Welcome to Citizen Zoo's Rewilding Podcast! In this podcast we explore four of our favourite stories from our fantastic monthly newsletter which sums up the global rewilding news. Tune in to hear exciting and uplifting rewilding success stories from around the world, with Lucas, Elliot, Digby and guests.
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Episode 14: Dutch Golden Jackals, Re:wIld, The Emblehope Estate and Kazakh Rewilding
This month, Lucas, Elliot and Digby look into four incredible stories of rewilding around the world. First, head to the Netherlands, where the government has recognised the golden jackal as a native species. Then, discover Re:wild’s $200 million Phoenix Recovery Fund and its ambitions for global species conservation. Back in the UK, find out more about Restore’s purchase of the Emblehope Estate and what it means for rewilding in the North of England. Finally, travel to Kazakhstan to explore the incredible return of Przewalski’s horses and the release of Umit the tiger.
This month, Lucas, Elliot and Digby dive into four more inspiring rewilding stories from around the world. Hear all about the surprising and unexpected recovery of mangrove forests globally. Then over to Cape Verde where conservation efforts are leading to a boom loggerhead turtle numbers. Learn all about the African-Eurasian Flyway and a cross-continent project to protect it from BirdLife International. Finally hear how a recent paper is redifining our understanding of the might Pleistocene predator - the cave lion.
30 Jun 2026
Episode 12: European Elephants, Bandicoots, Cornish Choughs & Siamese Crocodiles
This month join Lucas, Elliot and Digby for in depth chat about wild elephants in the European context and their upcoming introduction to Portugal. On the other side of the world they chat about eastern barred bandicoot returning to Australia. Back to the UK where bright red billed Choughs, the UK’s rarest corvid, are gaining ground. Lastly over to Cambodia, where the country is working to boost the population of one of the world’s rarest crocodiles.
28 May 2026
Episode 11: Golden Eagles, War Rewilding, Brazilian Macaws and Mexican Wolves
In this month’s episode Lucas, Elliot and Digby hop between Europe, to North then South America. Starting with the news of an ambitious project to help golden eagles once again soar in the skies above England. The team then discuss a thought provoking recent paper, which suggests rewilding large areas of land can be an effective tool to bolster national security. Over then to Mexico, where the Mexican Wolf subspecies is returning to its ancestral home, with individuals coming from populations north of the border in the US. Finally, fly over to Rio De Janeiro, where the expansive Tijuca National Park, the worlds largest urban rainforest, is once again home to the Blue-and-yellow macaw, a locally extinct but hugely symbolic species for the beating heart of Brazil.
11 May 2026
Episode 10: Lazarus Species, Kākāpō and Tower Mustard
Join Lucas, Elliot and Digby as they explore four extraordinary stories of innovation, rediscovery and wild recovery from across the globe. In New Zealand, they discuss the beloved kākāpō and uncover the smart science behind one of the world’s most ambitious bird conservation programmes. Then to California, where researchers are working to bring the rare white abalone back from the brink. Deep in West Papua, two remarkable ‘Lazarus species’, mammals once thought lost to the fossil record, are found alive in a humbling story about the mysteries nature still holds. Finally, back in London, Citizen Zoo’s tower mustard project is empowering volunteer citizen rewilders to grow this rare native plant at home before returning it to its former range across the capital.
30 Mar 2026
Episode 9: Galapagos, Rewilding Wales and Cattle in the Capital
Join Lucas, Elliot and Digby as they delve into four more incredible rewilding stories. Starting with the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme and their announcement of 8 new large rewilding sites across Europe. Heading then to the Galapagos and the reintroduction of the iconic Floreana giant tortoise back to its namesake island. Heading over to Wales to take a look at the Tir Natur flagship site following a huge land purchase. Finally back home to London talking about Citizen Zoo’s WILD Tolworth project and the release of free roaming cattle and pigs at a public nature reserve in the city.
27 Feb 2026
Episode 8: Proxy Species, Pampered Frogs and Public Support
This month, Lucas, Elliot and Digby explore rewilding breakthroughs from around the globe. In Saudi Arabia, an ambitious project is restoring cheetahs and ostriches using closely related subspecies. In Australia, endangered frogs are receiving innovative “sauna” treatments to fight the deadly chytrid fungus. Meanwhile, twin gorillas have been born in Virunga National Park in Central Africa, a rare and hopeful milestone. Back in the UK, a major public consultation reveals that a majority of people support the reintroduction of lynx to Scotland.
29 Jan 2026
Episode 7: Red Squirrels, Rising Carnivore Numbers and Wild London
In our first episode of 2026, we’re diving into red squirrel reintroductions in Scotland, a new feasibility study exploring the return of wildcats to Devon, south-west England. We take a look at a recent paper showing rising numbers of North America’s “Big Four” predators, pumas, grey wolves, grizzly bears and black bears. We’ll also be celebrating the excellent BBC Sir David Attenborough documentary Wild London, featuring our very own Ealing beavers, and sharing some very fond memories of meeting the man himself.
22 Dec 2025
Episode 6: Christmas Special! A Year In Review
Join Lucas, Elliot and Digby as they look back on an incredible 2025. Starting with memories of inspiring talks from Citizen Zoo’s Rewilding Futures Conference in January. Then celebrating the year of the beaver as their numbers boom across Europe. Going on to chat about why 2025 was a huge year for marine rewilding, then last but not least, looking back at a fantastic year or projects and future plans at Citizen Zoo.
27 Nov 2025
Episode 5: Parrots, Pine Martens and Continental Cooperation
In this month’s episode Lucas, Elliot and Digby look at why the new IUCN official rewilding guidlines represent such a seminal moment for rewilding. Jumping over to the Jaguar Rivers Initiative across South America. Flying over to the DRC with the Lukuru foundation rehabilitating and reintroducing African grey parrots. Then back to the UK for Pine Marten reintroduction with the Devon Wildlife Trust.
28 Oct 2025
Episode 4: Koalas, Smashing Urchins and Celebrating Jane Goodall
Join Lucas, Elliot and Digby as they look into the formation of the new Great Koala National Park in Australia, human intervention controlling sea urchin numbers in the Kelp Forests of California, introducing the mighty Tauros cattle to Denmark and a celebration the incredible life, work and achievements of Jane Goodall.
29 Sept 2025
Episode 3: Sturgeon, Storks and Symbolic Species
This month Lucas, Elliot and Digby explore four remarkable rewilding stories from across the globe. Journey to the Danube, where ancient sturgeon are making a comeback through the LIFE-Boat 4 Sturgeon project. Soar over South Africa with VulPro as vultures reclaim the skies. Travel to New Zealand for the revival of the critically endangered kakī. Then return to London, where Citizen Zoo is gathering public opinion on the potential return of white storks.
Take the Thoughts On Storks survey here:
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brighton/thoughts-on-london-storks
4 Sept 2025
Episode 2: The Wild Returns with Lynx, Otters, Tigers & Voles
Join Lucas, Elliot and Digby as they look through four incredible stories covering the return of lynx to England, giant otters in Argentina, tigers in China, and water voles in London. A global journey of rewilding, resilience, and the wild making its way back home.
31 Jul 2025
Episode 1: Rhinos, Beavers and the Rhythm of Return
In this episode, Lucas, Elliot and Digby explore four inspiring rewilding stories from around the globe. From the creation of a new rewilding landscape in southeastern France to the natural return of beavers in Portugal, nature is making a powerful comeback. We also delve into the ambitious relocation of 70 southern white rhinos to Rwanda and celebrate the return of cicadas to England’s New Forest.
31 Jul 2025
Pilot: Wolves, Dire Dreams and the Fight for the Wild
Lucas, Elliot and Digby share four powerful stories from the frontlines of rewilding. First, Europe’s wolf resurgence where populations are up 58% in a decade. Then, a look at de-extinction as Colossal Biosciences claims to have recreated the dire wolf. In Italy, a village learns to live with bears, adapting to their wild neighbours. Finally, we explore why the UK halted eel exports to Russia and what it means for the future of this critically endangered and mysterious species.
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