PODCAST · science
WCS Wild Audio
by Wildlife Conservation Society
Welcome to the award-winning WCS Wild Audio podcast, where you will find reported audio stories covering the latest news and newsmakers from the Wildlife Conservation Society's global conservation program, zoos and aquarium, and their many conservation partners. www.wcs.org/wcs-wild-audio Credits Nat Moss: Executive Producer, Co-Host, Reporter Hannah Kaplan: Associate Producer, Co-Host, Reporter Dan Rosen: Web Producer, Co-Host, Reporter Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCSWildAudio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcswildaudio/ X: https://twitter.com/WCSWildAudio Threads: https://www.threads.net/@wcswildaudio
Episodes
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S7 E14: How AI Is Helping Scientists Catch Up to a Changing Canadian Arctic
The Arctic Ocean is getting noisier. As warming temperatures reduce summer sea ice, ship traffic is increasing—and with it, underwater noise that can affect whales, seals, and other marine life. WCS Canada has been listening to those changes for years. Now, the team is turning to AI to help make...
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S7 E13: What’s So Special about Rangelands and Grasslands?
This month, governments from around the world are gathering in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD CoP17). While the meeting focuses on the growing threats of drought and land degradation, it's also an opportunity to...
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S7 E12: The Tropical Andes: Mountains That Sustain a Continent
The Tropical Andes represents one of the world's most important ecosystems, spanning seven South American countries over 4,500 kilometers. They shelter extraordinary wildlife, provide water for millions, and help regulate the global climate. But they're under increasing threat. Wild Audio's…
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S7 E11: Resilient Patagonia
For World Oceans Month, we turn to coastal Patagonia on the Southern Cone of South America. This biodiverse seascape is home to some of the continent's most productive marine ecosystems. But climate change is beginning to reshape this remarkable region in ways scientists are only starting to...
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S7 E10: AI — Fake Nature, Real Consequences
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms media, journalists and conservationists are confronting a new and unsettling reality: What happens when we can no longer trust what we see in nature documentaries and wildlife photography? This week WCS speaks with Rhett Butler, Founder and CEO of...
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From Radiolab and WNYC: "Terrestrials" | E40 BIG CATS: Lions, Tigers & Roars (Oh My!)
This week on WCS Wild Audio, we’re taking a short break from our usual programming to share an episode from another show we absolutely love. It comes to us from our friends at Terrestrials — the wildly inventive family science podcast from Radiolab and WNYC. Terrestrials explores some of the...
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S7 E9: Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the American Bison as the U.S. National Mammal
This week, as we mark the 10th anniversary of the National Bison Legacy Act, WCS Wild Audio revisits its report on how extraordinary partnerships across geography, culture, and politics helped make the American bison our national mammal. Looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of American...
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S7 E8: WCS’s Career Lattice Education Program Is Opening New Doors
Each year, the WCS Career Lattice supports over 1,900 youth ages 14 to 24 in volunteer, internship, and employment opportunities across its five parks in New York City. It’s helping young people turn early opportunities into meaningful careers, as they develop skills, find mentorship…
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S7 E7: A New Biography Captures Conservation Luminary Dr. George Schaller
George Schaller is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern field biology — a scientist whose work helped transform how we study animals in the wild. From gorillas in the Congo to snow leopards in the Himalayas, his research has shaped conservation for decades. This week, WCS Wild Audio...
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S7 E6: Bronx Bees Star in Award-Winning "Keeper" at REEL WILD New York Film Festival
WCS’s REEL WILD™️ New York Film Festival returns to showcase fresh, powerful stories about people and nature from around the world. One of this year’s featured films is "Keeper"—a documentary short that follows a Bronx beekeeper and his daughter. The film was shortlisted for an Oscar Award. You…
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S7 E5: A Life Illuminated: Dr. Edith Widder’s Ocean Discoveries | REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival
The REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival returns April 23–26, 2026, celebrating filmmakers and wildlife stories that inspire action and conservation impact. WCS’s Hannah Kaplan sat down with Dr. Edith Widder, star of A Life Illuminated, winner of Best Exploration Film and Best in Fest. The…
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S7 E4: This Month in Brazil, Renewed Hope for the World’s Migratory Species
This month between March 23-29, governments from around the world will gather in Campo Grande, Brazil, for the triennial conference of parties to the Convention on Migratory Species, or CMS. It’s a treaty focused on animals that cross borders—birds, whales and sharks, big cats, freshwater…
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S7 E3: Gold Mining and Mercury Pollution in the Amazon
Across the Amazon Basin, the search for gold has unleashed a crisis both environmental and human. Illegal and small-scale gold mining depends on mercury to separate gold from stone. That mercury seeps into rivers, the air, and the food people eat, poisoning ecosystems and communities alike. This...
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S7 E2: An Urgent Effort to Protect Canada’s Peatlands
Peatlands don’t get the attention they deserve. Worldwide, these wetlands provide crucial ecosystem services. They are vital for Indigenous livelihoods and as carbon storage powerhouses. Canada has some of the world's largest remaining intact peatlands. Now, WCS Canada has a new national strategy...
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S7 E1: Resilience Is at the Heart of WCS’s New Coral Reef Conservation Strategy
Coral reefs are facing unprecedented pressure from overfishing, pollution, and climate change. But scientists are finding that some reefs are more resilient than others — and that protecting those reefs could shape the future of coral conservation worldwide. The Wildlife Conservation Society has...
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S6 E16: At CITES COP20, A Chance to Protect Sharks and Rays
Sharks and rays are some of the ocean’s most iconic species, but they are in crisis. At the upcoming CITES COP20 meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, governments will decide on dozens of proposals to regulate global trade in wildlife and wildlife products. That includes whether or not to give…
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S6 E15: Introducing Adam Falk, WCS’s New President & CEO
This summer, the Wildlife Conservation Society welcomed Adam Falk as its new president and CEO. Previously the president of Williams College and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Adam brings to his new role a deep commitment to science, a passion for education, and a belief in the power of...
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S6 E14: Yasina Conservation Deed—Indigenous Leadership in Forest Conservation
In Papua New Guinea’s Eastern Highlands, five clans have come together to formally protect 2,000 hectares of ancestral forest through the Yasina Conservation Deed. This landmark agreement shows how Indigenous communities can lead conservation, safeguarding biodiversity while preserving their...
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S6 E13: Addressing the Pet Trade at the IUCN World Conservation Congress
Every four years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, brings together governments, NGOs, scientists, and Indigenous leaders at the World Conservation Congress. Soon, it will be convened in Abu Dhabi. The growing threat of the pet trade in terrestrial wildlife is one of…
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S6 E12: The New World of Darkness
Many New Yorkers have great memories of the Bronx Zoo's World of Darkness. It was a groundbreaking exhibit when it opened in 1969. This summer, the zoo opened a new version that features some fascinating species. From naked mole rats to aye ayes to vampire bats, the updated space offers a rare...
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S6 E11: Freedom to Roam | Defending the Guanaco’s Grassland Home
Guanacos—fleet-footed cousins of the llama—roam the windswept grasslands of South America in one of the world’s longest overland migrations. But fences, hunting, and competition with livestock are putting their survival at risk. Ahead of the 2nd International Guanaco Day, WCS Argentina is joining...
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S6 E10: WCS’s New York Aquarium Helps Rescue Confiscated Corals
Recently, staff at WCS’s New York Aquarium got a call from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The authorities had intercepted an illegal shipment of corals and they needed WCS’s help. When corals come into the country like this, they typically can’t be returned to the wild. So the Fish and…
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S6 E9: The Graduate Scholarship Program
Talented, passionate local conservation leaders are critical for the durable conservation of wildlife and wild places around the world. To address the need for them, WCS launched the Graduate Scholarship Program in 1996 to provide financial support for the highest quality, graduate-level academic...
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S6 E8: The WCS 30x30 Ocean Accelerator Is Leveraging $40 Million for Marine Conservation
Participants from around the world have gathered in Nice this week for the third United Nations Oceans Conference. It’s an opportunity to assess the current state of marine conservation and seek ambitious new opportunities to achieve progress toward ocean protection. WCS was there with a big...
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S6 E7: Small Fish, Big Impact
In today’s episode, we journey to the heart of the Amazon Basin—home to the largest freshwater system on Earth. These waterways don’t just support rich biodiversity—they’re a vital source of food and nutrition for millions across South America, where fish are often the most affordable and...
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S6 E6: This Endangered Species Day, Uncovering the Secrets of the Rainforest
A leopard. A giant pangolin. A group of forest elephants. They can be almost impossible to spot in the wild. But in February, WCS and wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas released a series of high definition camera trap photos of these species and more from the Republic of Congo’s...
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S6 E5: The Conservation Leadership Programme Turns 40
For four decades, the Conservation Leadership Programme, or CLP, has been providing critical early career funding awards to emerging conservationists. Born out of a partnership between Birdlife International, Fauna & Flora, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, the CLP has opened the door...
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S6 E4: This Earth Day, Working to Save the Heart of the Wild
As Earth Day turns 55 this year, it seemed like a good moment to reflect on WCS’s mission to protect wildlife and wild places. Why does the protection of biodiversity carry with it so many other benefits for people and the planet? What are the approaches that work and what are the challenges? And...
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S6 E3: Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant & Peter Gros of NBC’s Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Host “Family Day” at the REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival, April 5
In Part 3 of our series featuring the inaugural REEL WILD New York Film Festival, which launches in New York City this week, we talk to the hosts of the popular television series Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom “Protecting the Wild.” They’ll be on hand for the screening of several of the show’s...
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S6 E2: Stories That Inspire, Films That Matter | REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival
In the second episode of our three-part series on WCS's REEL WILD New York Film Festival, we go behind the scenes to uncover the inspiration behind this inaugural event celebrating remarkable filmmakers and extraordinary wildlife stories from around the globe. From Namibia’s resilient desert…
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S6 E1: Oscar-Nominated Documentary “Haulout” Comes to the First Annual REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival
This spring, the inaugural WCS-curated REEL WILD New York Film Festival comes to Manhattan. Taking place April 4-5, this two-day event showcases award-winning natural history films and offers a unique chance to hear directly from the filmmakers and experts behind the stories. In the first of a...
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S5 E13: An Impactful Partnership That’s Helping Save Snakebite Victims
The Bronx Zoo’s Herpetology Team cares for a number of venomous snakes at the zoo’s World of Reptiles. As professionals, they know what they’re doing. Just in case, though, the zoo team keeps antivenom on site and a thorough plan in place to address any potential emergencies. Fortunately, it…
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S5 E12: The Mongolian Khulan | Nomads on the Edge
The khulan - a species of wild equid - is a true nomad, covering distances unmatched by any other land mammal. Yet, their survival in Mongolia’s harsh Gobi desert is a constant battle. Populations already strained by overhunting and harsh winters – exacerbated by climate change – are now facing a...
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S5 E11: An Update on Avian Influenza
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is having an unprecedented and devastating impact on wildlife. We have the latest on its path and where it may be headed, including whether or not it could pose an even bigger threat to humans.Reporting: Dan RosenGuest: Dr. Christian Walzer
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S5 E10: Protecting the Protectors | The Crucial Support Behind Conservation's Frontline Heroes
Rangers are the frontline guardians of conservation efforts, regularly putting their physical and mental health at risk to protect our planet. But they can't do it alone—they need more support and resources to stay safe and effective in their vital work. That’s where URSA, the Universal Ranger...
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S5 E9: Miamba Yetu | Incentivizing Investment to Protect Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs in East Africa
Roughly 90 percent of coral reefs globally face collapse by 2050 due to human activity. At the same time, close to a quarter of all marine life is found in coral reef ecosystems, which support some one billion of the world's population. Miamba Yetu is a creative new financing mechanism designed…
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S5 E8: Chile’s Karukinka Natural Park Turns 20, Part 2: An Extraordinary Gift for Conservation from Goldman Sachs
In 2004, the investment bank and financial services firm Goldman Sachs came into possession of a group of distressed assets that included a 680,000-acre parcel of land at the bottom of South America. In Part 2 of our celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Chile’s Karukinka...
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S5 E7: Chile’s Karukinka Natural Park Turns 20, Part 1: How a Conservation Commitment Blossomed in Tierra del Fuego
The 300,000-hectare Karukinka Natural Park was created in 2004 after land in Chilean Tierra del Fuego was donated to the Wildlife Conservation Society by Goldman Sachs. As the park celebrates its 20th anniversary, we begin a two-part series on how its establishment helped to spur both the...
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S5 E6: This Bat Week, a Promising Solution to a Scourge Devastating North America’s Bat Populations
It’s Bat Week. White-nose syndrome is a deadly fungus that’s wiping out bats across North America. New research makes the case that it’s having a direct negative impact on human health, too. WCS Canada has an innovative solution to address the problem. Reporting: Dan RosenGuest: Cori Lausen
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S5 E5: The U.S. Government’s Role at CBD COP16
The United States is one of only two UN Member States that is actually not a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Back in the 1990s, the Senate failed to ratify the treaty. But, when the parties meet in Colombia next week at COP16, the U.S. is expected to have a significant presence....
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S5 E4: In Colombia, Making “Peace with Nature”
Cali, Colombia will soon play host to the biennial gathering of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The theme of this important international meeting will be “Peace with Nature.” WCS will have a significant delegation on the ground.For our 2nd episode highlighting the CBD’s...
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S5 E3: The Global Conservation Community Prepares for Action on Biodiversity Protection in Colombia
The 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity—or CBD COP16—convenes in Cali, Colombia beginning on October 21. More than 14,000 participants are expected to attend, representing national governments, NGOs, Indigenous groups, the private sector, and others.In the…
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S5 E2: New York Climate Week, Part 2 | Investing in Healthy Forests for People and the Planet
In Part 2 of our podcast series exploring the themes of New York Climate Week, we look at a new initiative being piloted by the WCS Forests and Climate Change program to attract investment in large tropical areas with healthy ecosystems. The High Integrity Forest Investment Initiative, or HIFOR,...
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S5 E1: New York Climate Week, Part 1 | How Ecological Restoration and Innovation are Restoring Forests and Reconnecting Landscapes
Season 5 of the WCS Wild Audio podcast begins with a two-part series looking to NY Climate Week, which runs during the US General Assembly this month. For Part 1, we explore how WCS is focusing on ecological restoration, transforming degraded lands into thriving habitats with the collaboration of...
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WCS Wild Audio Summer Series, Part 6: Reducing Single-Use Plastics from Our Waste Stream to Protect Marine Wildlife and the Planet
The world produces over 400 metric tons of plastic every year today. Single-use plastics—from utensils and straws to soda bottles and packaging—enter our waste stream at an alarming rate. Less than 10 percent of all plastic is recycled.For Part 6—and the final episode—of our summer series on…
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WCS Wild Audio Summer Series, Part 5: Turns Out the World’s Second-Largest Animal is Found Off the Big Apple All Year Round
The waters off New York City are some of the busiest in the world with both ships and marine life. In fact, new research co-authored by WCS shows that fin whales can be found in these waters all 12 months. And that has important conservation implications.Reporting: Dan RosenGuests: Carissa...
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WCS Wild Audio Summer Series, Part 4: Can We Ride the Wave of Momentum in Time to Help Sharks?
As top predators, sharks help maintain healthy and productive ocean ecosystems. They also play important roles in coastal livelihoods and food security through fisheries and tourism. But time is running out to save them says Luke Warwick, Director of the WCS Sharks & Rays program. In Part 4 of…
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WCS Wild Audio Summer Series, Part 3: Too Important to Fail | Community Fisheries' Critical Role in Marine Conservation
Small Scale fisheries are the cornerstone of livelihoods and economies across the world, providing essential micronutrients to more than 4 billion people. What's more, they also employ over 150 million people in the industry, the majority of whom live in the Global South, and are most vulnerable…
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WCS Wild Audio Summer Series, Part 2: The Edge of Known Things | Will Hudson Canyon Be Named a National Marine Sanctuary?
“With all this strangeness, there is also beauty beyond words.” That’s how the famous scientist and explorer William Beebe described an underwater marvel off the coast of New York and New Jersey in the late 1920s. In Part 2 of our marine-themed summer series, we return to the Hudson Canyon, which...
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WCS Wild Audio Summer Series, Part 1: Posing for the Iconic “Jaws” Poster | An Interview with Allison Maher Stern
Season 4 of WCS Wild Audio is in the books. Today we begin a summer series highlighting marine conservation stories. First up, our interview with WCS Life Trustee Allison Maher Stern, who was the model for the swimmer in the famously provocative marketing campaign for Steven Spielberg’s 1975...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to the award-winning WCS Wild Audio podcast, where you will find reported audio stories covering the latest news and newsmakers from the Wildlife Conservation Society's global conservation program, zoos and aquarium, and their many conservation partners. www.wcs.org/wcs-wild-audio
Credits
Nat Moss: Executive Producer, Co-Host, Reporter
Hannah Kaplan: Associate Producer, Co-Host, Reporter
Dan Rosen: Web Producer, Co-Host, Reporter
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCSWildAudio
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcswildaudio/
X: https://twitter.com/WCSWildAudio
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@wcswildaudio
HOSTED BY
Wildlife Conservation Society
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does WCS Wild Audio have?
WCS Wild Audio currently has 126 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is WCS Wild Audio about?
Welcome to the award-winning WCS Wild Audio podcast, where you will find reported audio stories covering the latest news and newsmakers from the Wildlife Conservation Society's global conservation program, zoos and aquarium, and their many conservation partners. www.wcs.org/wcs-wild-audio Credits...
How often does WCS Wild Audio release new episodes?
WCS Wild Audio publishes regularly with 126 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to WCS Wild Audio?
You can listen to WCS Wild Audio on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts WCS Wild Audio?
WCS Wild Audio is created and hosted by Wildlife Conservation Society.
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