Conservation calls, the podcast

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 journey with Repton school Dubai to create a unique podcast with one aim; to let the youth narrate our conservation stories in their language, filled with passion and emotion aimed at inspiring their peers.

Welcome to our podcast journey! Your feedback matters, so tune in, share your thoughts, and let’s inspire the next generation of conservation champions together!

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...
Project leader Tulshi Laxmi Suwal is leading efforts to protect the Critically Endangered Chinese pangolin in the ancient city of Kirtipur, nestled in the foothills of the Kathmandu Valley. With support from the MBZ Fund, Tulshi and her team have initiated an eco-tourism project that promotes pangolin conservation. This grant marks a significant step in strengthening the capacity of local forest users, training them to become pangolin guardians, and actively involving them in monitoring efforts through data collection.  Also, local chicken farming served as a livelihood support initiative for marginalised communities through this program.

#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #pangolin #sustainability #uae #nepal #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment

Project leader Tulshi Laxmi Suwal is leading efforts to protect the Critically Endangered Chinese pangolin in the ancient city of Kirtipur, nestled in the foothills of the Kathmandu Valley. With support from the MBZ Fund, Tulshi and her team have initiated an eco-tourism project that promotes pangolin conservation. This grant marks a significant step in strengthening the capacity of local forest users, training them to become pangolin guardians, and actively involving them in monitoring efforts through data collection. Also, local chicken farming served as a livelihood support initiative for marginalised communities through this program.

#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #pangolin #sustainability #uae #nepal #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment
...

23 1
On this World Bonobo Day—when we celebrate the peaceful, loving, yet endangered bonobo—we at the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) wish to express our thanks to an earlier grant from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.  A grant in support of our bonobo conservation program at Lilungu allowed BCI and our local partners to take steps to protect their forests in prime bonobo habitat and to conduct bonobo monitoring programs. Since then, we have formed new partnerships which will advance our goals of safeguarding this important bonobo site, where we have worked for 20 years.

We’ve conducted intensive tracker training, learned more about the composition of multiple bonobo groups and constructed a new conservation center. With local communities, we are working to officially protect the ~5,000km2 area and to develop sustainable funding through the UN REDD+ program. We are truly grateful for the role that the MBZF has played in helping us protect the iconic bonobo!

#WorldBonoboDay #SaveTheBonobos #mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Tanzania #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment

On this World Bonobo Day—when we celebrate the peaceful, loving, yet endangered bonobo—we at the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) wish to express our thanks to an earlier grant from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. A grant in support of our bonobo conservation program at Lilungu allowed BCI and our local partners to take steps to protect their forests in prime bonobo habitat and to conduct bonobo monitoring programs. Since then, we have formed new partnerships which will advance our goals of safeguarding this important bonobo site, where we have worked for 20 years.

We’ve conducted intensive tracker training, learned more about the composition of multiple bonobo groups and constructed a new conservation center. With local communities, we are working to officially protect the ~5,000km2 area and to develop sustainable funding through the UN REDD+ program. We are truly grateful for the role that the MBZF has played in helping us protect the iconic bonobo!

#WorldBonoboDay #SaveTheBonobos #mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Tanzania #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment
...

103 1
The Endangered Vanilla atsinanensis, a stunning leafless orchid species was officially described in 2023 and found exclusively on Madagascar’s east coast.  Its flowers can reach almost 15 cm in width, making them some of the largest in the vanilla genus, which currently encompasses 126 species.
 
Thanks to the support of the MBZ Fund, Dr. Vincent Droissart, in collaboration with the @ird_fr, @mobotgarden, University of Antananarivo, and ADAFAM—the very organization that discovered this species—are on an exciting mission to uncover its ecological and reproductive secrets.
 
Firstly, they confirmed its presence in the Betampona Integral Nature Reserve, a key habitat for this rare plant.  They also identified two known localities where the species thrive: Betampona and the Ambodiriana forest, managed by ADAFAM.  Through the use of climbing gear with cameras positioned 20 metres high, they collected crucial data on the pollination of this species.
 
Additional expeditions in 2025 will monitor fruit and seed dispersal as well as observe the next flowering cycle. Together, we can take action to protect this extraordinary species and its precious habitat!
 
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #plants #sustainability #uae #madagascar #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment

The Endangered Vanilla atsinanensis, a stunning leafless orchid species was officially described in 2023 and found exclusively on Madagascar’s east coast. Its flowers can reach almost 15 cm in width, making them some of the largest in the vanilla genus, which currently encompasses 126 species.

Thanks to the support of the MBZ Fund, Dr. Vincent Droissart, in collaboration with the @ird_fr, @mobotgarden, University of Antananarivo, and ADAFAM—the very organization that discovered this species—are on an exciting mission to uncover its ecological and reproductive secrets.

Firstly, they confirmed its presence in the Betampona Integral Nature Reserve, a key habitat for this rare plant. They also identified two known localities where the species thrive: Betampona and the Ambodiriana forest, managed by ADAFAM. Through the use of climbing gear with cameras positioned 20 metres high, they collected crucial data on the pollination of this species.

Additional expeditions in 2025 will monitor fruit and seed dispersal as well as observe the next flowering cycle. Together, we can take action to protect this extraordinary species and its precious habitat!

#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #plants #sustainability #uae #madagascar #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment
...

107 2
Zamia pygmaea, often referred to as a “living fossil,” is a remarkable species endemic to Cuba, playing a vital role in its ecosystem through complex biological interactions. This research aims to uncover the intricate relationships between Zamia pygmaea and the diverse flora and fauna that surround it. Understanding these interactions is essential for biodiversity conservation and effective ecosystem management, especially in the face of climate change and habitat loss.
 
With a MBZ Fund grant, Project Manager Enrique González Pendás and his team will utilise field observations and ecological modeling to gain valuable insights into the role of Zamia pygmaea within its habitat. By doing so, they aim to contribute to the preservation of this unique species and its environment. The funding will directly support our efforts to explore these critical biological dynamics, providing significant implications for conservation strategies and enhancing our ecological understanding. Together, we can ensure the longevity of this extraordinary species and the health of its ecosystem.
 
#mbzfund #conservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #cuba #plants #wildlife #nature #photography #environment #wild

Zamia pygmaea, often referred to as a “living fossil,” is a remarkable species endemic to Cuba, playing a vital role in its ecosystem through complex biological interactions. This research aims to uncover the intricate relationships between Zamia pygmaea and the diverse flora and fauna that surround it. Understanding these interactions is essential for biodiversity conservation and effective ecosystem management, especially in the face of climate change and habitat loss.

With a MBZ Fund grant, Project Manager Enrique González Pendás and his team will utilise field observations and ecological modeling to gain valuable insights into the role of Zamia pygmaea within its habitat. By doing so, they aim to contribute to the preservation of this unique species and its environment. The funding will directly support our efforts to explore these critical biological dynamics, providing significant implications for conservation strategies and enhancing our ecological understanding. Together, we can ensure the longevity of this extraordinary species and the health of its ecosystem.

#mbzfund #conservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #cuba #plants #wildlife #nature #photography #environment #wild
...

36 1
Santiago Turcatti Oviedo and his team are leading vital efforts to protect the pampas cat, the most endangered small wild cat in the Western Hemisphere, across Uruguay and Brazil. With support from the MBZ Fund, the Rock and Pampa project achieved a significant milestone by documenting the species with camera traps—marking the first live record of the pampas cat in Uruguay in over a decade. So far, the project recorded eight sightings: four living individuals and four deceased. These findings result from monthly monitoring of key roadways in both countries, highlighting the threats this elusive feline faces.
 
The project’s impact extends beyond the pampas cat, raising awareness for other native felines like Geoffroy’s cat and the margay. A key component of the project is environmental education. The team engages with schools and local communities, helping to build chicken coops to reduce human-wildlife conflict and install educational signage about native felines and traffic safety.
 
The project not only protects the pampas cat but also fosters coexistence and inspires greater conservation awareness in the region.
 
#mbzfund #speciesconservation #biodiversity #rockandpampa #smallwildcats #estamosaca #wildlifeconservation #lentoporlafauna #uae #uruguay #rivera #cat #catlover #animal #animalconservation 
#environment

Santiago Turcatti Oviedo and his team are leading vital efforts to protect the pampas cat, the most endangered small wild cat in the Western Hemisphere, across Uruguay and Brazil. With support from the MBZ Fund, the Rock and Pampa project achieved a significant milestone by documenting the species with camera traps—marking the first live record of the pampas cat in Uruguay in over a decade. So far, the project recorded eight sightings: four living individuals and four deceased. These findings result from monthly monitoring of key roadways in both countries, highlighting the threats this elusive feline faces.

The project’s impact extends beyond the pampas cat, raising awareness for other native felines like Geoffroy’s cat and the margay. A key component of the project is environmental education. The team engages with schools and local communities, helping to build chicken coops to reduce human-wildlife conflict and install educational signage about native felines and traffic safety.

The project not only protects the pampas cat but also fosters coexistence and inspires greater conservation awareness in the region.

#mbzfund #speciesconservation #biodiversity #rockandpampa #smallwildcats #estamosaca #wildlifeconservation #lentoporlafauna #uae #uruguay #rivera #cat #catlover #animal #animalconservation
#environment
...

89 9
The generous support from the MBZ Fund has been crucial to our efforts to protect the critically endangered Marsh Antwren (Formicivora paludicola), an endemic bird found in marshes of São Paulo state in southeast Brazil. With the funding, SAVE Brasil have been able to monitor the Marsh Antwren population, and make significant progress in the process for establishing two protected areas to safeguard this species and its fragile environment. With the first grant we received from the Fund in 2018, we were able to support the municipality of Guararema in creating the first ever protected area for the Marsh Antwren, and thanks to the recent grant we are replicating this model in Salesopolis and Sao Jose dos Campos municipalities, to create a mosaic of wildlife refuges to protect the species.

Together with MBZ Fund and our other supporters we are making strides toward a future where the Marsh Antwren thrives in its natural habitat.

📸 @bennett_Hennessey

#mbzfund #conservation#savebrasil #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #birds #sustainability #uae #brazil #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment

The generous support from the MBZ Fund has been crucial to our efforts to protect the critically endangered Marsh Antwren (Formicivora paludicola), an endemic bird found in marshes of São Paulo state in southeast Brazil. With the funding, SAVE Brasil have been able to monitor the Marsh Antwren population, and make significant progress in the process for establishing two protected areas to safeguard this species and its fragile environment. With the first grant we received from the Fund in 2018, we were able to support the municipality of Guararema in creating the first ever protected area for the Marsh Antwren, and thanks to the recent grant we are replicating this model in Salesopolis and Sao Jose dos Campos municipalities, to create a mosaic of wildlife refuges to protect the species.

Together with MBZ Fund and our other supporters we are making strides toward a future where the Marsh Antwren thrives in its natural habitat.

📸 @bennett_Hennessey

#mbzfund #conservation#savebrasil #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #birds #sustainability #uae #brazil #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment
...

558 4