pangolin. A group of forest elephants. They can be almost impossible to spot in the wild. But in February, WCS and wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas released a series of high definition camera trap photos of these species and more from the Republic of Congo’s Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. The hope is that sharing these remarkable pictures of rarely seen animals in their natural environment will inspire people to protect them.
Reporting: Dan Rosen
Guest: Will Burrard-Lucas
For four decades, the Conservation Leadership Programme, or CLP, has been providing critical early career funding awards to emerging conservationists. Born out of a partnership between Birdlife International, Fauna & Flora, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, the CLP has opened the door countless scientists working across the globe in countries rich in biodiversity but often lacking resources for their protection. As the program turns 40, we checked in with a few alumni to hear how the program has helped them to advance in their journey to become conservation leaders.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Camila Kass, Jorge Parra, Deepshikha Sharma
S6, Episode 4: This Earth Day, a Conversation on Why We Protect Wildlife and Wild Places
As Earth Day turns 55 this year, it seemed like a good moment to reflect on WCS’s mission to protect wildlife and wild places. Why does the protection of biodiversity carry with it so many other benefits to humankind? What are the approaches that work and what are the challenges? And what can the average person do to make it a priority in their lives? WCS Wild Audio found just the right person to ask.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Bennett
S6, Episode 3: Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant & Peter Gros of NBC’s Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Host “Family Day” at the REEL WILD New York Film Festival, April 5
In the 3rd and final episode featuring the inaugural REEL WILD New York Film Festival, which launches in New York City this week, we talk to the hosts of the popular television series Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom “Protecting the Wild.” They’ll be on hand for the screening of several of the show’s episodes in an exciting and inviting family-friendly program on Saturday, April 5.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, Peter Gros
S6, Episode 2 Stories That Inspire, Films That Matter | REEL WILD™ NY Film Festival
In the second episode of our three-part series on WCS's REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival, we go behind the scenes to uncover the inspiration behind this inaugural event celebrating remarkable filmmakers and extraordinary wildlife stories from around the globe.
From Namibia’s resilient desert lions to a massive annual walrus gathering in the Russian Arctic, this year’s lineup aims not only to captivate audiences but also to spark meaningful conservation action. Hannah Kaplan has this report.
Get your tickets for The REEL WILD™ NEW YORK Film Festival: reelwild.org
Reporting: Hannah Kaplan
Guests: Natalie Cash, John Calvelli
S6, Episode 1: Oscar-Nominated Documentary “Haulout” Comes to the First Annual REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival
This spring, the inaugural WCS-curated REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival comes to Manhattan. Taking place on April 4-5, this two-day event showcases award-winning natural history films and offers a unique chance to hear directly from the filmmakers and experts behind the stories. In the first of a 3-part series on the festival, we look at one of those films, the 2022 Oscar-nominated documentary “Haulout,” which explores the impact of climate change on walrus habitat in the Arctic.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Evgenia Arbugaeva, Natalie Cash, Martin Robards, Jonathan Slaght
[Parts of this episode originally aired in March 2023.]
The Bronx Zoo’s Herpetology Team cares for a number of venomous snakes at the zoo’s World of Reptiles. As professionals, they know what they’re doing. Just in case, though, the zoo team keeps antivenom on site and a thorough plan in place to address any potential emergencies. Fortunately, it hasn’t been needed any time in recent memory. Instead, that antivenom, and the team, are helping to save lives outside the zoo through an impactful partnership with nearby NYC Health and Hospitals–Jacobi.
Reporting: Dan Rosen
Guests: Kevin Torregrosa, Dr. Joshua Z. Silverberg
S5, Episode 12: The Mongolian Khulan | Nomads on the Edge
The khulan - a species of wild equid - is a true nomad, covering distances unmatched by any other land mammal. Yet, their survival in Mongolia’s harsh Gobi desert is a constant battle. Populations already strained by overhunting and harsh winters – exacerbated by climate change – are now facing a growing threat from rapid road and railway construction, which fragments the landscape and cuts them off from essential resources.
Now, WCS is developing innovative solutions that benefit both this vital species and the local communities that share its habitat.
WCS wishes to thank Cartier for Nature for their invaluable support of WCS Mongolia’s efforts with local communities. To learn more about Cartier for Nature visit cartierfornature.org.
We also extend our deepest gratitude to Fondation Segré for their commitment to khulan conservation in Mongolia. To learn more about Fondation Segré, visit fondationsegre.org.
Reporting: Hannah Kaplan
Guests: Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar, Bayarmaa Chuluunbat, Batbayar Galtbalt
S5, Episode 11: An Update on Avian Influenza
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is having an unprecedented and devastating impact on wildlife. We have the latest on its path and where it may be headed, including whether or not it could pose an even a bigger threat to humans.
Reporting: Dan Rosen
Guest: Dr. Christian Walzer
S5, Episode 10: Protecting the Protectors | The Crucial Support Behind Conservation's Frontline Heroes
Rangers are the frontline guardians of conservation efforts, regularly putting their physical and mental health at risk to protect our planet. But they can't do it alone—they need more support and resources to stay safe and effective in their vital work.
That’s where URSA, the Universal Ranger Support Alliance—which supports the International Ranger Federation and counts WCS among its members—steps in to ensure they get the backing they deserve.
Reporting: Hannah Kaplan
Guests: Alexa Montefiore, Rohit Singh, Yahaira Urbina
S5, Episode 9: Miamba Yetu | Incentivizing Investment to Protect Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs in East Africa
Roughly 90% of coral reefs globally face collapse by 2050 due to human activity. At the same time, close to a quarter of all marine life is found in coral reef ecosystems, which support some one billion of the world's population. Miamba Yetu is a creative new financing mechanism designed to help protect coral reefs off the coasts of Kenya and Tanzania that are resilient to climate change, while supporting the communities that depend on them.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Fahd Al-Guthmy, Ray Victurine, Evelyn Namvua
S5, Episode 8: Chile’s Karukinka Natural Park Turns 20, Part 2: An Exceptional Gift for Conservation from Goldman Sachs
In 2004, the investment bank and financial services firm Goldman Sachs came into possession of a group of distressed assets that included a 680,000-acre parcel of land at the bottom of South America. In Part 2 of our celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Chile’s Karukinka Natural Park, we dive into the extraordinary story of how Goldman came to gift this pristine landscape to WCS for conservation.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Bob Christie, John Calvelli, Larry Linden, Kent Redford, Steven Sanderson
WCS wishes to acknowledge the important contributions of the following individuals to the successful transfer of land from Goldman Sachs to the Wildlife Conservation Society for the creation of the Karukinka Natural Park in Tierra del Fuego, Chile: Chris Austin, Kathy Barclay, John Bryan, Norman Christensen, Bob Christie, Dale Cooney, Brad D Gillman, Max Gitter, Salman Kahn, Nico Kogan, Adam Levine, Larry Linden, Kim Maxfield, John O’Leary, Kevin Padrick, Hank Paulson, Juan Robayo, John F.W. Rogers, Peter Rose, Jed Schaefer, Don Stern, Doug Tompkins, Kris Tompkins.
S5, Episode 7: Chile’s Karukinka Natural Park Turns 20, Part 1: How a Conservation Commitment Blossomed in Tierra del Fuego
The 300,000-hectare Karukinka Natural Park was created in 2004 after land in Chilean Tierra del Fuego was donated to the Wildlife Conservation Society by Goldman Sachs. As the park celebrates its 20th anniversary, we begin a two-part series on how its establishment helped to spur both the development of an ambitious WCS Country Program in Chile and the expansion of the country’s national conservation efforts.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Bárbara Saavedra, Melissa Carmody, Rodrigo Munzenmayer
S5, Episode 6: This Bat Week, A Promising Solution to a Scourge Devastating North America’s Bat Populations
It’s Bat Week. White-nose syndrome is a deadly fungus that’s wiping out bats across North America. New research makes the case that it’s having a direct negative impact on human health, too. WCS Canada has an innovative solution to address the problem.
Reporter: Dan Rosen
Guest: Cori Lausen
S5, Episode 5: The U.S. Government’s Role at CBD COP16
The United States is one of only 2 UN Member States that is actually not a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Back in the 1990s, the Senate failed to ratify the treaty. But, when the parties meet in Colombia next week at COP16, the U.S. is expected to have a significant presence. Over the years, it has been successful at driving ambition in policy, action, and nature finance pledges. For Part 3 of our CBD series, hear from the WCS Federal Affairs team on the U.S.'s role.
Reporting: Dan Rosen
Guest: Kelly Keenan Aylward
S5, Episode 4: In Colombia, Making “Peace with Nature”
Cali, Colombia will soon play host to the biennial gathering of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The theme of this important international meeting will be “Peace with Nature.” WCS will have a significant delegation on the ground. For our 2nd episode highlighting the CBD’s 16th Conference of the Parties, or COP, critical members of that delegation give their thoughts on the coming meeting and what WCS’s priorities will be.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Susan Lieberman, Catalina Gutierrez, Jose Luis Gomez
S5, Episode 3: The Global Conservation Community Prepares for Action on Biodiversity Protection in Colombia
The 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity—or CBD COP16—convenes in Cali, Colombia beginning on October 21. More than 14,000 participants are expected to attend, representing national governments, NGOs, Indigenous groups, the private sector, and others. In the first of a three-part series on the coming COP, Wild Audio spoke with the CBD Deputy Executive Secretary David Cooper to learn more about what brings the conservation community to Latin America and what they hope to achieve there.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guest: David Cooper
S5, Episode 2: New York Climate Week, Part 2 | Investing in Healthy Forests for People and the Planet
In Part 2 of our podcast series exploring the themes of New York Climate Week, we look at a new initiative being piloted by the WCS Forests and Climate Change program to attract investment in large tropical areas with healthy ecosystems. The High Integrity Forest Investment Initiative, or HIFOR, provides a novel approach to compensate nature and its protectors for the services they provide.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Ashley Camhi, Tom Evans
S5, Episode 1: New York Climate Week, Part 1 | How Ecological Restoration and Innovation are Restoring Forests and Reconnecting Landscapes
WCS is focusing on ecological restoration, transforming degraded lands into thriving habitats with the collaboration of Indigenous and local communities, and innovative tools enabling real-time tracking of conservation progress. On this episode, how restoration, technology, and community partnerships are shaping a sustainable future.
Reporting: Hannah Kaplan
Guests: Tim Rayden, Diane Detoeuf, Itma Selene Torres Rodríguez
Summer Series: Reducing Single-Use Plastics from Our Waste Stream to Protect Marine Wildlife and the Planet
The world produces over 400 metric tons of plastic every year today. Single-use plastics—from utensils and straws to soda bottles and packaging—enter our waste stream at an alarming rate. Less than 10 percent of all plastic is recycled. For Part 6—and the final episode—of our summer series on marine conservation, we investigate the impact of plastic pollution on marine life and steps being taken to reduce single-use plastic consumption at WCS and its home in New York City.
Reporting: Nat Moss
Guests: Margaret Spring, Niko Radjenovic, Greg Edgar, Chris Durosinmi
Listen to More
WCS Wild Audio
Thank you for listening to the WCS Wild Audio podcast. To receive an episode when posted, email Nat Moss. More episodes are coming soon.
Sign Up for Email Updates
Get news from the field and learn about ways you can help Earth’s most threatened species.
