Species conservation is super cool. Don’t take our word for it, listen to the Conservation Calls podcast. Created for youth, by youth, join our team as we explore the world, uncover amazing species, and share inspiring discoveries. Tune in for a wild ride with humour, passion, and excitement!
Saving the Sandfish
September 3, 2025
The Clanwilliam sandfish in South Africa, also called Onderbek, may be small, but it has an epic story to tell. Once swimming in abundance, this migratory freshwater fish is now facing some serious survival challenges. In this episode of Conservation...Mushroom magic: Rediscovering the Big Puma Fungus
August 4, 2025
In this edition of Conservation Calls, we join the team from Fungi Foundation in Chile as they set out to rediscover the Big Puma Fungus, an incredibly fascinating, quirky, and one-of-a-kind species.Eagle Eye Adventure: It’s not all black and white for this majestic raptor
July 2, 2025
Meet the incredible Black-and-chestnut Eagle, a stunning bird of prey facing serious challenges like human-eagle conflicts, hunting, and habitat loss. This elusive neo-tropical raptor is one of the least-studied species, hidden in dense montane forests. But there’s hope!The Last Bloom: The Story of Ecuador's Wildflower Wonder
May 28, 2025
We often hear about the amazing world of animals on our Conservation Calls podcast, but let’s not forget that plants have some pretty cool stories too… Take the critically endangered wildflower, Gasteranthus extinctus, for example, which is only found in the Centinela...Meet Tyrone the sole Mindo survivor
April 28, 2025
There’s nothing quite like rediscovering a species thought to be lost forever, especially one that faced a deadly fungus! Enter Atelopus mindoensis, a.k.a. the Mindo Harlequin Toad. Meet Tyrone, the incredible sole survivor (or is he…?) of the Mindo...Echoes in the dark: Cave biodiversity battles
March 26, 2025
In this episode, we meet Dr. Iva Njunjic, a cave biologist who has explored over 300 caves across Europe and Asia, where she’s discovered species new to science! And don’t worry, cave animals are small and not scary at all. ...Mexican Miracle: The fight to save the Kangaroo rat!
February 26, 2025
The Kangaroo rat has a unique appearance, with its distinctive hind legs significantly longer than its front, giving it a resemblance to a kangaroo. However, its tale of survival is even more remarkable. Once thought to be extinct for 30...Petrel Power: Wings of hope for the Bermuda cahow!
January 29, 2025
This month, we learn of an incredible tale of a petrel in Bermuda, which was thought to be extinct for over 300 years! Thanks to Nonsuch Expeditions, along with the support of the MBZ Fund and Dolphin Energy, JP Rouja...Voices of Change: 15 Years of Conservation Impact
December 18, 2024
This episode of Conservation Calls is especially meaningful! It celebrates 15 years of species conservation, featuring some words of wisdom from our amazing grant recipients. The highlight of the podcast is a powerful poem titled “If the Fund Had a...Whispers in the Shadows: The Omani Owl’s Fight for Survival in Wadi Wurayah
November 11, 2024
This episode focuses on the important story of owl conservation in the stunning Wadi Wurayah National Park in Fujairah, featuring the elusive and extremely rare Omani Owl as the star. Join Park Ranger Sami Majeed and our Repton podcast...Coexisting with Giants: Navigating Wild Cat-Human Conflict in Indonesia
September 26, 2024
This episode of MBZ’s Conservation Calls is roaring with excitement as we explore how Panthera and project partner Sintas Indonesia are mitigating human-wild cat conflict in the Leuser Ecosystem. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a vast area where humans...Toad Warriors: The Fight for South Africa's Amphibian Future!
August 26, 2024
In this episode, we’re diving into the awesome world of the Western Leopard Toad! Nature Connect in South Africa has come up with a brilliant plan to protect this fascinating and endangered species. Get ready to uncover all the exciting...Manatee Mavericks: Safeguarding Senegal's Gentle Giants!
July 24, 2024
Get ready for an epic podcast adventure filled with intrigue and a hint of enigma! This time, we're diving into the world of the rare and elusive - the African manatees. Join us as we uncover the unique collaboration between...Bolivian Bird Guardians: Protecting the Sky's Colorful Treasures!
June 27, 2024
This episode features an incredible story of how Asociación Armonía is working to protect the critically endangered Red-fronted Macaws in Bolivia. With only 1,200 individuals left, they are implementing various initiatives like safeguarding breeding cliffs, adding nesting boxes, and restoring...Hawaiian Drone Defenders: Soaring to Save cool plant Species!
June 3, 2024
This episode dives into the incredible journey of an MBZF-supported project. The National Tropical Botanical Garden are using cutting-edge technology, to rediscover plants once thought extinct in the most remote and hard-to-reach places on the Island of Hawaii. It’s a...Conservation calls, the podcast
April 5, 2024
Raising youth awareness on in situ conservation is key for nurturing future environmental stewards. Teaching them about protecting species in their natural habitats empowers them to grasp the link between ecosystems, biodiversity, and human welfare. This realisation sparked a collaborative...
Conservationist Phub Gyeltshen from the National Biodiversity Centre of Bhutan is excited to share insights from their recent project to conserve the critically endangered Maharanga griersonii. This unique plant, endemic to Bhutan, was first described in 1994 and is found only below Pele La, thriving in mixed forests on steep slopes.
With an MBZ Fund grant, they were able to conduct detailed research to uncover important morphological features, including the distinguishing nutlets and white flowers that set this species apart from its relatives. However, the reality is stark, only 15 mature plants remain, facing threats from road maintenance and landslides that put this species at risk.
On a brighter note, bumblebees have been observed hard at work, ensuring the plant’s reproductive success through buzz pollination.
This remarkable species deserves all the help it can get to secure a fighting chance for survival. Let’s spread the word and inspire action for its conservation.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #butan #wildlife #nature #support #Conservation #Biodiversity #EndangeredSpecies #MaharangaGriersonii #bhutan
Conservationist Phub Gyeltshen from the National Biodiversity Centre of Bhutan is excited to share insights from their recent project to conserve the critically endangered Maharanga griersonii. This unique plant, endemic to Bhutan, was first described in 1994 and is found only below Pele La, thriving in mixed forests on steep slopes.
With an MBZ Fund grant, they were able to conduct detailed research to uncover important morphological features, including the distinguishing nutlets and white flowers that set this species apart from its relatives. However, the reality is stark, only 15 mature plants remain, facing threats from road maintenance and landslides that put this species at risk.
On a brighter note, bumblebees have been observed hard at work, ensuring the plant’s reproductive success through buzz pollination.
This remarkable species deserves all the help it can get to secure a fighting chance for survival. Let’s spread the word and inspire action for its conservation.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #butan #wildlife #nature #support #Conservation #Biodiversity #EndangeredSpecies #MaharangaGriersonii #bhutan
The Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative (TCCI), led by wildlife conservationist Gitana Cavalcanti, focuses on the endangered savanna tiger-cat (Leopardus tigrinus). This small cat is located in the dry thorny woodlands of Brazil’s Caatinga, particularly in the Capivara-Confusões area, which links the region’s two largest national parks. Unfortunately, this area faces severe deforestation from agribusiness, wind farms, and solar power plants, with less than 50% of the original forest remaining.
TCCI’s primary goal is to address threats to these endangered felids, monitor their populations, and enhance connectivity between key habitats. With vital support from the MBZ Fund in collaboration with the GEF, they can expand vaccination campaigns into new areas of Serra da Capivara-Serra das Confusões National Parks, combating disease spread from domestic carnivores. They also aim to enhance felid monitoring to ensure this critical haven for felids in the semi-arid Caatinga remains protected.
Without support, TCCI cannot continue its essential efforts to save the savanna tiger-cat in one of Brazil’s most threatened ecosystems.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #brazil #wildlife #nature #wildcats #smallcats #felids
The Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative (TCCI), led by wildlife conservationist Gitana Cavalcanti, focuses on the endangered savanna tiger-cat (Leopardus tigrinus). This small cat is located in the dry thorny woodlands of Brazil’s Caatinga, particularly in the Capivara-Confusões area, which links the region’s two largest national parks. Unfortunately, this area faces severe deforestation from agribusiness, wind farms, and solar power plants, with less than 50% of the original forest remaining.
TCCI’s primary goal is to address threats to these endangered felids, monitor their populations, and enhance connectivity between key habitats. With vital support from the MBZ Fund in collaboration with the GEF, they can expand vaccination campaigns into new areas of Serra da Capivara-Serra das Confusões National Parks, combating disease spread from domestic carnivores. They also aim to enhance felid monitoring to ensure this critical haven for felids in the semi-arid Caatinga remains protected.
Without support, TCCI cannot continue its essential efforts to save the savanna tiger-cat in one of Brazil’s most threatened ecosystems.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #brazil #wildlife #nature #wildcats #smallcats #felids
Last month, MBZ Fund Advisory Board member Olivier Langrand spent three weeks in French Polynesia, connecting with the Société Ornithologique de Polynésie (SOP-Manu) to assess the conservation status of the Tahiti Monarch and Fatu Hiva Monarch.
During his visit, he caught up with Benjamin Ignace and also met with veterinarian Caroline Blanvillain, who has been protecting Polynesian bird species since 1998. Olivier was encouraged to see the remarkable progress: the Tahiti Monarch population has surged from just 19 individuals in the early 2000s to over 160 today. This success is thanks to proactive management against invasive species, and ecological restoration, work supported by the MBZ Fund and other donors.
It’s this commitment of our Advisory Board members that truly sets the Fund apart. They go beyond reviewing applications and grants; they actively engage in follow-up visits, provide mentorship, and extend a hand of friendship and trust to our partners on the ground.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Polynesia #birds #birdlife #nature #support #tahitimonarch
Last month, MBZ Fund Advisory Board member Olivier Langrand spent three weeks in French Polynesia, connecting with the Société Ornithologique de Polynésie (SOP-Manu) to assess the conservation status of the Tahiti Monarch and Fatu Hiva Monarch.
During his visit, he caught up with Benjamin Ignace and also met with veterinarian Caroline Blanvillain, who has been protecting Polynesian bird species since 1998. Olivier was encouraged to see the remarkable progress: the Tahiti Monarch population has surged from just 19 individuals in the early 2000s to over 160 today. This success is thanks to proactive management against invasive species, and ecological restoration, work supported by the MBZ Fund and other donors.
It’s this commitment of our Advisory Board members that truly sets the Fund apart. They go beyond reviewing applications and grants; they actively engage in follow-up visits, provide mentorship, and extend a hand of friendship and trust to our partners on the ground.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Polynesia #birds #birdlife #nature #support #tahitimonarch
Thanks to a grant from the MBZ Fund, researcher Anmari Alvarez-Aleman and her team, comprising a park biologist, fishermen, and local residents, are making a significant impact on manatee conservation in Zapata Swamp. This funding enabled them to track and study manatees in key areas such as the Hatiguanico River, Ensenada de la Broa, and Tesoro Lagoon.
Equally important, the grant enabled collaboration with local communities, raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices that protect both manatees and the livelihoods of local people. With the Fund’s support, science and community action unite to create a safer future for manatees.
This project is also part of a larger initiative: the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance (WCMA), a regional network designed to connect partners across the Caribbean, facilitating knowledge sharing and strengthening conservation efforts for manatees and their habitats.
Local initiatives in Zapata Swamp contribute to a broader regional impact across the Caribbean. A wonderful initiative that makes supporting International Manatee Day even more meaningful.
#mbzfund #conservation #internationalmanateeday #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #wildlife #nature #WiderCaribbeanManateeAlliance #ManateeConservation #environment
Thanks to a grant from the MBZ Fund, researcher Anmari Alvarez-Aleman and her team, comprising a park biologist, fishermen, and local residents, are making a significant impact on manatee conservation in Zapata Swamp. This funding enabled them to track and study manatees in key areas such as the Hatiguanico River, Ensenada de la Broa, and Tesoro Lagoon.
Equally important, the grant enabled collaboration with local communities, raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices that protect both manatees and the livelihoods of local people. With the Fund’s support, science and community action unite to create a safer future for manatees.
This project is also part of a larger initiative: the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance (WCMA), a regional network designed to connect partners across the Caribbean, facilitating knowledge sharing and strengthening conservation efforts for manatees and their habitats.
Local initiatives in Zapata Swamp contribute to a broader regional impact across the Caribbean. A wonderful initiative that makes supporting International Manatee Day even more meaningful.
#mbzfund #conservation #internationalmanateeday #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #wildlife #nature #WiderCaribbeanManateeAlliance #ManateeConservation #environment
The project aims to delimit nursery areas of the scalloped hammerhead shark along the Pacific coast of Guatemala, integrating local fishers’ knowledge with training processes and joint work with Fundación Mundo Azul to carry out tagging activities.
Thanks to the grant from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Fundación Mundo Azul were able not only to collect fundamental data for conservation but also to strengthen community participation, consolidating a key step toward the sustainable management of marine resources.
An incredible conservation effort for a fascinating species.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #Guatetienetiburones #sustainability #uae #Guatemala #ocean #sharks #hammerheadshark #nature #support #environment
The project aims to delimit nursery areas of the scalloped hammerhead shark along the Pacific coast of Guatemala, integrating local fishers’ knowledge with training processes and joint work with Fundación Mundo Azul to carry out tagging activities.
Thanks to the grant from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Fundación Mundo Azul were able not only to collect fundamental data for conservation but also to strengthen community participation, consolidating a key step toward the sustainable management of marine resources.
An incredible conservation effort for a fascinating species.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #Guatetienetiburones #sustainability #uae #Guatemala #ocean #sharks #hammerheadshark #nature #support #environment
The Clanwilliam sandfish in South Africa may be small, but it has an epic story to tell. Once swimming in abundance, this migratory freshwater fish is now facing some serious survival challenges.
In this episode of Conservation Calls, we explore their struggles, especially the impacts of human activities and climate change. You’ll hear from amazing heroes like Jeremy, Otto, and the local communities who are stepping up to make a difference.
So, kick back, close your eyes, and let the Repton Podcast crew, along with the talented Chanda Miyanda, bring this big story to life.
With your help, we can revive this awesome ambassador for healthy, free-flowing river ecosystems.
P.S. Don’t forget to listen, follow, rate, and share this and other episodes by following the link in the @speciesconservationfund bio.
Thank you for listening, your support means the world to us!
#mbzfund #freshwatersa #podcast #youth #nextgen #conservation #speciesconservation #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #UAE #SouthAfrica #fish #sandfish #nature #environment
The Clanwilliam sandfish in South Africa may be small, but it has an epic story to tell. Once swimming in abundance, this migratory freshwater fish is now facing some serious survival challenges.
In this episode of Conservation Calls, we explore their struggles, especially the impacts of human activities and climate change. You’ll hear from amazing heroes like Jeremy, Otto, and the local communities who are stepping up to make a difference.
So, kick back, close your eyes, and let the Repton Podcast crew, along with the talented Chanda Miyanda, bring this big story to life.
With your help, we can revive this awesome ambassador for healthy, free-flowing river ecosystems.
P.S. Don’t forget to listen, follow, rate, and share this and other episodes by following the link in the @speciesconservationfund bio.
Thank you for listening, your support means the world to us!
#mbzfund #freshwatersa #podcast #youth #nextgen #conservation #speciesconservation #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #UAE #SouthAfrica #fish #sandfish #nature #environment
With the support of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, researcher Lora Purnamasari and her dedicated team embarked on an essential population survey in February 2025. They journeyed into the peat swamp ecosystems of Kundur Island, Sumatra, in search of the critically endangered freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium purpureamanus.
This grant empowered the team to access remote and challenging locations, conduct thorough habitat assessments, and actively engage local communities in the search. While the elusive shrimp was not spotted during the survey, the expedition yielded invaluable insights into the ecosystem’s current health and set the stage for developing targeted and adaptive conservation strategies in the future.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Indonesia #shrimp #nature #support #environment
With the support of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, researcher Lora Purnamasari and her dedicated team embarked on an essential population survey in February 2025. They journeyed into the peat swamp ecosystems of Kundur Island, Sumatra, in search of the critically endangered freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium purpureamanus.
This grant empowered the team to access remote and challenging locations, conduct thorough habitat assessments, and actively engage local communities in the search. While the elusive shrimp was not spotted during the survey, the expedition yielded invaluable insights into the ecosystem’s current health and set the stage for developing targeted and adaptive conservation strategies in the future.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Indonesia #shrimp #nature #support #environment
The Andean Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), also known as the Mountain Tapir, plays a crucial role as an umbrella species for Andean biodiversity.
It has been assessed by the IUCN as Endangered. However, within Ecuador, its conservation status is even more critical due to accelerating habitat loss, fragmentation, and the lack of robust population data, particularly in the southern Andes.
The MBZ Fund grant enabled Sur Silvestre Foundation to begin collecting this much-needed data through camera trap monitoring and field surveys. It also allowed us to launch community outreach initiatives to raise awareness about the species and its ecological importance.
Through these efforts, local residents have become active participants in tapir conservation, and we’ve laid the groundwork for long-term protection strategies in one of the least-studied regions of the species’ range.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Ecuador #wildlife #nature
#FundaciónSurSilvestre #AndeanTapir
The Andean Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), also known as the Mountain Tapir, plays a crucial role as an umbrella species for Andean biodiversity.
It has been assessed by the IUCN as Endangered. However, within Ecuador, its conservation status is even more critical due to accelerating habitat loss, fragmentation, and the lack of robust population data, particularly in the southern Andes.
The MBZ Fund grant enabled Sur Silvestre Foundation to begin collecting this much-needed data through camera trap monitoring and field surveys. It also allowed us to launch community outreach initiatives to raise awareness about the species and its ecological importance.
Through these efforts, local residents have become active participants in tapir conservation, and we’ve laid the groundwork for long-term protection strategies in one of the least-studied regions of the species’ range.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Ecuador #wildlife #nature
#FundaciónSurSilvestre #AndeanTapir