Get to know the extraordinary people who dedicate their lives to save wildlife and the places they call home. We go beyond the headlines to uncover their wildest encounters, toughest challenges, and what keeps them hopeful in the fight for nature.
Dr. Iroro Tanshi: Rediscovering a Lost Bat, Then Saving Its Forest From Fire
Dr. Iroro Tanshi found a bat species unseen in Nigeria for 45 years. Eight days later, she watched the forest it lived in catch fire. That collision, a rediscovery and a disaster eight days apart, is what launched one of the most innovative community-led wildfire prevention programs in West Africa, and it's a big part of why Iroro just won the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize, conservation's "Green Nobel." In this conversation, we talk about the short-tailed roundleaf bat she rediscovered on ...
2 Jun 2026
Dr. George Shillinger: Tracking the World's Largest Turtle Across the Pacific
George Shillinger has spent 40 years protecting sea turtles. His path started a pet box turtle that had literally been to space! I sat down with the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Upwell to talk about what it takes to protect an animal that crosses entire ocean basins, dives over a kilometre deep, and falls under the jurisdiction of dozens of governments. Here's what struck me most: we've been pouring resources into protecting nesting beaches for decades. But sea turtles spend 99% of ...
26 Apr 2026
Tamsin Orr-Walker: Protecting Kea, the World's Most Curious Parrot
A conversation about my favourite parrot! I had the pleasure of chatting with the Co-founder and Chair of the Kea Conservation Trust Tamsin Orr-Walker has spent 20 years protecting Kea, the world’s most curious parrot. Kea slide down rooftops for fun, dismantle cars out of curiosity, and once caused $30,000 in damage to forestry equipment in a single night. They’re also endangered, with fewer than 7,000 left in the wild. The very traits that make them so captivating are the same ones t...
2 Apr 2026
Bill Sutherland: Using Evidence to Save Wildlife More Effectively
Bill Sutherland is Miriam Rothschild Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, and founder of Conservation Evidence. For over 20 years he’s been asking a deceptively simple question: if a doctor can look up the evidence for any treatment before prescribing, why can't a conservationist do the same? Conservation has long relied on tradition, intuition, and accumulated experience. But the tools being used today are often the same ones used 50 years...
12 Mar 2026
Jen Miller: Sea Otters, Eco-Grief, and the Conservationist's Path Back to Hope
Jen Miller is Senior Manager of the Sea Otter Fund at the Wildlife Conservation Network, and her path has been anything but linear. A PhD from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies studying tigers and livestock depredation in India. Wolves and jaguar reintroduction policy at Defenders of Wildlife. International wildlife trafficking grants at the US Fish and Wildlife Service. And now, one of conservation's most genuinely hopeful comeback stories: bringing sea otters back to 800...
11 Feb 2026
Ashleigh Lutz-Nelson: Coexistence of Snow Leopards and Remote Communities at 17,000 Feet
Snow leopards live in some of Earth's harshest environments, hunting on vertical cliffs at elevations where oxygen is half that of sea level. They're sacred to the indigenous communities who share their landscape and they're threatened by human-wildlife conflict, climate change, and the challenges of survival in an increasingly unstable mountain ecosystem. Ashleigh Lutz-Nelson, Executive Director of Snow Leopard Conservancy, works to lift up local conservationists protecting one of the ...
28 Jan 2026
Frank Pope: Flying with Elephants and Fighting for Africa's Wild Future
Frank Pope, CEO of Save the Elephants, shares his unconventional journey into conservation This episode is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton (1942-2025), founder of Save the Elephants and pioneer of elephant research. His groundbreaking work transformed our understanding of African elephants and shaped modern conservation practices. Learn more about Save the Elephants: Website: https://savetheelephants.org/ Donate:https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs... LinkedIn: &nb...
14 Jan 2026
Peter Damerell: The Ice Age Antelope's Crash and Comeback
Peter Damerell, Interim Director of the Saiga Conservation Alliance, shares his journey from aspiring wildlife filmmaker to leading conservation efforts across Central Asia for one of the world's most unusual antelopes. From the vast steppes of Kazakhstan to working with traditional medicine markets in Asia, Peter coordinates an alliance of organizations protecting a species that has crashed twice and recovered dramatically—and could crash again at any moment. In this conversation: 19:03 -...
29 Dec 2025
Louisa Ponnampalam: From dolphin dreams to conservation reality in Malaysia
Most marine biologists dream of studying dolphins. Dr. Louisa Ponnampalam actually did it - and discovered that saving wildlife requires far more than science. Louisa shares her journey from teenage "dolphin obsession" to founding and running Marecet, Malaysia's leading marine mammal conservation organization. She opens up about the steep learning curve from field researcher to organizational leader, the surprising skills conservation work demands, and why protecting animals means understandi...
6 Dec 2025
Rosamira Guillen: The architect turned conservation leader saving the world’s cutest little monkey!
Rosamira Guillen shares her inspiring journey to becoming Executive Director of Proyecto Tití and shows us that conservation is more than just biology. We range from fun stories of the Cotton-tops, protecting their dry-forest and working finding ways to benefit local Colombian communities to values, culture and leadership! Follow Rosamira and her team’s work https://www.facebook.com/proyectotiti Instagram: Proyecto Tití (@proyectotiti) · Barranquilla Support the protection of the world...
5 Nov 2025
Dr Colleen Begg: Life on conservation’s front line! From honey badgers to an attack by insurgents!
Dr Colleen Begg, thought-leader in conservation, has dedicated her life to working with local communities and saving wildlife. She shares awe inspiring stories of her adventures and endurance: Wildlife and wilderness Catching Honey Badgers Elephants roaming through camp Learning traditions from local people Leadership and community A deadly attack by insurgents Conservation when security is uncertain Women empowerment The future for conservation Follow Colleen and her work https://www.fa...
5 Nov 2025
Rocio Palacios: One Andean Cat sighting in 22 years of dedication! Conservation in high mountains.
Rocio Palacios has dedicated her life to learning about and protecting one of the world’s most elusive cats. The Andean Cat Alliance works across the four countries where the cats are found. Their research and conservation involves local communities and their impact benefits cats and other wildlife in the high Andes. Rocio shares fun and inspiring stories of a life rich adventure and passion. Follow Rocio and her work https://www.facebook.com/alianzagatoandino Instagram: @alianza_gato_andin...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact Saving Wildlife with Sam
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Saving Wildlife with Sam?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
