Exploring Mongolia's Untouched Wilderness w/Peter Fong

In this episode, Chris welcomes Peter Fong to discuss his conservation efforts in one of the most remote places on the planet, Mongolia and Lake Baikal. Peter shares his unique journey from fish biology to becoming a conservation guide, detailing his work with Mongolia River Outfitters and his 60-day expedition rowing to Lake Baikal for his book. The conversation highlights the importance of catch-and-release fishing, the impact of climate change on the region, and the conservation challenges faced by unique species like the taimen. Listeners are encouraged to appreciate the value of low-impact tourism and the significant role of local communities in conservation efforts. You can learn more about Peter Fong HERE You can learn more about Mongolia River Outfitters HERE 00:00 Introduction to the Creatures Podcast 00:31 Meet Peter Fong: A Journey to Mongolia 01:19 Peter's Unconventional Path to Conservation 03:31 Discovering Mongolia and the Taimen 06:02 Challenges and Conservation Efforts 08:34 The Importance of Catch and Release 13:02 DNA Analysis and Research Insights 19:08 Rowing to Baikal: An Epic Journey 26:17 Cultural Reflections and Encouragement to Explore 28:39 Dismantling the Campsite 29:06 Living in Traditional Gers 31:10 Facing Harsh Weather Conditions 33:05 Navigating the Mongolian Wilderness 37:32 Collecting Scientific Data 39:27 Conservation Efforts in Mongolia 43:18 Planning an Expedition 45:57 Personal Growth Through Exploration 52:06 Final Thoughts and Contact Information ------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/CREATURES and get on your way to being your best self. Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. 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 so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices