The All Creatures Podcast

This week we go on a captivating journey into the world of bonobos, our enigmatic primate cousins, on this special episode of the All Creatures Podcast. Delve into the incredible world of these remarkable apes, exploring their behavior, significance in the animal kingdom, and the critical conservation efforts to protect these endangered species. Episode Highlights: Meet the Bonobos: A brief introduction to the bonobos, the lesser-known species of great apes closely related to chimpanzees, emphasizing their unique characteristics, social structures, and habitat in the lush forests of the Congo Basin. Behavioral Insights: Detailed exploration of bonobo behavior, their matriarchal society, complex communication, problem-solving abilities, and their intriguing conflict-resolution methods. Dive into their emotional intelligence and societal norms that differentiate them from other primates. Threats to Bonobo Survival: Addressing the significant challenges faced by bonobos, including habitat loss due to defor

Welcome back to the All Creatures Podcast! In this episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of the Gaur, the largest species of wild cattle on the planet. Join us as we explore the life, behavior, and conservation efforts surrounding these magnificent creatures. Key Points Covered: 1. The Gaur: A Giant of the Bovine World Introduction to the Gaur (Bos gaurus), highlighting their size, physical features, and their status as the largest wild cattle species. Comparison with other wild cattle and their distinctions in terms of size, behavior, and habitat. 2. Habitat and Distribution Exploration of the Gaur's natural habitat, including forests, grasslands, and tropical evergreen areas. Discussion on their geographic distribution, focusing on regions where they are predominantly found, such as Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. 3. Behavior and Social Structure Insight into the social dynamics and behavior of Gaur herds, including their hierarchical structure and communication methods. Detai

This week we are releasing an older episode on a species that is near and dear to both our hearts and that is the Somali Wild Ass. We will be getting back to bringing you new species here very quickly, however life is throwing both of us curve balls right now. Angie is having to rush off to be with family and Chris will be making an announcement next week on a new endeavor he is working on and you will be interested in. However, the All Creatures Podcast is our passion and love. We have a slate of incredible animals coming your way very soon! In this episode, we'll embark on a journey to discover the African wild ass, an often-overlooked and critically endangered species. Join us as we delve into their history, habitat, and the challenges they face in the modern world. The African Wild Ass: A Living Fossil The African wild ass (Equus africanus) is a fascinating species with a rich history. It's often referred to as a "living fossil" due to its close genetic relationship with the domestic donkey. These remarka

Today, we embark on a journey to explore the enigmatic and majestic creature, the black rhinoceros. This iconic species, which has roamed the Earth for millions of years, has been subjected to severe threats and is now at the forefront of global conservation efforts. The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is one of the most charismatic and striking animals on the African continent. Characterized by its powerful build and prehensile upper lip, it is a living testament to the grandeur of Earth's biodiversity. These incredible creatures have thrived for eons, adapting to a wide range of habitats from grasslands to dense forests. Sadly, the black rhinoceros now faces a dire situation due to a variety of anthropogenic threats. Poaching, driven by the illegal trade in rhino horns, has decimated their populations. Habitat loss, driven by human activities and agriculture, has further compounded their struggles. In the 20th century, black rhino populations plummeted drastically, pushing them to the brink of extinctio

We will be back with a new species next week. Chris has just returned from the United States as he had to rush back for his father's funeral. We went back and found another episode many of you might have missed, but MOOSE! Incredible animals and we know you will love this one. This week we go massive and talk about the largest deer species in the world, the Moose! Or in Europe known as the Eurasian Elk. Just a phenomenal species to discuss. We really nerd out this week talking about this animals physiology, it's behavior and all the other wonderful things that make the Moose one of our favorites. Also a special shout out to Julia from Minnesota who is a wonderful Patreon supporter and asked for this species. We also give a special shout out to our Canadian listeners. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/50creatures and use code 50creatures for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and

We start off with a brief announcement and update on the All Creatures Podcast. We have been nominated again as a Top 10 podcast, this time in the Education category. You can check that out at the People's Choice Podcast Awards website HERE In honor of both Chris and Angie's fathers who passed away, we are releasing an older episode on what we consider to be one of the best fathers on the planet, the Cassowary. We will be back soon with more species episodes! Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/50creatures and use code 50creatures for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We n

The octopus captures the imagination of so many. For Dr. David Scheel, they captured so much that he has dedicated his life to learning everything there is know about the octopus and promote their conservation. In this week's interview, we talk all about the octopus, what makes them special and their conservation. Dr. Scheel also is the author of 'Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses,' which can be found on Amazon or your local book store. You can learn more about Dr. Scheel HERE You can learn more about his book HERE Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cove

Traveling all over the world, Bertie Gregory has filmed some of the most intense and dramatic footage of many species. As a filmmaker and TV presenter, he shares his passion for wildlife and conservation to the masses. His new series, "Animals Up Close" premieres this week on National Geographic and Disney TV+. Please check it out, some of the sequences are just straight jaw dropping and intense (hint: Orcas/Antarctica). More about Bertie Gregory from National Geographic HERE BERTIE GREGORY is a 28-year-old British wildlife filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer. His career began when a childhood obsession with nature led to winning the title of 'Youth Outdoor Photographer Of The Year.’ After graduating with a degree in Zoology from the University of Bristol in 2014, he began assisting legendary National Geographic Magazine photographer Steve Winter. He has since produced and hosted 5 projects for National Geographic (‘Leopards at the Door’, ‘Jaguar Vs Croc’, ‘Wild_Life’, ‘Resurrection Island’ and ’The Bi

Anytime you think or talk about an ocotpus, you are amazed. It is because they are just the most radical, funny, special, and so many more adjectives, bundles of 8-legged joy! this week it is the Giant Pacific Octopus who receives our attention. We talk all about the octopus and even how they can regenerate their arms like that seen Netflix's My Octopus Teacher. You will love this episode and a special shout out to Octonation! They are the world's largest octopus fan club! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you

To be able to impact global change it is taking education across many fronts to highlight the plight of our environment and endangered species. Educator Nicholas Petryk is one of those who has made it a mission in his life to make a difference. He shares his passion is wildlife and education. From his bio Nick graduated from Florida State University and works to educate the masses on animals and their conservation. You can learn more about Nick and Animal Tales by visiting their website HERE Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organi

Fossa are Madagascar's top predator. Yet, they are slipping away and headed towards extinction. This week we are joined with Brittany Behler who is the Fossa Species Survival Plan Program Leader and Studbook Keeper. She works with the Blank Park Zoo in Iowa and joins us to chat about everything Fossa. These animals and many like them on Madagascar need our help and understanding. Well worth a listen. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are

As Chris moves house, we wanted to release this wonderful episode on Fossa. Also look out for our interview with a Fossa expert next week. Not many are aware of this little well known predator from Madagascar, the Fossa. These cat-like animals are the dominant carnivore on the large island of Madagascar. They also are heading towards extinction as 90% of Madagascar’s forests have disappeared. We had so much fun researching and recording this episode. We know you will fall in love with this crazy critter. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conser

Making the rounds in social media are adorable videos of Marbled Polecats visiting soldiers in the trenches of Ukraine. It had us thinking, what is their story and where do they range. First, our heats go out to all those affected by the war, or any war for that matter. Not to mention to the untold devastation to all the animals in the area! Including the Marbled Polecat. These animals actually have a massive range from Mongolia and China, all the way to Eastern Europe. Yet, they are disappearing in much of their range. Like any mustelid, Marbled Polecats are full of personality, tenacity, and just plain toughness. Another great creature to learn about. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you ca

Imagine trying to set the world record for spotting the most species of birds in one year? Of the ~10,000+ known species of birds, how many do you think you could spot? Well Arjan Dwarshuis saw nearly 7000 species in a single year. He set the world record and continues to spread awareness of birds and environmental conservation. From the Netherlands, Arjan has inspired many thousands, if not millions, with his incredible journey around the world. Starting from Europe, he tells his story and just how he did it. Such a fun and inspiring interview! You can learn more about Arjan and his book The Big Year That Flew By at his website HERE We also welcome a special cohost, Jessie Golden, who has inspired not only Chris, but so many others to take up the hobby of birding. He joins in and we hope you welcome him back. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings wit

The largest invertebrates ever to live are squid. The two largest are the Giant Squid and Colossal Squid. This week we highlight what makes these giants of the deep so special. Squid as cephalopods are some of the craziest animals in the natural world. Their physiology often defies description and while we still have so much to learn, the Giant and Colossal squid are already teaching us much. You do not want to miss this episode and listen to learn more about these incredible animals. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations

To follow up on our interview with the Brevard Zoo, we are revisiting our Leatherback Sea Turtle Episode. This sea turtle dwarfs their distant relatives and can reach over 6.5 feet (2 meters) and weigh nearly a ton (900 kg). They are enormous! Not to mention they are one of the deepest diving animals (outside of fish), among many other amazing facts. Sadly, sea turtle populations continue to decline and we discuss this more in depth in this episode. We also highlight conservation efforts to protect them around the globe. We learned quite a bit about these amazing animals and hope you do too.  Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organization

The Brevard Zoo has a Special Sea Turtle Healing Center that rescues and rehabilitates some of our oceans most endangered sea creatures. Namely, sea turtles. Taken directly from their website which can can access HERE, they state: Brevard Zoo, in partnership with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS), opened its Sea Turtle Healing Center in April 2014. The facility includes two separate holding facilities with a total of 14 tanks ranging in size from six to 12 feet in diameter. This facility is not open to the public. Because the beaches of Brevard County are among the world’s most important nesting areas for sea turtles and the largest in the United States, a significant number of animals are found with injuries and illnesses each year. About 100 patients are seen at the Healing Center each year. Patients are brought to the Healing Center for a variety of reasons—they may be recovering from a boat strike, interaction with human debris such as fishing line or plastic, or debilitation. In addition to prov

Gray whales have an incredible story to tell. They also are a species that demonstrates clearly what is happening to our oceans with climate change. Once nearly hunted to extinction and knocked out of the Atlantic Ocean, Gray Whales were on the brink. They are a model species for conservation as they went from around 1000 whales to nearly 25,000 whales in 2016. However, with a rapidly changing climate and a diminishing food supply due to their incredibly unique ecologically niche, Gray Whales have suffered a setback. In 2019, thousands of Gray Whales perished and now their population is around 15,00 whales. Yet, there is hope and we do bring that up in this week's podcast. A special whale to help us promote our Plastic Free July. Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast

As we continue to celebrate our oceans in July we welcome to the podcast shark scientist and conservationist Gibbs Kuguru. Gibbs is a National Geographic Explorer who uses scientific tools to understand sharks. Working with great white sharks at a cage diving company, he has honed his shark wrangling and seafaring skills and applied them to several shark species including hammerheads, threshers, blues, and tiger sharks. Kuguru is using his research to better understand the unique elements that shape the populations of sharks in the blue wilds of the world. As a conservationist, he advocates for the stewardship of nature where people use our planetary resources in a sustainable way that enhances biodiversity in our environment. Kuguru is currently completing his Ph.D. in genomics at Wageningen University. Gibbs is one of the scientists featured in this months National Geographic Sharkfest. You can check that out HERE You can learn more about Gibbs Kuguru HERE Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We

Every July we focus on the oceans and participate in the Plastic Free July. Please join us at this link HERE to join our "All Creatures Podcast" team and learn about ways you can reduce your own plastic consumption. It really helps our oceans and all the creatures that inhabit it. We have another great interview coming your way next week on sharks with a focus on the Great White Shark. Look for that and enjoy this oldie but goodie episode on Great White Sharks. By far the most iconic fish, the Great White Shark, was made a legend by the movie Jaws. Yet, it was a play on the strongest human emotion, fear, that made this creature on of the most infamous of modern time. This week we jump into it with Great Whites and put to rest their fearsome reputation. This largest predatory fish has some incredible history and physiology, and this episode is not one to miss. Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which spec