Aussie Wildlife Show

Dr Tim Jessop | Komodo Dragon Ecologist

Dr Tim Jessop is an ecologist with Deakin University and is a scientific adviser for the Komodo Survival Program.

Click here to check out and to support the awesome work the Komodo Survival Program do :)

Scott Pullyblank | Alice Springs Desert Park

Scott Pullyblank is a knowledgeable and passionate science communicator, specialising in conservation and biology and is currently the Curator of Life Sciences at the Alice Springs Desert Park. 

Thorny Devil, photo courtesy of C.Margetts Photography

Richard Gibson | Komodo Dragons in Captivity

Richard Gibson is the Head of Life Sciences at Auckland Zoo and has managed zoo reptile departments all over the world. We caught up with Richard at the Large Varanid Workshop (October 2019) in Alice Springs where he gave two presentations, one on Komodo Dragon husbandry and the other on parthenogenesis, which he co-discovered in Komodo Dragons. 

Sophie Thomson | Wildlife Friendly Gardening

In this episode the always inspiring Sophie Thomson gives us advice about creating habitat friendly gardens for any situation. Sophie is a gardening consultant, writer as well as a presenter for ABC TV's Gardening Australia. Sophie lives at Sophie’s Patch, a three acre garden that produces organically grown food as well as locally indigenous plant species for wildlife habitat. 

 

Dr Katie Irvine | Ecologist, Science Communicator

Katie Irvine is a Science Communicator with the School of Biological Sciences of the University of Adelaide.

Katie has an interest in citizen science, community ecology, habitat fragmentation, revegetation, and conserving the natural environment for the benefit of people and wildlife. In this episode we chat about Katie's work in the rain forests of Far North Queensland, Tree Kangaroos and conserving threatened orchids. 

Zac Bower | Venom Supervisor at the Australian Reptile Park

Zac Bower works with some of the most dangerous snakes on the planet with the venom extraction program at the Australian Reptile Park. 

The Australian Reptile Park is the sole-provider of terrestrial snake venoms to the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. Their work contributes to the production of life-saving medicines that are relied upon by hundreds of patients in Australia and New Guinea every year. 

Ben Britton | Wild Cat Conservation Centre

Ben Britton is the Director of the Wild Cat Conservation Centre in Hawkesbury, one hour north west of Sydney, Australia. The Conservation Centre focuses on the preservation and conservation of wild cats of the world, including African Serval, Caracal and the endangered Cheetah. 

Ben has more than 20 years of professional experience in animal husbandry and wildlife conservation which has taken him across the world, from reserves in Africa to sanctuaries in Asia.

Ben currently features on National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild, appearing in numerous documentaries highlighting his wildlife conservation efforts.

Trevor Evans | Conservationist and Founder of Secret Creek Sanctuary

Trevor Evans has dedicated his life to protecting and saving endangered Australian species and their habitats. He is the founder of Secret Creek Sanctuary which was set up to provide a feral-proof enclosure where endangered native species are protected from predation. The sanctuary aims to show visitors what Australia once looked like prior to European settlement and houses species such as Eastern Quoll, Dingo, Tasmanian Devil, Long-nosed Potoroo, Rufous Bettong, Spotted-tailed Quoll and Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby. It is also the home of the Secret Creek Cafe, a unique, rustic home-style cabin serving delicious refined plant-based food. Pictured below is an abandoned Spotted-tailed Quoll joey that Trevor was hand-raising when we visited.

 

Chad Staples | Director of Life Sciences at Featherdale Wildlife Park

We recently had the opportunity to visit Chad Staples (Zookeeper Chad) at Featherdale Wildlife Park. Chad has worked at Featherdale for over 20 years and chats with us about why he loves his job and shares his passion for conservation and education.

Located in the Greater Western Sydney Region, Featherdale Wildlife Park have a wonderfully diverse collection of Australian animals and are involved in many conservation programs to preserve vulnerable and endangered Australian wildlife. 

You can follow Chad's journey at:

https://www.facebook.com/zookeeperchad/

https://www.instagram.com/zookeeper_chad/?hl=en

Tim Faulkner | Co-director at the Australian Reptile Park

Tim Faulkner is the co-director at the Australian Reptile Park, a conservation-based zoo located in a natural bush setting on the Central Coast of NSW which specialises in education, conservation and lifesaving snake and spider venom collection work.

Tim is also the president of Aussie Ark, established in 2011 as ‘Devil Ark’, with a focus on saving the iconic Tasmanian devil from extinction. Since then and due to overwhelming success, the role of the organisation has expanded, and now has vision of creating a long-term future for our threatened Australian species.

Tim was the Australian Geographic Australian Conservationist of the Year 2015.