Aussie Wildlife Show

Dr. Aaron Camens | Paleontologist at Flinders University

Thylacoleo carnifex , the marsupial lion, was Australia's top order mammalian carnivore and a real life 'drop bear'. This week we chat with Dr. Aaron Camens, paleontologist at Flinders University and co-author of a recently published paper which analyses the first compete skeleton reconstruction of this highly adapted predator.

Spare a thought for the early Australians who had to contend with this 100kg semi-arboreal hunter they may have dropped onto its prey with its sharp hooked-claws, razor-sharp teeth and possibly, pound for pound, the most powerful bite of mammal species!

Photo Credit: Beclectic, Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Irwin | Raptor Domain

We're back from a big Christmas break and 2019 is off to a flying start with our good friend Dave Irwin, raptor trainer, educator and founder of Kangaroo Island's Raptor Domain. 

Dave Irwin is a qualified Zoo Keeper and has been involved with raptors from a very young age. He has years of experience in training and hand-raising and rehabilitating sick, orphaned and injured animals and birds of prey.

Visit Raptor Domain on Kangaroo Island and witness one of the best free-flight bird shows on Earth. It's truly a rare and unique opportunity to view and experience wildlife up close and personal, while creating an understanding and appreciation of them and their role in the environment. 

Dan Mangano | Zoologist , Rockstar

Dan Mangano is a zoologist and environmental educator, when he's not playing drums and singing with the Aussie rock band Ablaze.

We chat with Dan about some of the wild and captive animals he has worked with, his love for the natural environment, and the educational work he does with Victorian wildlife demonstration company Reptile Encounters.

Click here to check out Ablaze and support an awesome original band.

Click here to check out Victorian wildlife demonstration company Reptile Encounters.

Dr. Chris Hunt | General Practitioner

This week's episode is a little bit different. We chat with our good friend Dr. Chris Hunt about the potential health benefits of nature and how it might help in calming the mind.  

Chris is a general practitioner specialising in mental health and Indigenous health.

John Fowler | Reptile Enthusiast

John Fowler shares with us some of his tales about travelling around Australia, and the world, following his passion for reptiles and the environment. Once a computer technician, he got onto the internet early and started the Australian Herpetology page. 

Click here to check out John's current page, The Reptiles of Australia.

Dr. Wayne Boardman | Wildlife Veterinarian, Conservationist

Come on an adventure with us as Dr. Wayne Boardman shares some of his tales of working with wild gorillas in Uganda, endangered birds in New Zealand and helping to save threatened species here in Australia. 

Wayne is presently working as a senior lecturer at the School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide. 

Emily Rose Brown | Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife

The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife are a non-government organisation on a mission to safeguard wilderness & wildlife for future generations.

We chat with Emily Rose Brown from FNPW about some of the awesome projects they are involved in.

 

Nathan Beerkens | Field Ecologist Arid Recovery

What are boodies, chuditch and bilbies?

We recently caught up with Nathan from Arid Recovery to chat about the work he does saving some of Australia's most threatened species.

James Smith | Biologist, Author and Conservationist

In this episode we talk to the knowledgeable and inspirational biologist James Smith about ways to attract wildlife to your property. James owns a business called fauNature where he and his team make nesting boxes for a wide range of Australian fauna. James is also the author of the book, Wildlife of Greater Adelaide, the most comprehensive wildlife guide to the Greater Adelaide region. 

 

Aussie Wildlife Show | Native Animals as Pets

Conservation through domestication. Is keeping native animals as pets a bad idea, is it unethical, or can it actually be beneficial in helping to preserve endangered species?

In this episode we try to answer some of these questions.