Conservation Conversation

We’re still talking all things leopard but this time we chat with a real life citizen scientist. Owen Grobler lives on a wildlife estate in Hoedspruit, South Africa. As a new resident to the estate, Owen was driven to learn more about the peri urban leopards that were sighted in the area. Five years later what began as a passion project, has turned into so much more. A wildlife photographer by trade, Owen started following, recording and photographing the elusive big cats who called this disturbed landscape home. In conjunction with the publication of his book, “Searching for Spots”, over time the importance of co-habitation became more and more evident. More recently the future of the resident leopards is in the spot light and Owen is determined to go to bat for their safety and conservation. In this podcast, hear about Owen’s personal encounters with wild leopards in a built up area and what that means for the leopards, and for the residents. The connection to any wild animal is special and in this case, Owen shares the painstaking lengths to which he has gone to photograph them. We are also joined by conservation ecologist and project manager Marine from Ingwe Leopard Research who expands on the important role, people like Owen play in the study and conservation of leopards. The various links mentioned in the podcast are below: Owen’s Book: https://www.searchingforspots.com/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/searchingforspots/ Ingwe Crowd Funding https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ingwe-leopard-research Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ingwe_leopard_research/

Next up in our series, we continue our chat with Marine Servonnat, project manager of Ingwe Leopard Research as we uncover how this delightful lady from France fell in love with Africa. Marine shares how she brought her passion for research and love for leopards together to establish, what just might be, the most significant contribution to their conservation we have seen in a while. Marine explains the role of AI in conservation and what the importance of collaboration of like-minded leopard lovers is. She expands on how you, as a citizen scientist, can contribute to the conservation of this beautiful icon big cat. For more information about the rewards based fund raiser mentioned by Marine, here is the link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ingwe-leopard-research The main sponsor of Ingwe Leopard Research is https://www.ontrackfoundation.org/ Collaboration is key so our thanks go to Transfrontier Africa https://transfrontierafrica.org/balule- conservation-project and Wildlife & Ecological Investment https://www.wei.co.za/ Please give our friends a follow @ingwe_leopard_research If you'd like to keep up to date with new episodes and other content, follow us on your preferred social media platform using the following link | https://linktr.ee/Ultimate_Safari

We’re very excited about our next series. Not only are we particularly passionate about leopards – as you may have seen from our logo, but in this case, we have the opportunity to collaborate with, what we believe, is a significant contribution to conservation – our other passion. Join us as we chat with Marine Servonnat, project manager and researcher for Ingwe Leopard Research, as we learn about the threats these magnificent big cats of Africa face, and why they need to be studied. We take a dive into understanding what citizen science is and how we, as citizens, can contribute to research and ultimately the conservation of leopards in South Africa. For more information about the reward based fund raiser mentioned by Marine, here is the link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ingwe-leopard-research The main sponsor of Ingwe Leopard Research https://www.ontrackfoundation.org/ Please give our friends a follow @ingwe_leopard_research If you'd like to keep up to date with new episodes and other content, follow us on your preferred social media platform using the following link | https://linktr.ee/Ultimate_Safari

In this episode of our podcast, Conservation Conversation, we welcome back Richard Peirce, Wildlife Conservationist, Author and Film Producer. This time to chat about pangolins. Pangolins carry the sad moniker of being the most trafficked mammal in the world. Richard published his book, Scales of Injustice in June 2020. This would turn out to be a timely expose of the link between the illegal trade of pangolin and Covid-19. Richard explains how, in February 2020 while the novel corona virus (Covid-19) was fast spreading across the world, pangolins were thrust into the global spotlight when scientists discovered that the virus may have come to humans via bats and pangolins. We hear of Richard’s experiences during his research for the book. From an endearing close encounter he and his wife Jacqui had, to the harrowing tales of time spent in East Asia, uncovering the ever increasing demand for pangolin scales and meat. What, if any, are the solutions to protect this endangered species? We debate a few ideas. If you would like to learn more about Richard Peirce, his books and film, please see the following link: http://www.peirceshark.com/

Richard Peirce is a Wildlife Conservationist, Author and Producer, developing conservation projects for sharks, rhinos and elephants in Africa and the UK.   African mega fauna has been a lifelong passion for Richard, and in recent years many of his books and films have raised awareness of the plight of rhinos, elephants, lions, pangolins and others. In the middle of 2018 work started on an investigative documentary film called Lions, Bones & Bullets. As part of the investigation, Richard spent time in South East Asia to understand the lion carcass journey once it has left South African shores. He shares a very disturbing experience with us.  We also hear Richard’s controversial opinion on how the lion farm trade in South Africa could potentially be brought to an end.    If you would like to learn more Richard Peirce, his books and film, please use this link: https://peirceshark.com/  Our podcast on most major streaming platforms |   https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/guFufYZ4sub  If you'd like to keep up to date with new episodes and other content, follow us on your preferred social media platform using the following link | https://linktr.ee/Ultimate_Safari

Blood Lions exposes the exploitation of big cats used for interactive activities in tourism, which include cub petting, walking with lions, and "voluntourism". These unethical and insidious practices form part of the life cycle of a lion in the commercial captive predator breeding industry in South Africa. We speak with Dr Louise de Waal, director and campaign manager of Blood Lions and discuss the issue of animal welfare throughout the life cycle of a captive bred lion. If you would like to learn more about the work being done by Blood Lions, please see the link below | https://bloodlions.org/ If you'd like to keep up to date with new episodes and other content, follow us on your preferred social media platform using the following link | https://linktr.ee/Ultimate_Safari

Did you know that there are more than 300 farms in South Africa where lions are bred in cages for the hunting industry? It's called canned lion hunting because it is hunting in a can. Instant. No chase. No escape. No mercy. Shot in a fenced camp.    Since it was first uncovered in 1997, this industry has been under huge scrutiny both locally and internationally. Canned lion hunting remains legal in South Africa. A canned lion is a lion born in captivity on a lion farm. It is taken from its mother at 2 to 3 weeks old, so she can breed again, and sold to cub petting destinations for tourists. Later, stressed and malnourished, the young lion, now too big for petting, is sold to a lion walking destination, also for tourists. Finally, the lion is sold to a hunter, to be shot and killed as a trophy.  Today there are 3 times more canned lions than wild lions in South Africa. For about 11000 lions, there is not one day of freedom. Farmed lions can never be made wild and will never know the natural sanctity of being free. A hunter or farmers’ bullet awaits them.  Many conservationist groups and individuals have long lobbied with the South African government against canned lion hunting. We learn more from Chris Mercer who is recognised as the leading international expert on the practice of canned lion hunting and has lobbied against it for more than 20 years.  Chris and his late partner Beverley, established a wildlife rehab centre and sanctuary in the Karoo region, of South Africa. When they heard of the unimaginably cruel treatment of lions on South Africa's lion farms, Chris started to campaign against canned hunting. The Campaign Against Canned Hunting was born.    If you would like to learn more about the work being done by Chris and others mentioned in this podcast, please see the links below |  http://www.cannedlion.org/  & https://www.lionsbonesbullets.film/

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