Amazing Wildlife: A San Diego Zoo Podcast

Today we’re discussing the tallest land animals: giraffes! Hosts Rick and Ebone reveal interesting characteristics of the species, which can kill a lion with its kick—and we explore their unique features, such as hair-covered horns called ossicones. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance scientist Dr. Kirstie Ruppert joins the show to talk about her work with the Twiga Walinzi group to protect giraffes in Northern Kenya from being hunted and illegally trafficked.

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They’re endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and found nowhere else in the world. We’re exploring how the introduction of cats, dogs, rats, and mongooses contributed to the population decline of a bird revered in Hawaiian culture—the ‘Alalā! President and CEO Paul Baribault joins the show as we learn about how San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and its partners are working to protect and breed this endangered bird so populations can fly through their home forests once again.

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They are among our closest relatives in the Animal Kingdom. We’re exploring unique facts about these charismatic, intelligent forest dwellers…gorillas! Hosts Rick and Ebone examine the similarities between gorillas and humans and reveal how gorillas are endangered—even though they have no natural predators. Biologist Dr. Bethan Morgan joins the show from Cameroon’s Ebo Forest, where a distinct sound led a San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance scientist to discover a group of gorillas previously unknown to science.

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover the real life dragons of Komodo Island on this episode of Amazing Wildlife! Hosts Rick and Ebone uncover how this fascinating reptile got its name, the evolution of the species, and what makes their bite so deadly. The hosts respond to a young listener's question about the Komodo Dragon's diet.

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Amazing Wildlife looks at one of the smallest mammals in North America, the Pacific pocket mouse. Rick tells us how this animal got its name, their importance for our environment, and the threats they face in the wild. Ebone is joined by Dr. Debra Shier, who leads the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Pacific pocket mouse conservation program. Dr. Shier details the process of researching the animal that has made a comeback from a 20 year extinction!

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They are powerful, elusive, and disappearing. We’re talking about the all mighty tiger! Hosts Rick and Ebone explore the many mythologies surrounding the tiger in different cultures, clear up common misconceptions about the white tiger, and explain the difference between the 6 subspecies of the animal. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance CEO Paul Baribault joins the show to discuss how the organization partners with SINTAS Indonesia for a first of its kind long-term research and conservation project to reduce the number of human-tiger conflicts.

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some may think that koalas are “bears” but that is not true! In this episode, Amazing Wildlife explains what species koalas ​are and why they move slowly and always look sleepy. Host Rick Schwartz tells us how koalas break down and digest eucalyptus, a plant that is toxic to most animals. Host Ebone Monet chats with Dr. Kelli Leigh from Science for Wildlife in Australia to find out how koalas were saved during the Australian bushfires in the summer of 2020. You’ll learn how the San Diego Zoo takes care of koalas and what you can do to help save our animal friends.

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BBBBRRRRRR it's cold in here! In this episode, Amazing Wildlife analyzes the behavior of the polar bear and explains the tools these creatures use to survive in the extreme weather conditions of the Arctic. Hosts Ebone and Rick discuss the parents' roles in raising cubs, how polar bears hunt for food, and the dangers of studying such a big animal. The hosts answer a question from a young listener about why polar bears are (or aren’t) white.

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the very first episode, Amazing Wildlife explores the gender roles of African Savanna elephants, their responsibilities in the herd, and demystifies the structure of the elephant trunk. Host Rick Schwartz explains how we can distinguish between an African forest elephant, an African savanna elephant, and an Asian elephant. Host Ebone Monet sits down with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance CEO Paul Baribault to find out how the organization partners with the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary to save and protect orphaned elephants in Kenya.

If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can record it and send your audio file to [email protected] for your chance to hear it on the show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Amazing Wildlife, a production from iHeart Radio and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance! Get a behind-the-scenes look inside the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park to gain insight on rare species and to explore the ongoing conservation efforts to save endangered wildlife no matter how big or small. Join hosts Rick Schwartz and Ebone Monet as they highlight the organization's collaborative efforts to drive positive change for the future of animals and plants through captivating interviews and fascinating facts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.