17. Cyril Ruoso

As our team is off this week lining up new guests and episodes, we're posting again this awesome chat with Oscar Winning Documentary Filmmaker Louis Psihoyos.  If you didn't catch it before, you absolutely must now:  Louie Psihoyos directed the Oscar-winning documentary THE COVE, the series RACING EXTINCTION and is Executive Director of the Ocean Preservation Society.  He and Kira discuss the effects of his filmmaking and his conservation efforts.  He's kind of a badass.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwxyrLUdcss https://www.opsociety.org

Cyril Ruoso is a professional photographer-reporter who has traveled the globe for 20 years in search of extraordinary pictures of wildlife.   His first encounter with the Borneo orangutan influenced his work by giving pride of place to primates. He also focuses on species too often considered trivial - this is the idea behind the project "Planet Frog".   Hear about his work and how vital photography is to wildlife conservation in this episode.   And learn more here: www.cyrilruoso.com

Gareth Norris is an extraordinary bird handler at the Wild Raptor Conservancy - and has unique relationships with the birds of prey he rehabilitates for re-introduction into South African skies.  Hear about his work, raptor personalities, jealous hawks and the importance of flying predators.   Learn more here: www.wildraptor.co.za/

Devon Galpin Clark -- 14 years old -- started Endangered Activism, an organization that "aims to help people feel connected to endangered species."  Along with her mom Shannon Galpin, world-famous  National Geographic Adventurer and global activist, Devon speak with Kira about her organization, effort and the power anyone has to make a difference for wildlife on a worldwide scale.   Find out more at: https://endangeredactivism.org

Daniel Beltrá is a photographer who travels the globe with his camera to show man's impact on the environment.  From the Antarctic to the Amazon, from one pole to the other, he's seen parts of the world few could ever imagine traveling to -- and he brought his camera.   Hear about Daniel's unique career, his perspective on the environment and how wildlife is faring -- and then go see his amazing shots here:  https://danielbeltra.photoshelter.com/index

Shannon Malone is a documentary producer who has worked as editor and development executive.  Her long list of credits includes Discovery Atlas, Real Family of Jesus, and Extraordinary People, Planet Earth and many more.  She has worked for The Discovery Channel, National Geography Channel and Wild TV.   She and Kira discuss the path to a documentary, the importance of docs in conservation and awareness of wildlife, and the best experiences she's had on the ground.  Don't miss this one.  Listen now!

Bob Cisneros is the curator of Big Bear Alpine Zoo.   He served as President of the American Association of Zoo Keepers and is on the Board of Directors of the California Wolf Center.   Hear about responsible zoo keeping, the role of rehab zoos and animal ambassadors, and the "Five freedoms" and how they apply to two wolf packs, two blind snow leopards and a three-legged bear.   http://bigbearzoo.org/

Dr. Michelle LaRue is a research ecologist and public speaker at the University of Minnesota, where she focuses on ecological and conservation issues from North America to Antarctica.  Her research centers on the distribution, habitat and effects of human impacts on populations of Emperor and Adélie penguins, Weddell seals, polar bears and cougars. Dr. Larue chats with Kira about her time in Antarctica, how to reach the non-scientific public, and what science needs to do to keep wildlife living around the world.   Learn more about Dr. LaRue's work here:  https://www.drmichellelarue.com

Kedar Gore has been actively engaged with environmental NGOs in India since 1996. His overall area of work has been wildlife conservation, environmental awareness, and much more.   Kedar has been working as the Director of The Corbett Foundation since July 2009. He is in-charge of its divisions in Mumbai, Corbett, Kutch, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Kaziranga.  The Corbett Foundation (TCF) is a non-governmental organisation that is fully dedicated to the conservation of wildlife with active involvement of local communities. TCF has successfully demonstrated its interventions around important tiger conservation landscapes / national parks in North, Central and North-east India in tiger conservation landscapes, and in semi arid ecosystems of Western India where it work towards the protection of Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered species.

Safari guide and writer Paul Templer survived an attack from the animal responsible for more fatalities in Africa than any other.  Hear his harrowing tale, his amazing perspective on appreciating the wilderness, his book, and his life now as he travels and brings a passion for wildlife to people everywhere.   Visit his site here: http://www.paultempler.com