All Creatures Podcast

Elephants don't simply wander across the landscape.

For generations, they have followed ancient migration routes passed down through memory, experience, and culture. These invisible highways connect water, food, and survival itself.

In this episode, Chris explores the remarkable world of elephant corridors, how matriarchs guide their families across vast distances, and what happens when ancient pathways collide with roads, farms, fences, and the modern world.

Because this isn't just a story about elephants.

It's a story about memory, coexistence, and whether humanity can still make room for giants.

Timeline

00:00 Elephants Don’t Wander
02:56 Why Movement Matters
08:51 Culture Beyond Humans
14:41 Matriarch Memory Map
21:00 Ancient Elephant Corridors
26:09 Modern Barriers Fragmentation
33:41 Conflict and Coexistence
36:15 Corridor Solutions and Hope
44:18 Final Question for Us

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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 advertising@airwavemedia.com

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are re-releasing this episode from 2020.

Amur Falcons are one of the most remarkable migratory birds on Earth. Weighing less than 200 grams, these small raptors undertake an astonishing annual journey of more than 20,000 kilometres, travelling from breeding grounds in eastern Asia to wintering grounds in southern Africa.

In this episode, we explore the incredible biology behind their migration, including a non-stop flight of up to 3,000 kilometres across the Indian Ocean—one of the longest over-water journeys known for any bird of prey. We also discuss how satellite tracking revealed the true scale of their migration and how communities in India helped transform a major conservation crisis into an inspiring success story.

Although currently listed as Amur Falcon by the IUCN as a species of Least Concern, Amur Falcons still face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and changes to insect populations along their migratory route.

==

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 advertising@airwavemedia.com

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris and Angie revisit the giant panda, first featured on the podcast in 2018, and explore one of conservation's most celebrated success stories.

They discuss how giant pandas recovered from Endangered to Vulnerable status through habitat protection, wildlife corridors, anti-poaching efforts, and decades of dedicated conservation work in China. Along the way, they uncover the fascinating biology of these bamboo specialists, from their unique "pseudo-thumb" to their challenging breeding habits and surprisingly inefficient digestive system. The episode also examines the role of zoos, captive breeding programs, and what the panda's recovery can teach us about saving other species.

Timeline

00:00 Welcome Back to Pandas
00:41 Conservation Success Story
03:18 Panda Basics and Anatomy
06:24 Zoo Life and Panda Loans
13:31 Breeding Challenges and Bamboo
15:27 Habitat Corridors and Reserves
20:37 China’s Green Economy Shift
27:42 Evolution of a Bamboo Bear
32:07 Fast Facts and Panda Speed
33:45 Bamboo Diet Basics
34:16 Gut Microbes Explained
35:01 Built for Bamboo
36:23 Taste Gene Twist
37:50 Smell and Food Choice
39:32 Seasonal Bamboo Menu
42:50 Carnivore Gut Problem
46:59 Clumsy Charm Behaviors
51:48 Poop and Field Science
53:06 Solitary Social Signals
57:30 Breeding Window Crunch
01:01:43 Cubs and Diapause
01:06:26 Conservation Comeback
01:09:18 Wrap Up and Thanks
==

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 advertising@airwavemedia.com

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leopard seals were first covered in 2022 by Chris and Angie. Today they bring them back for those that have yet to uncover this remarkable species.

Leopard Seals are among Antarctica’s most fascinating and formidable predators. In this episode, we dive into the world of these powerful marine mammals, exploring their unique hunting strategies, remarkable adaptations, and surprising intelligence. Learn how leopard seals help maintain balance in Antarctic ecosystems, why they are considered apex predators, and what scientists are discovering about their behavior in one of the planet’s harshest environments.

==

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 advertising@airwavemedia.com

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this classic episode, Chris and Angie speak about the fascinating world of bull sharks.

Bull sharks are among the most remarkable sharks on Earth. Unlike most shark species, they can thrive in both saltwater and freshwater, traveling hundreds of miles up rivers and even living in lakes. This incredible adaptability has allowed them to occupy habitats ranging from coastal oceans to inland waterways across the globe.

Bull sharks also play a vital role as apex predators, helping maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems by regulating prey populations and supporting ecological balance.

While bull sharks remain relatively widespread, they face growing threats from overfishing, habitat degradation, coastal development, and accidental capture in fisheries. The Bull Shark is currently classified as Near Threatened in many parts of its range, highlighting the importance of continued conservation efforts.

==

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 advertising@airwavemedia.com

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices