Born Free Podcast

Episodes

1. 15

   The Sockstar Project

   Wildlife rangers in developing nations have one of the most notoriously dangerous and unpredictable jobs around. While they might have the latest technologies and ammunition to defend wildlife, often their own basic welfare requirements are severely lacking. In this episode, we bring you the…

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   Mar 20, 2020

   26m
2. 14

   In conversation with Virginia McKenna OBE

   Virginia McKenna OBE tells us about the brave decision she and her husband took back in 1964 to travel to Kenya, with three children in tow, to film Born Free. It became a family classic that followed true story of the rescued lioness, Elsa, who was released into the wild. Little did they know…

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   Mar 6, 2020

   28m
3. 13

   Chimpanzees for neighbours

   In this episode, we speak to Dr Matt McLennan, Director and Co-Founder of the Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project, Uganda. Here, chimpanzees live alongside farmers in rural areas of the country and often come into conflict with one another. Matt tells us what it’s really like living alongside...

   Feb 21, 2020

   24m
4. 12

   Living with Tigers

   Can humans and tigers live alongside each other peacefully in one of the most populated countries of the world? That’s the daily challenge for rural communities in India, which is home to about 3,000 – or 70% – of all wild tigers left worldwide. We find out from Dr Nikki Tagg, Born Free’s...

   Feb 7, 2020

   21m
5. 11

   Have we forgotten about dolphins?

   Did you know there are more than 3,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity worldwide today? Even though places like SeaWorld have committed to a breeding ban of their captive orcas the same has not extended to other whale and dolphin species. We talk to Sam Goddard, Born Free’s Campaigns...

   Jan 24, 2020

   31m
6. 10

   Fighting wildlife crime with Greta Iori

   Wildlife crime consultant Greta Iori is fighting to protect Ethiopia’s wildlife, one elephant at a time. Specialising in ivory-related crime and the protection of elephants, she is responsible for championing an alliance protecting the most northerly population of elephants in the horn of Africa....

   Jan 10, 2020

   20m
7. 9

   In conversation with Ian Redmond OBE

   In the early 1980s, Ian Redmond had the opportunity to venture to Rwanda as a research assistant with Dr Dian Fossey. Then, he was a graduate fresh out of Keele University studying mountain gorilla populations at Dr Fossey’s research station. During his time there, Ian was instrumental in the...

   Dec 13, 2019

   44m
8. 8

   The elephant episode

   In the late 1970s, the African elephant population was estimated at 1.3 million. Today, their population has plummeted to around 400,000 and continue to decline. The need for their protection has never been more urgent. In this episode, we discuss the status of the African elephant and the...

   Nov 29, 2019

   28m
9. 7

   Behind the scenes of a lion relocation

   This year, Born Free has rescued 11 lions from captive exploitation across Europe. This includes four cubs who were all being kept illegally as pets in France. Born Free, and other partners successfully relocated the lions to our big cat sanctuary in Shamwari Private Game Reserve, South Africa.…

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   Nov 15, 2019

   24m
10. 6

    Wildlife conservation in the field

    Dr Liz Greengrass, Born Free’s Head of Conservation, has long been drawn to field research in remote, rural and sometimes dangerous landscapes. After graduating in zoology, she was asked by Dr Jane Goodall to study chimpanzees in Tanzania, where she remained for a number of years. Though she’s…

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    Oct 4, 2019

    31m
11. 5

    An unconventional route into conservation

    Will Travers OBE is Born Free’s President and Co-Founder. In this episode we chat about his unusual upbringing while his parents, Virginia McKenna OBE and Bill Travers MBE filmed Born Free in Kenya. We also talk about the challenges and frustrations he faces as a wildlife conservationist in 2019,...

    Sep 27, 2019

    50m
12. 4

    What is captive-lion breeding?

    In 2015, Beth Jennings travelled to South Africa to volunteer at what she thought was a rescue centre for lion cubs. Almost immediately, she realised the lions she was helping to hand-rear were being bred for a much sinister purpose. When the lions reach a certain age, they are often hunted in...

    Sep 20, 2019

    29m
13. 3

    In conversation with Bella Lack

    She’s just 16 years old, but Bella is one of the UK’s most celebrated young conservationists – and rightly so – speaking to governments, being involved in Parliamentary debates and in her role as Born Free’s youngest Youth Ambassador, she already has an astounding CV. In this episode, Bella…

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    Sep 13, 2019

    24m
14. 2

    Busting the myths of trophy hunting

    Dr Mark Jones, Born Free’s Head of Policy, exposes the hard truths of trophy hunting and explains the individual suffering it causes, the disruption to an animal’s familial herds or prides and the implications it can have on the wider ecosystem. We also explore the claims that income from hunting...

    Sep 5, 2019

    23m
15. 1

    Wild Animals as Exotic Pets

    This episode will discuss the increasing trend of keeping wild animals as pets across the world, with Dr Chris Draper, Born Free’s Head of Captivity and Animal Welfare. From the keeping of cheetahs in the UAE, to tigers in the US, even bears in the South of England, we ask whether keeping wild...

    Aug 31, 2019

    26m