41. Jaguars vs. The Wall: The Fight for Wildlife Borderlands, Connectivity, and Conservation w/ Jack Humphrey

In this urgent discussion, we interview Jack Humphrey from The Rewilding Institute to explore what rewilding truly means—and why it's under unprecedented threat right now. As the Trump administration dynamites through Arizona's most critical jaguar habitat to construct border walls, we examine what happens when we sever the very corridors that wildlife has traveled for millennia. The Rewilding Institute was founded on a radical idea: that nature needs more than just protection. It needs restoration, connection, and room to breathe. Their vision is bold—gray wolves and grizzly bears with connected habitat from Mexico to Alaska, pumas reclaiming their homelands East and West, salmon swimming freely up our continent's rivers, and oceans teeming with whales and sharks. But corridors only work if they stay open. Right now, in places like the San Rafael Valley, the Huachuca Mountains, and Sycamore Canyon, explosives are blasting apart landscapes that federal scientists have identified as essential for jaguar recovery in the United States. These aren't empty wastelands—they're the last remaining pathways connecting jaguars in Arizona to breeding populations in Mexico. Just last month, a new jaguar called Cinco was photographed in these mountains, the fifth wild cat documented since 2011, proof that these magnificent animals are still trying to come home. The administration has waived more than 40 environmental laws—including the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Wilderness Act—to fast-track construction of double-layered steel walls, industrial floodlights, and surveillance infrastructure across hundreds of miles of protected habitat. This isn't just about jaguars. It's about ocelots, black bears, Mexican gray wolves, pronghorn, and hundreds of species of migratory birds and butterflies that depend on these cross-border ecosystems. Join us for this critical conversation about what's at stake, what rewilding means in practice, and why the fight for connected landscapes is about so much more than any single species. Because when we wall off the wild, we don't just lose jaguars—we lose the possibility of a wilder, more resilient future.   ABOUT THE REWILDING INSTITUTE: The Rewilding Institute (TRI) explores and shares tactics and strategies to advance continental-scale conservation and restoration in North America and beyond. They focus on the need for large carnivores and protected wildways for their movement, offering a bold, scientifically credible, practically achievable, and hopeful vision for the future of wild nature and human civilization on planet Earth. Rewilding isn't about going backward—it's about creating pathways forward for the wild species and ecosystems that have been pushed to the margins. Learn more at The Rewilding Institute website.   RAY OF HOPE: Despite the devastating assault on Arizona's borderlands, Cinco's recent appearance proves that jaguars are still fighting to come home. Wildlife doesn't give up—and neither can we. Rewilding reminds us that nature is remarkably resilient when given the chance. From wolf recovery in Yellowstone to beaver reintroduction across North America, we've seen how quickly ecosystems can heal when we restore apex predators and protect corridors. The fight for connected landscapes is gaining momentum. Scientists understand connectivity better than ever. Communities across North America are championing wildlife corridors, from highway overpasses to ranch-led conservation efforts. Indigenous land management practices are being recognized as essential to rewilding success. Every protected wildway, every restored river, every lawsuit against illegal border wall construction is a victory for the future. This isn't just about stopping destruction—it's about building a wilder tomorrow. When we protect jaguar corridors, we protect entire ecosystems. When we advocate for connected habitat, we're choosing resilience over fragmentation. The vision is achievable: a continent where wild animals can move freely, where ecosystems function fully, where nature has room to breathe. That future is worth fighting for.   ANXIETY TO ACTION: Speak Up for Borderlands Wildlife: Contact your representatives about protecting critical habitat in Arizona's borderlands. Demand accountability for environmental law waivers and support legislation that prioritizes wildlife corridor protection. Support Rewilding Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with groups working on continental-scale conservation, jaguar recovery, and wildlife corridor protection. Organizations need sustained support to fight ongoing threats.   Take Action: Learn about The Rewilding Institute's work and vision Follow jaguar recovery efforts and borderlands conservation news Support organizations fighting border wall construction in critical habitat Educate others about the importance of wildlife corridors and connectivity Advocate for policies that prioritize landscape-scale conservation   CONNECT WITH JACK HUMPHREY: The Rewilding Institute - The Rewilding Institute website.   PLANET PEOPLE SOCIAL MEDIA:  Follow Planet People on Instagram: @planet.people.pod Subscribe to us on YouTube: @PlanetPeoplePodcast