Episode 13: short-eared dogs, little black tapirs, vaquita updates and Rice's whale on the brink

The Zoology Ramblings Podcast

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of The Zoology Ramblings Podcast!

In this episode, our animals of the weeks include the shadowy short-eared dog and the cryptic little black tapir, which may or may not be a new species. The dynamic duo then delve deeper into some wider conservation stories, including a sad update about the status of vaquitas in Baha California and the newly discovered, yet already critically endangered Rice's Whale.

Shoutout to Wayne Gourlay for the suggestion of the short-eared dog!

Robi Watkinson is a Conservation Biologist and wildlife filmmaker specialising in the spatial and movement ecology of large carnivores, camera trapping survey methods, rewilding, metapopulation dynamics and conservation planning. He has an MSc in Conservation Biology from the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, and the Institute of Communities and Wildlife in Africa, University of Cape Town. He is based between Cape Town and London, and has strong interests in equitable and inclusive conservation, palaeontology and wildlife taxonomy and evolution!

Emma Hodson is Zoologist and wildlife content creator, currently working in the community and engagement team at Avon Wildlife Trust. Emma’s role as a Wildlife Champions Coordinator involves supporting and upskilling people to take action for nature in their local communities. Emma has experience in remote wildlife fieldwork, and has been part of Arctic fox, macaw and cetacean research teams in Iceland, Peru and Wales respectively. She has also been involved in animal care and rehabilitation work in Costa Rica and South Africa. Emma is particularly passionate about the interface between community engagement and wildlife monitoring, and enjoys running workshops and giving talks on topics including camera trapping, beaver ecology and rewilding.

You can follow more of our weird and wonderful wildlife adventures on instagram: @thezoologyramblingspodcast & @robi_watkinson_wildlife & @emma_hodson_wildlife

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